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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:
GarlicGrace · 03/08/2023 02:38

The easiest thing would be to get your nails done somewhere that is not staffed entirely (or nearly) by Vietnamese!

There's nothing special about Vietnam that makes its people especially well-suited to manicure services. If you came from Vietnam with no English, you'd most likely look to specialist Vietnamese businesses such as restaurants, or work that doesn't require customer interaction.

GarlicGrace · 03/08/2023 02:39

Good for you, @LovingLivingLife. :)

LordSalem · 03/08/2023 04:14

Cant you go to someone highly recommended by a friend? How did you choose this particular salon?

LordSalem · 03/08/2023 04:17

If they use electric files to grind down and remove old designs or as any part of the process, stop using them, your nails will be severely damaged

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 03/08/2023 04:19

Gotthegre · 03/08/2023 00:26

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

Yes, it's true.

www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-42729302.amp

ThinWomansBrain · 03/08/2023 12:16

@ItsNotRocketSalad
general conversation - their journey to work, how long they've lived in London, do they have other family here, do they get to visit their family often?

Not intrusive, & certainly not conclusive, but I have less concerns about the manicurist that whinged about childcare, her tube journey to the salon & recommended a nearby restaurant than one who didn't make eye contact & appeared to live on site.

File a report (modernslaveryhelpline.org)

linelgreen · 03/08/2023 13:06

Would never use one of this type of nail salon - always go to a local salon staffed by local girls where the atmosphere is great and I can chat to the staff in my own language.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 03/08/2023 13:13

This thread is an eye-opener.

The place I go to doesn’t accept debit cards at all.

so, red flag?

ExtraOnions · 03/08/2023 13:18

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 03/08/2023 13:13

This thread is an eye-opener.

The place I go to doesn’t accept debit cards at all.

so, red flag?

Yes … possible indication of money laundering, tax avoidance and undocumented workers.

It’s not the only indicator, but need to look at it alongside other things

SecretVictoria · 03/08/2023 13:18

GarlicGrace · 03/08/2023 02:38

The easiest thing would be to get your nails done somewhere that is not staffed entirely (or nearly) by Vietnamese!

There's nothing special about Vietnam that makes its people especially well-suited to manicure services. If you came from Vietnam with no English, you'd most likely look to specialist Vietnamese businesses such as restaurants, or work that doesn't require customer interaction.

The reason lots of them do manicures is that after refugees were airlifted from Saigon, Lauren Bacall was a charity patron (or similar) and they were trying to think of careers the women could train in. Lots of them admired her nails and so they were trained to do nails and manicures.

The one near me is licensed by the Council and their children go to local schools. Some are reputable. There were two near where I used to work. One was constantly raided, the other one never was.

10HailMarys · 03/08/2023 13:28

The nail salon I use is entirely staffed by British Chinese nail techs who were born in the UK, except for one who came here from China 10 years ago. They’ve sadly had abuse from people who see E Asian people working through the window and assume they are running some sort of slavery operation. So yes, modern slavery is a massive concern but there are many other things that are an indication of that beyond just being staffed by East or South-East Asian workers.

I know all the names of the nail techs and they chat to me about their families, pets, social lives and holidays; I know that one of them is the owner and which one is her sister and which one is her cousin; I’ve met various husbands, kids and a girlfriend over the years. They all speak Cantonese but only one speaks it as her first language (and constantly laughs at the others for having bad accents).

Sisiwawa · 03/08/2023 13:28

I stopped going, they always insist on cash, saying 'sorry, card machine not working'
Also they maje no conversation except among themselves and you can't always communicate what you want, it feels like an unfriendly atmosphere overall...yet they are always packed with customers who don't seem to care...

woodhill · 03/08/2023 13:30

One near us always asks for cash which makes we sceptical

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 03/08/2023 13:31

I go to a beautician who is a sole trader, does a range of things including lashes, tans, nails, brows, facials etc. She's from the town we live in and came highly recommended. She's more expensive than nail shops but she's excellent in all aspects. I avoid places that only do nails because I feel like I just can't know if they're ethically run.

bananaboats · 03/08/2023 13:34

I never go to salons like this either for the reason mentioned by pp's so I'd also look for another salon OP but to your original question I don't think you say you don't want a specific person but fine to request ones you specifically do.

Smoky1107 · 03/08/2023 13:56

I used a local salon, I've been really happy and the service was great. But now she won't do weekends and I work all week. So I'm forced into a nail salon last two times but now I've read this I may look around for another independent

ManateeFair · 03/08/2023 14:09

10HailMarys · 03/08/2023 13:28

The nail salon I use is entirely staffed by British Chinese nail techs who were born in the UK, except for one who came here from China 10 years ago. They’ve sadly had abuse from people who see E Asian people working through the window and assume they are running some sort of slavery operation. So yes, modern slavery is a massive concern but there are many other things that are an indication of that beyond just being staffed by East or South-East Asian workers.

I know all the names of the nail techs and they chat to me about their families, pets, social lives and holidays; I know that one of them is the owner and which one is her sister and which one is her cousin; I’ve met various husbands, kids and a girlfriend over the years. They all speak Cantonese but only one speaks it as her first language (and constantly laughs at the others for having bad accents).

Similar situation for me too - the place I go to is mostly staffed by Thai women but they all have husbands and kids here, speak good English and are very chatty. You can book your preferred nail technician by name if you want to, and even if you just book an appointment with anyone who's available the appointment confirmation text/email still gives you the name of whoever they've booked you in with.

There is another nail bar near me though that only seems to take walk-ins and is open and according to a colleague who went there recently, will only accept payment through cash or bank transfer (no card machine) and the bank account details they gave her was for a man's personal account, not an account in the name of the business. It's also really cheap, is open for insanely long hours, and my colleague says none of the staff speak English except the older woman on their front desk. My colleague refuses to even entertain the notion that this might be dodgy though, because she likes their cheap prices 🙄

cupofdecaf · 03/08/2023 14:32

Someone senior in the home office told me most nail salons and car washes are staffed with under/ unpaid illegal immigrants. It's modern slavery.

pinkyredrose · 09/09/2023 00:31

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.

Do you have any studies backing up your claims?

jannier · 09/09/2023 00:40

I won't go to them not just the slavery issue but I don't like the conveyor belt, nail and acrylic dust and drilling nails is not good for them I'd rather pay a bit more and sit somewhere clean relaxing and feel treated. I pay £5 more

Smoky1107 · 09/09/2023 14:52

My original nail technician is back and will do evenings for regulars so she's re done my nails and I've booked my next three! It's peaceful and relaxing and doesn't feel like I'm part of a conveyor belt

Woahtherehoney · 09/09/2023 14:55

The money laundering/slave issue isn’t true in all salons - my friend is Vietnamese and works in a nail salon and was in no way trafficked or a slave and she hates the reputation her and a lot of her friends get. It’s true in same cases but not all.

Nanny0gg · 09/09/2023 15:19

Gotthegre · 03/08/2023 00:26

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

Yes. I've only gone to owner /practitioner salons. Often one-woman bands.

Much nicer.

Nanny0gg · 09/09/2023 15:22

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.

Out of curiosity, what do they charge?

Original poster
LovingLivingLife · 09/09/2023 15:28

£55 for SNS hands, that's the only one I know as that's what I get when I go. £36 is the cheapest around here.

OP posts: