Last week before the wedding I treated myself to a manicure and pedicure. I’ve never been good at painting my own nails, and I wanted them to look nice for the event. Plus, to be fair, I didn’t want to have to deal with my own feet.
You see, running has wreaked havoc on my little footsies. I have constant calluses and blisters (probably from continuing to pick…at both), and at least two of my toenails are black and bruised at any given time. And I still have one that hasn’t grown back.
I know, I know. Rawr. Totally sexy.
What I *wish* my feet looked like on a regular basis. So very far off...
Anyway, whenever I get a pedicure, I always apologize to the pedicurist before she starts. We both have a little laugh, she assures me it’s not a big deal (probably a lie), and we spend the rest of the time gossiping and/or making small talk. That’s just how it works.
Except for this last time.
I would say something – my apology, a comment on the color, this, that, or the other thing – and my pedicurist would say nothing. She’d look at me, maybe acknowledge that I’d spoken with a movement of her head, and then look back down at my feet.
Now, I’ve had a pedicure or two in my day, and my pedicurists have ALWAYS been chatty. And I appreciate that. A little chatter passes the time, and doesn’t make me feel as awkward about someone being so intimate with all my missing toenails.
But this one? Nothing.
Don’t get me wrong, I still appreciated the pedicure, and I’ll probably even try the place again, but if I get the same girl I’ll definitely be grabbing a magazine.
Ladies – if you’re getting your nails done, do you prefer someone chatty? Or just to be left alone?
Gentlemen – Well, first things first, have you ever actually gotten either a manicure or a pedicure? And if not, what would convince you to do it? (It’s okay. This is a safe place.)
I generally just want to zone out and read a magazine on the rare occasion that I get a pedicure. I have to be social and responsive all day at work, so any opportunity to get away from that is very welcome!
I wouldn’t have minded the magazine, I guess, but I didn’t see *any* around. Another surprising thing for any salon.
When it comes to a pedicure, I prefer quiet so I can pretend like there isn’t somebody there touching my feet.
I hate feet.
Interesting. I don’t hate them, I’m just embarrassed by mine.
I’ll be honest- I’ve always wanted to get a mani/pedi just so I know what it’s like.
I’m not ashamed to say it, it would make a great blog post.
Maybe I’ll take you to this place. Apparently they give out mimosas on Sundays.
Nope… nothing except a naked eva longoria could get me to do it.
Lucky for you she reads this blog…
I always grab a magazine or book – I find the whole process a little awkward/odd and usualy feel bad because of all of the above-listed reasons (oh, runnining, heart you!).
On the other hand – Haircut or Manicure? Please give me someone chatty.
And, on the third hand (wha?), I now want an appt for all of those. It’s been too long.
How come, when we run out of hands, we never say, “on the first foot”? Just something to think about.
it honestly depends on my mood. sometimes i’ll be chatty and other times i just want the pedicurist to shut the hell up and let me read.
I wouldn’t have minded that, but by the time I realized she wasn’t a talker, I was already in the chair, not a magazine in sight.
Same thing with Heather. It’s either I’ll grab a magazine or text. I like a little chit chat, but there’s this one time, the lady was too chatty that she was telling me what her favorite movie was. It was a good chat until she said that 2012 was a documentary. I couldn’t argue with her, it’s a good thing that the convo ended.
I actually don’t like getting my nails done so I do them myself. But the times that I have gone, I went with a friend and we were about 99.9% sure the people doing our toes were talking about how horrible our feet are. Which was ok since my friend and I would chat with each other. Chatting definitely passes the time by though. Highly recommended.
love your blog, great tips and beutifully writen. Thanks
I cannot lie – I recieved a pedicure once. It was in college and I had a fraternity brother who got them regularly. We were out to lunch one day and he wanted to get one and didn’t want to take me back to the house first so he offered to pay for it if I would get one with him. I don’t turn down most free things so I went for it.
The foot massage part was good, but the toe construction part was more than I needed. Plus I couldn’t understand the language that all the ladies in there were speaking and it made me nervous.
I have not had a second one.
As a man I generally go when dragged along by my GF (different ones over time) or my very good female friend. (on average once a year)
Though it would be better if they stopped asking if I wanted polish (even clear stuff). Nothing like that to make a guy want to retreat out of an already serious feminine environment.
I am not a chatter.
The nail salons in my neighborhood are all Vietnamese. We can barely understand each other so we don’t talk. They talk around me. In rapid Vietnamese. I feel a little like Elaine on Seinfeld. (I wonder if they’re calling me Princess in a derogatory manner.) While I was away, I had a spa manicure and it was blissfully quiet except for the briefest of exchanges. I LOVED it.
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