<p>I have to admit I have never had a professional mani/pedi. But it is getting to be a lot of work to do it myself & my vocation/hobby of gardening is not making it any easier.</p>
<p>But even my D2 who can’t stand to be touched has had one, so I am thinking it may be time to try it out.
The only thing that is holding me back is the same thing that keeps me from hiring a housekeeper, I would have to clean the house, before I could let someone who does it for a living come in!
:o</p>
<p>I am just too frugal (and when I heard about the weird infections some people picked up I was glad of it). I am also a gardener and painter and . . . so my fingernails usually look like crap anyway. (I don’t like wearing gloves.) I do pamper my feet with an occasional soak and nice lotion and keep my toenails polished during the warmer months, when they are not hidden inside wool socks.</p>
<p>Yes to pedicures for me - monthly - since … since forever. Truly one of life’s pleasures. </p>
<p>Manicures - well, I have had them, and they’re a waste of time for me. I do too much with my hands, so my fingernails are kept clipped short. Any polish chips immediately, so I don’t bother with it.</p>
<p>EK - don’t be embarrassed about going. Last time I went a young lady brought her brother - back from Iraq. Said he needed the works after a year in Army boots. Another time a lady brought in her pro football player husband and said it was his time for a good pedicure. Evidently she pulls him in for one on occasion. Most technicians have seen it all. I doubt you’d be a challenge.</p>
<p>I havent’ kept up with manicures since my days of acrylic nails (when polish would actually last a few days). I can’t keep my nails done to save my life. I do like a pedicure and try to keep them done in warmer months. I used to have them done every two weeks year round. Enter a tight budget and exit the bi-monthly pedicures!</p>
<p>I too have seen many men brought in by wives and girlfriends to have their feet done. I wouldn’t give it a second thought!</p>
<p>I can say, while I truly love the luxury of a pedicure…I can no longer get them BECAUSE I now have a fungus which I think/Dr thinks was due to not properly cleaned instruments of a top rated nail salon…so…this may never happen to you, however, you may want to rethink this luxury…</p>
<p>I am thinking of getting my first ever for D’s graduation in May. However, the skin on my hands is very think and I don’t want to get my cuticles cut, so I wonder if it would be worth it?</p>
<p>I get a mani once a week, and a mani pedi every three weeks. Why? The hand/foot massage is wonderfully relaxing. (I hate the leg massage, ask them to do only feet). I garden and wear gloves. But first I put on hand lotion, which is another beauty treatment in and of itself. </p>
<p>No matter what you are wearing, however casual, one always looks more finished with a manicure. If you are concerned about germs, buy your own equipment. (I did during chemo.) A manicurist can tell if you are developing certain problems, btw, and if treated (by a doctor and/or podiatrist) can prevent something worse.</p>
<p>I am kinda worried about infection- but the reviews on Yelp seem current & detailed.
I have never had acrylic nails or even long ones, ( when I did massage my nails were very short & very clean all the time)
I just want my nails buffed- no polish- or maybe some on my toes in honor of Liz Taylor!
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<p>I do wear gloves gardening, I didn’t used to, but now I can’t imagine not. Much better grip, but I go through gloves ( the thinner ones) at least once a month- couldn’t imagine what my hands would look without them.</p>
<p>One woman in one of my landscaping classes always was perfectly groomed- she stood out I can tell you!. She wore a pair of latex gloves underneath her garden gloves- but I couldn’t stand that.
I guess my feet aren’t that bad- just not gorgeous, but I want to be able to wear sandals & not look like I was a goat in a former life.</p>
<p>I think I will look for a spa that also does acupressure. * That* would be so luxurious!
I feel more relaxed just thinking about it.
( My D2 gives very good massages- strong hands & good pressure- the massage H gives is more irritating than anything- so I have all but given up trying to train him …on that anyway.)</p>
<p>I’ve never had a manicure, but I’ve had two or three pedicures and find them to be very relaxing and pampering. A manicure would be a total waste for me personally because I am very hard on my hands. I only wear my rings when we dress up to go out somewhere. My hands are very unattractive … I’ve been rough on them all my life. I love to work in the yard and I have always preferred digging in the dirt sans gloves. </p>
<p>Recent events have changed my mind about working in the yard without gloves. DD’s co-worker (47 years old) was recently hospitalized for eight days with a serious case of pneumonia that was caused by a fungus found in dirt. The doctor determined the man, an avid gardener who doesn’t wear gloves, had probably rubbed his eye when digging around and picked up the fungus in that way. He is still extremely weak and will not be able to return to work for several weeks. The doctor has said he’ll need to be on anti-fungal medications for almost a year to completely rid his system of it.</p>
<p>I have a nail fungus too and I found a spa about 6 months ago that would take me. They have strict safety and sanitation practices for tools and also use disposable foot tubs. They use Footlogix products in the spa and I use Footlogix Anti-Fungal Nail Tincture at home. I now have health nails growing in and I am enjoying my spa pedicures.</p>
<p>My elderly mom has been warned by her doc not to garden without gloves because of the infection risk. I guess I should try to get in the habit. If I am successful maybe I could reward myself with a manicure. :)</p>
<p>I’ve recently started getting “shellac” manicures - it’s sort of a cross between regular and acrylic. It takes the same amount of time as a regular manicure, but your nails are completely dry when you leave the salon and the manicure lasts for at least 2 weeks. It’s a teeny bit more expensive ($5?) but well worth it, IMO. You can Google “CND shellac” to find a salon in your area.</p>
<p>FYI, my nails are not very long and they take a beating between housework and gardening.</p>
<p>I started getting regular pedicures (1X/month) several years ago when it became easy to do so. Found a place across the street from my sister’s that does not require appointments so I just walk in. I do not do manicures (except maybe once a year around my birthday). They don’t last long enough for me to consider it. (FWIW–I keep my fingernails very short with no polish.) (BTW–I get my eyebrows waxed when I’m getting my piggies done.)</p>
<p>During the warm weather months, I go for a pedicure monthly. It’s a wonderful treat to myself and I enjoy it tremendously. I always go to the same woman whose massages can’t be beat. I’ve read and seen the stories about weird infections due to improper cleaning and sterilizing of tools, but I’ve never known anyone personally who has had this issue. And just about everyone I know does regular mani/pedi.</p>
<p>emerald, you should go! You won’t regret it! I am by no means a frilly girl but there’s not much more that I love doing then getting a pedicure! I very rarely will get a manicure as I usually chip them within a day (haha!) but there is nothing more relaxing then sitting back in their massage chair while they massage my feet and make them look pretty! I’ll probably get mine done again as well as my fingers (it’s only 10 dollars more) before I go on vacation this year - that way I look nice and cute!!</p>
<p>My hands take a beating with cooking and gardening. They only way I can keep them looking good is with weekly manicures. I also started getting the new shellac process - each layer is dried under a UV light and you leave the salon with completely dry nails. It lasts much longer - so much so that my nails are actually starting to grow a bit. I use a nude color - red or dark colors are not for me. </p>
<p>For years I just had a natural manicure - soaking, filing, pushing back of the cuticles, lotion and buffing. This is a good alternative for those who want a clean, finished look without polish. </p>
<p>I have a pedicure every three weeks year-round. Occasionally I go a little longer in the winter, but I always make sure my feet look presentable in the summer. I would not wear sandals without a pedicure. I’m always surprised at some of the feet I see on display in the summer - dry, calloused, yellow toenails - yuck!</p>
<p>The key is to find a technician who practices top notch hygiene, and who pays attention to detail.</p>
<p>I get pedi’s on a regular basis and love them. I haven’t had any problems, but I go to a very good local nail salon. I have tried other places and did not like them as well. I get mani’s for special occasions only, with my hands in and out of file cabinets at work, it isn’t worth it.</p>
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