After weeks of hard work and tragic-looking nails, what better way is there to treat yourself than a trip to the nail salon? You get to soak your feet and get a foot rub while you lounge in a massage chair and read trashy magazines. Sounds relaxing, right? For the most part, yes. But there can be a few moments that are less relaxing than others. Here are just a few:
1. When the water is too hot but you don't want to interrupt anyone.
This very thing happened to me on my last trip to the salon. The water in the foot soak was very hot, almost unbearably so, but all the employees were busy so I just sat with my feet out of the tub until someone noticed. These women have to spend all day looking at and touching peoples' gross feet, so I try to be as low-maintenance as possible to make it easier for them.
2. Trying not to squirm during the foot massage because your feet are ticklish.
I have extremely ticklish feet, so this one is a real struggle for me. If your feet aren't ticklish, you just don't understand the level of self-control it takes to stay still during this part. It's supposed to be relaxing, but for me, it's basically a try not to laugh challenge.
3. Being self-conscious about your prickly legs.
I'm not sure if this is a universal part of the pedicure treatments, but at my local salon, they give a wonderful lower leg massage with great-smelling lotion. This is amazing and makes your legs super smooth, but every time I've gotten it I've had to stop myself from apologizing for my prickly shins.
4. Being caught off guard by the nail tech's instructions and not knowing what they said.
You're on your phone or flipping through a magazine when suddenly you hear the nail tech say something. You know they were talking to you, but you have no idea what they said. I did this so many times that the woman doing my nails just starting tapping on my legs whenever she wanted me to move one of them because I was consistently not hearing her verbal instructions.
5. Hoping your feet aren't the grossest they've ever seen.
You're pretty sure they aren't, but I always get a bit self-conscious when the nail tech starts going to town on my callouses. I live in a climate where sandals are year-round attire so I'm sure my local salon has seen all sorts of nightmarish feet.
Even though a trip to the salon may have its awkward moments, don't forget to relax because after all, you're treating yourself. Now go out and get that mani-pedi you deserve.