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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nail salon etiquette

52 replies

LovingLivingLife · 02/08/2023 23:07

Those of you who visit nail salons more frequently, please can you help me out with these questions?

AIBU to request to not have a certain member of staff? I don't go very frequently but I often get a certain staff member when I do. But every time she seems to pull a cuticle or damage the skin around my nail somehow. When I have had other staff this doesn't happen. The additional issue is that I don't know her name so I wouldn't really know how to identify her. If it is acceptable to ask not to have her, how would you go about it?

I don't want to change salon as they are really efficient and the other staff do a really good job. For context there's usually at least 6 staff in.

And on a completely different (unimportant) note, I'm very curious what language they speak between themselves. Is it ever acceptable to ask? The staff aren't chatty with customers so it's not like I can casually drop it in.

OP posts:
youngestisapsycho · 02/08/2023 23:08

All the ones where I live are Viatnamese… and yes, some are better then others. I always request the same person

Moveoverdarlin · 02/08/2023 23:12

Don’t specifically say you don’t want her but you can say ‘I want Claire, Zoe or Sarah’ or if you don’t know their names say ‘There’s a girl I have had a few times, she’s tall with a ponytail and black hair, when is her next available appointment?’

Maddy70 · 02/08/2023 23:12

Just ask for an appointment with "Jayne"

Don't ask what language they are speaking

FlamingYam · 02/08/2023 23:22

If they aren't chatty, I wouldn't ask the language but there are usually a few talkative staff and a few quiet.

I got my nails done today and a man had headphones in listening to whatever and only asked about what the lady wanted. My lady was quiet but the lady next to her carries the whole shop with her chattiness.

You will have to book an appt asking for x or y rather than saying not z. I have noticed that the same people can be good or bad at different times so unless this person is actually bad multiple times, try them again.

ThinWomansBrain · 02/08/2023 23:22

Agree, ask for a specific person (or find out the names of one or two that are good) rather than saying you don't want X.

I prefer not to chat, but do try and make conversation, certainly to find out the persons name, and often enough to satisfy that they appear to be their of their own free will - nail salons are a frequent placement for trafficked workers apparently, so language often comes up in that.

I found a salon that I really liked, especially good with not mucking cuticles up, but it was close to work & I've just left, so toying with whether or not it's worth trekking back there.

user1471518104 · 02/08/2023 23:40

You know most of these girls will be slaves and part of the trafficking problem ? No different from a prostitute. These ones just got lucky in that they sell a skill that does not involve being naked.

BlossomCloud · 02/08/2023 23:52

user1471518104 · 02/08/2023 23:40

You know most of these girls will be slaves and part of the trafficking problem ? No different from a prostitute. These ones just got lucky in that they sell a skill that does not involve being naked.

I always wondered this. I've never used a salon like this for that reason, but wasn't sure if I was being unfair. I know it's huge problem in parts of the catering industry too (e.g a. Friend went to inspect a well known pizza delivery space and found the slaves all sleeping in the cupboards)

ExtraOnions · 02/08/2023 23:53

You’re unreasonable to go to a nail salon making profits from modern slavery.

Also, your cuticles may well be damaged because the person isn’t trained properly … but they will be doing nails for 10 hours a day, being paid peanuts, with zero other options.

SM4713 · 03/08/2023 00:09

I'd guess the language is Vietnamese.

Years ago I went to a salon and had a regular girl who spoke reasonable English. All staff were Vietnamese and had a few £1 or £2 coins stacked on their desks. Months on was told that they were tips from patrons, and the only money they made the entire day! No wage, they were essentially slaves, and the £10 or so a day they got in tips was their entire pay! I never returned. Dreadful business.

I'd go elsewhere OP!

Gotthegre · 03/08/2023 00:26

I had no idea they were often trafficked / slaves?! Is this really true?

AliTheMinx · 03/08/2023 00:33

I don't get my nails done, but all of the salons around here are Vietnamese and there are often issues with police raids due to people trafficking and modern slavery. They are not happy places and the staff always seem deeply unhappy.

SirSmellyJohn · 03/08/2023 01:10

I don't go anymore to the nail salons locally. They seem to be full of people from the same country, same accent, all young people. Gives me vibes that maybe slavery/trafficking going on. We already had our local car wash busted by police for the same reason.

GarlicGrace · 03/08/2023 01:15

Gotthegre · 03/08/2023 00:26

I had no idea they were often trafficked / slaves?! Is this really true?

Yes. Often part of a money laundering operation.

GarlicGrace · 03/08/2023 01:20

BlossomCloud · 02/08/2023 23:52

I always wondered this. I've never used a salon like this for that reason, but wasn't sure if I was being unfair. I know it's huge problem in parts of the catering industry too (e.g a. Friend went to inspect a well known pizza delivery space and found the slaves all sleeping in the cupboards)

Show quote history

Ugh, how depressing 😡

FelicityBeedle · 03/08/2023 01:31

‘The vast majority’ aren’t slavery. I won’t deny some are but plenty are family businesses that happen to be ran by immigrants. You don’t feel a tiny bit prejudiced saying that?

JeandeServiette · 03/08/2023 01:33

FelicityBeedle · 03/08/2023 01:31

‘The vast majority’ aren’t slavery. I won’t deny some are but plenty are family businesses that happen to be ran by immigrants. You don’t feel a tiny bit prejudiced saying that?

This.

RainyWeekend · 03/08/2023 01:33

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Mothermotherd · 03/08/2023 01:35

Baffled by these replies. I am very close to a Vietnamese family who owns and works in nail shop. They are often family members or family friends from back home in Vietnam who come for a holiday but work temporarily in the nail shops. They’re brought over to work for a bit to get some money to take or send home for family. They’re undocumented workers yes but not slaves.

not saying some of them aren’t. But this is how most nail shops are run.

Toddlerteaplease · 03/08/2023 01:38

Gotthegre · 03/08/2023 00:26

I had no idea they were often trafficked / slaves?! Is this really true?

Yes.

HappiDaze · 03/08/2023 01:41

Mothermotherd · 03/08/2023 01:35

Baffled by these replies. I am very close to a Vietnamese family who owns and works in nail shop. They are often family members or family friends from back home in Vietnam who come for a holiday but work temporarily in the nail shops. They’re brought over to work for a bit to get some money to take or send home for family. They’re undocumented workers yes but not slaves.

not saying some of them aren’t. But this is how most nail shops are run.

I think sadly that they're pulling the wool over your eyes with their story

Neverseenbefore · 03/08/2023 01:49

Mothermotherd · 03/08/2023 01:35

Baffled by these replies. I am very close to a Vietnamese family who owns and works in nail shop. They are often family members or family friends from back home in Vietnam who come for a holiday but work temporarily in the nail shops. They’re brought over to work for a bit to get some money to take or send home for family. They’re undocumented workers yes but not slaves.

not saying some of them aren’t. But this is how most nail shops are run.

Do you really believe that?

ItsNotRocketSalad · 03/08/2023 02:04

ThinWomansBrain · 02/08/2023 23:22

Agree, ask for a specific person (or find out the names of one or two that are good) rather than saying you don't want X.

I prefer not to chat, but do try and make conversation, certainly to find out the persons name, and often enough to satisfy that they appear to be their of their own free will - nail salons are a frequent placement for trafficked workers apparently, so language often comes up in that.

I found a salon that I really liked, especially good with not mucking cuticles up, but it was close to work & I've just left, so toying with whether or not it's worth trekking back there.

How do you tell in conversation that they aren't modern slaves?

Original poster
LovingLivingLife · 03/08/2023 02:26

Thanks all for your advice. I will make more conversation and see if I can get the name of someone else and ask for them instead.

Although I'm not exactly sure how you can tell either way in a conversation (or in general) if someone is trafficked. The place I attend has a bit of a mix of staff, variety of ages though none look less than 20, and mix male and female. The staff turnover seems to be extremely low, I recognise the same faces in the years I have attended, all be it irregularly. We can pay by bank transfer, cash or card. The staff don't *seem to be particularly miserable, though not sure exactly how I can know for sure.

What indicators are people looking for? Surely you can't discount every nail business that has employees speaking an Asian language?

OP posts:
GarlicGrace · 03/08/2023 02:29

Quick tells:

Low prices
Prefer cash
Staff don't speak English
You're allocated a seat with no introduction to a technician
Very young workers
There may be man 'overseeing' the operation

You don't have to see all of these signs. The one I went to had no visible male overseer (manageress was quite intimidating, though) and they accepted a debit card payment. I passed my technician a £20 note.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/21/what-does-your-10-manicure-really-cost-the-unvarnished-truth-about-nail-bars

What does your £10 manicure really cost? The unvarnished truth about nail bars

Are vulnerable young Vietnamese people being routinely trafficked into the UK to work in cut-price nail salons? Amelia Gentleman joins a police raid on one shop suspected of involvement in exploitation

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/21/what-does-your-10-manicure-really-cost-the-unvarnished-truth-about-nail-bars

Original poster
LovingLivingLife · 03/08/2023 02:35

Thanks @GarlicGrace that's really insightful. Seems the only thing that my local place matches is the not being introduced.

Although the staff seem happier chatting between themselves they do all speak English. I will try to interact more though and see how those conversations go.

OP posts: