Friday, October 6, 2006

Top Toes

Fri Oct 06 20:15:15 EDT 2006
Last night a group of my friends and I met at a spa for a pampering
beauty party. We brought appetizers and wine and gifts for a swap (hel-
lo Monika!), got manicures and pedicures, and had a blast.

This got me to thinking about something I hear over and over: "It's
winter. No one sees my feet. Why get a pedicure?"

To that I say, a bit indignantly, "Don't you see your feet? Doesn't
your husband/boyfriend/partner/significant other?"


Personally, I love being groomed, regardless of the season. When I'm
curled up by the fire reading my latest book with a warm cup of tea, I
can confidentaly strip off my socks and poke my feet in the fire
without worrying about what I'll find when my digits are exposed.

If you've never had a pedicure, here's what to expect:



• Expect to pay anywhere from $20-$100. In the Northeast, where I
live, prices at the better spas average about $40.


• Don't worry about the condition of your feet. Most nail technicians
I've talked to love the challenge of working on needy feet. And don't
cut your toenails; they have to have something to work with.


• Wear loose-fitting pants (but not a skirt), so that your calves can
easily be exposed. And wear or bring flip flops or thongs.


• Once you get to the salon, you'll start by choosing a polish. I'd
recommend burgandy, deep red, or deep purple for winter. Save the
corals and French pedicures for summer.


• You'll soak in a tub of hot water for a bit, so don't worry about
foot odor.


• Your technician will begin by removing any old polish. She'll
soften and push back your cuticles, then trim and file your nails.


• After that, she'll buff your feet to remove any dead skin and
calluses, and will probably rub a slougher from your feet all the way
to your knees. She'll then rinse and dry your feet and legs.


• Next, she'll massage you with lotion (and hot stones if you're
lucky), working the lotion into your toes, feet, and calves.


• She'll swipe your toes with nail polish remover to remove any
lotion, space your toes with a toe spacer or twisted paper towel, and
apply a base coat, two coats of polish and a top coat.


• You'll be requried to sit and dry for a while, so be sure to bring
a book, magazine or some work.


• Don't expect to slip into your socks any time soon, and don't take
a hot bath for a while. You don't want to smudge your newly painted
digits.


• Enjoy! And book another appointment.

No comments: