Is this a common occurrence?

[MistletoeMoments]

Decided to treat myself and get my nails done for Christmas. I've only ever had it done once before, on holiday, so don't have a regular place.

I looked at a couple online near me and messaged one for an appt. They replied back quickly "yeah no problem hun see you then"

Rightly or wrongly, I was shocked when i walked into the salon this morning to find an elderly Korean man waiting for me! His English wasn't great but he was very polite (and patient of me not knowing when he needed my hands or not). A few more younger Korean guys were coming in and out during the appt.

He did a fantastic job and I'm chuffed to bits and tipped him heavily.

Am I being sexist by assuming these places were mostly all women? Is it normal to find men who are truly fantastic, in my opinion, at doing nails?

The Korean man was so lovely too. He asked to see a photo of what I was looking for so I showed him and said "it doesn't need to be exactly like that, just along those lines". When he was finished he said "let me see the photo again... see, just like the photo. Do you like it? It's easy for me" and gave me a big smile.

I will do in future!

Whilst I agree that there are many people in the UK who are being exploited by unscrupulous traffickers and the situation is of considerable concern, we also need to realise that we need to be careful in making assumptions about people based on their ethnicity.

I'd love to know. We have a nail bar in naiceville just opened. Cash only sign on the door. The people working in it are all clearly 'not from round these parts' (area is 97+% white). I mean, it's so obviously a laundering system, why aren't the authorities interested? We have an illegal residential caravan park nearby - no action has ever been taken, they even get their bins picked up. I feel like everyone else breaks the law and stupid muggins like me choose to tow the line, follow the law and pay tax. It's like what is the actual fing point?

I raised the plethora of barbers, nail bars, hairdressers, takeaways, laundries, sweet shops, and car washes that pretty much make up our entire shopping area in a small town in a tourist area with our local council and councillor.

I discovered from someone from one of the local political party members club that the councils, parish and area consider it racist to raise the flag of potential criminal activites in these businesses in many places in the UK. These businesses have very few clients, we've witnesses the same men getting haircuts on a daily basis and even two to three times in one day.

I've tried to rent bricks and mortar premises for my retail business but I can't get in because there is yet another of the above businesses that has made a huge bid on the rent to secure the shop so I never get a look in. Then again they now think I am a racist for daring to think they might not all be legitimate businesses. Obviously some will be but when they all have very similar signage and no customers anytime you go past it's not beyond the realms of possibility

This a scenario when Occams Razor might happily be employed.

It is denying the obvious explanations that often results in stuff like this being ignored as an issue. Yes they might just be nice little Korean men with a passion for nail art but how likely is it really..

It's a red flag though and people from Eastern Europe can also be involved in such ventures, so it's not about colour. It's squeamishness about ethnicity that prevented the police investigating the grooming gangs. If anyone is breaking the law then they need to be investigated and most criminals display similar behaviour and can be a member of a particular group.

It's rare to find elderly, female members of the WI who are involved in people trafficking for example, so raiding a WI meeting is probably going to be rather pointless.

I agree that it is as plain as the nose on your face in many circumstances, but we shouldn't jump to that same conclusion about everyone in those occupations just because they are forrin.

What is ‘a proper salon’ though? I’ve tried two in my village, both were cash only and staffed by people (originally) from overseas, although the lady who seemed to be the owner at the second one was talking about her family who live locally so I think she was brought up nearby. They both have one owner/operator and one assistant. The only nail salon I’ve come across that operates any other way is the one in the big department store in the city, which I can’t usually get to for logistical reasons.

i have only just started getting my nails done now and again so I think I’ll just stop!

I agree, it's very disheartening. We have similar issues in my area.

Yes, they are not all human slavery businesses. It’s actually quite an interesting history relating to Vietnamese people in the nail industry, it actually tracks back to Tippi Hedren teaching them. Which is pretty unexpected I know.

It’s too simplistic to suggest it’s all modern slavery, it’s actually their livelihood in many cases and a pathway out of poverty. But, they have absolutely been some horrifying human slavery cases. It’s a complex situation.

@blacksax surely better to jump to that conclusion based on the balance of probabilities, investigate and then discount at a later date than discount initially because 'you shouldn't jump to conclusions'

It is that sort of rationale that sustains long term abuse, grooming and other criminal activities.

Okay, so they shouldn't mind being investigated then if they're above board. How else are the authorities supposed to find out what's going on unless they investigate? Although it seems they don't anyway so it's a moot point.

Cash only places should automatically be shut down. It's painfully obvious what they're all about.

Have I got the guy into bother by tipping him? He was very grateful and was chatting excitedly to his colleague who was sitting behind me as I was leaving (in Korean so don't know what was said).

He offered me cash or card when paying.

The two in my town are mainly Korean men too, some women.

I usually find the ones where they also do other beauty treatments, rather than solely being a nail salon, are usually above board.

I don't get my nails done very often (usually Christmas and a couple of other special occasions!), but when I do, I mainly go to a local village hair and beauty salon (it's mainly a hairdressers, but also has a beauty technician who rents space, she does nails, as do one of the hairdressers).

I've also been to a local beauty salon, owned by two British females who originally set up on their own in a smaller premises and then expanded and now employ three others (also British!).

Almost all high street London salons are staffed with Vietnamese men and women both doing nails. We almost find it weird if you have someone else working in a nail shop.

But yes agree with PPs those places are full of modern day slavery.

W www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/oxford-street-candy-shop-investigation-b1082733.htm

Same with all the candy shops in London. The authorities try to close places down but ownership is obscure. We had a raid in the very white area I live in, modern slavery under everyone's noses.

So? Doesn't mean they are employed legally, or they haven't been trafficked.
There was a big feature on this a couple of nights ago on the bbc