The world of manicures and pedicures. One requires a manual just to understand terms like solar nail, crystal gel and well, you get the picture. The future in pedicures is no longer pumice, but a smoothing agent with scales and fins...
The scenario is common across America. You walk into the nail shop or spa, request a pedicure and take your seat. Shortly thereafter, you are escorted to the massage chair and your feet are placed a warm tub of scented water while your lower back receives much deserved attention.
In northern Virginia,
Yvonne Hair and Nails has traded in their pumice for something a little fishy. Literally.
According to an
AP report, razors are being criticized by state regulators due to sanitary concerns associated with callous removal so
spa owner, John Ho, went fishing for some ideas and landed a big one:
Ho was skeptical at first about the fish, which are called garra rufa but typically known as doctor fish. They were first used in Turkey and have become popular in some Asian countries.
But Ho doubted they would thrive in the warm water needed for a comfortable footbath. And he didn't know if customers would like the idea.
"I know people were a little intimidated at first," Ho said. "But I just said, 'Let's give it a shot.'
The treatment drew in much positive feedback from customers, claiming that the fish removed callouses that had never been able to be removed before and without pain. Hundreds to thousands of tiny toothless fish feast on a buffet of dead foot skin just prior to a regular pedicure. Because they don't have teeth, they are unable to bite healthy human skin.
Customer's equate the feeling to that of one's foot falling asleep or according to one patron whose nerves turned to guffaws when her feet hit the water, "It's a little ticklish, actually."
The
Dr. Fish Massage treatment runs about $35 US dollars for 15 minutes of foot tingling callous removal and $50 for a full 30 minutes. The process has even been shown on the
Tyra Bank's Show.
The salon's communal "eatery" was forced into individual customer foot tanks with about 100 fish per tank when health regulators decided that the water needed to be changed after each customer. The salon owner complied, showing some humor.
The communal pool also presented its own problem: At times the fish would flock to the feet of an individual with a surplus of dead skin, leaving others with a dearth of fish.
"It would sometimes be embarrassing for them but it was also really hilarious," Ho said.
Although not a staple, or even known to any other spa in America, fish pedicures may be all the upcoming rage. There is even some gossip that the fish will be employed in full body treatments for skin disorders such as psoriasis.
For the time being, this mani/pedi customer will stick to the pumice stone method, leaving the fish to those who enjoy braving the wild storms.
