Pedicure in the UK - Was that all?

[Fridaybliss]

I am not British, I am Italian.

In Italy when you have a standard pedi the following process is followed:

1. they first soak your feet in water/soap, then get it dry and then start scrubbing heel and feet and remove insanely much dead skin.
2. then file nails to bring them to right length
3. then start cutting cuticles, remove debris underneath all toe nails and remove dead/trapped skin at the side of the toe nails, including the two big toe nails. Great emphasis is given to clean this area thoroughly that ingrown nails are prevented
4. then use the electric brush to remove more dead skin around the toe nails
5. finish with either gel or whatever

I had a standard pedi here and they started rubbing heel without first soaking it. What?! Why?!

Then, filed nails. Then, just cuticles removal like a manicure. There was zero emphasis in removing debris underneath and all around nails, including sides of big toe nails and removal of hard, trapped dead skin.

Then, finish.

Is this normal? In all honesty I paid £50 for this! Basic hygienic care is not medical. I didn't have any ingrown nails, but I had trapped debris/dead skin at the sides of my big toe nails, which I then had to remove when back at home.

YABU - This is not happening in the UK
YANBU - Change salon

Did you question what they were doing at the time, OP? Express surprise that they hadn't soaked your feet etc? That's the best way to find out if it's standard, or not. Asking "The British" if they're happy with the "standard of pedi in this country" is absolutely ridiculous. Most of us don't care.

I’ve recently had a fabulous pedicure. No soaking of my feet, instead a chemical peel was used. The solution was poured onto cotton wool pads placed on the hard skin areas, then my feet were popped into little bags for it to work. She then scraped off all dead skin. This was followed by nail trim, moisturising, filing and gel polish finish. For £45 it’s the best pedicure I’ve ever had. My skin is so smooth they slip out of my sliders 😝

I go to a local nail bar run by a Vietnamese couple - only the 2 of them so no trafficked staff . The man does pedicures just as you describe and I feel like I’m walking on air . I am reluctant to go to any pedicure spot where the staff aren’t Vietnamese now as they’ve all been rubbish compared to my regular spot .

I'm in Wales

My nail place are veitnamese, but it's a husband and wife place, no other staff, they're settled into the uk with their children who were all born here. Take cash or cards. They're not trafficked or money laundering. Always have to book q week in advance because they're always so busy - although I've been going six years now so they try to squeeze me in if it's an emergency nail situation

I’m an ex beauty therapist.

please, I beseech you, clear the debris under your toenails yourself. Our faces are near your feet and it’s revolting.

it would be like someone coming in for a bikini wax but not bothering to wipe their bum and expecting me to do it.

What you describe is podiatry. Pedicures we did are more pampering. Foot masks, massage etc. nothing medical.

I’ve had both several times over and the chiropodists used a scalpel which you can buy on amazon and which salons also use so I don’t think that’s the difference.

It's easier to rub dry skin off when the foot is dry, and then soak and moisturise after. So I'd be a bit confused if someone tried to soak first and then get rid of dry skin after.

I believe removing corns and calluses needs a proper qualified chiropdist/podiatrist

That does seem like a lot for not much of a service. I pay about $100 for a gel pedicure in the US. That is a gel pedicure with removal of gel polish and it includes a leg massage and lotion on your legs and feet.

They do have more expensive services, but I usually go with that which is their basic gel service. I could get a less expensive gel pedicure at an Asian salon, but I work for the government and have to take training every year about how to recognize human trafficking. At least here in the US, Asian salons are often a front for human trafficking and I don't want to inadvertently support that.

Cannot believe you have "gunk" under your nails! I have never had a pedicure, but do not have anything under my nails😁

It's rare to get a decent, thorough pedicure in UK salons. I recently paid £55 for a luxury gel pedicure in a smart salon. The beautician wafted a foot file in the vicinity of my feet once or twice. Didn't push my cuticles back, at all. Gave my ankles a cursory rub. And then announced they didn't have a classic, bright red gel polish FFS! So had to make do with a deep coral colour. Shit.

The very best pedicure EVER is a Russian Pedicure I had in a Polish owned salon in London. Oh dear God, it was incredible! My feet looked like they belonged to an angel! Cost me £75 but worth every single penny, and my feet were still beautiful 8 weeks later!

Everything is a bit shitter and a bit more expensive here.

wtf is debris under toenails?

you need to wash your feet when you shower/bath

I know what you mean. I used to live overseas and the pedicures were divine.

I think you need to change salons. I go to a place run by a Vietnamese family and it lasts about an hour and they do a very good exfoliation and massage with gel removal and application. It’s £50.

I get a decent thorough pedicure in a small market town in Yorkshire.

You must frequent the wrong salons.

With gel some therapists wont soak or use lotion before applying as there is a school of thought that the gel locks in the moisture and can cause problems, so its often a dry pedicure.
Also removing cuticle skin etc again a lot of beauty therapists dont remove too much as it encourages infection. With dry skin removal you are better asking for a callus peel rather than the cheese grater as the cheese grater action encourages dry skin formation.

No, the Russian Pedicure I had was divine. Need to go again next time I'm in London.

I live in the UK and the pedicure I get includes all the soaking, removal of dead skin around the nails etc that you mention. I would certainly not be happy if they just started filing skin off my heels without soaking my feet first! That's terrible.

The place I go to charges £38 for a pedicure with ordinary nail polish and £43 for a pedicure with gel polish. For that price you get a foot soak while you sit in a massage chair, then they remove hard skin, tidy up cuticles and any dead skin around the nails etc, then they do a foot massage with an exfoliating lotion before they file and paint the nails.

I only clicked on this thread by accident! Now I'm anxiously examining my feet for debris under my toenails. Anyone else?!