Why I Dread a Trip to the Nail Salon

As per my facebook status: A trip to the pedicurist is scarier than a trip to the dentist. Most of the time it is even more painful.

1. The last time I had a pedicure, I had them put a clear polish which then caused my nails to weaken, then crack, and so part of my toe nail was chipped. I tried to groom it and ended up wounding myself. Hehe. So I said, I better go to the professionals the next time.

2. This is probably the 5th time I am having a pedicure… in my entire life. I have never been that type of person. I have never enjoyed manicures or pedicures, most of the time they end up hurting my tips and toes. I have tiny fingers, thus tiny nails. There won’t be much room for them to work on. I don’t think I get the worth of my money. Haha.

3. In Guam, the first time I went to the nail salon was when a friend asked me to accompany her. We both asked for the same pedicure package, but I did not get the same treatment. The only reason I can think of is because I am Asian. My friend is white. The staffs were Vietnamese. They were more accommodating and friendlier to the American-looking people. They entertain them, talk to them, smile at them. Me? I just get the pedicure. No talking. There was even one point they had me move to another chair (yes, in the middle of all the pedicure session), just so they can give a corner seat to another white woman.

4. That same trip to the nail salon, I was already standing up, holding my purse, waiting and watching for my friend’s toes to get done. She asked for the flowery details on her toes. Nice. Then another white manang approached me, handing me the nail polish she picked. She thought I was one of the staff. Why? The only reason I could think of was because I was Asian. I told her, “Sorry, I don’t work here.” She said “Oh, so what are you doing here?” I said “Waiting for my friend?” Being a passive person that I am, I was mad, but didn’t do anything. Damn you manang!!! I’ll remember that stupid face of yours wherever.

5. I don’t grow my nails long, there’s too much in life you have to give up when you have long nails (e.g. gardening, scratching your skin and eyes, eating with your hands, etc).

6. My feet are extremely ticklish. Once they start doing the scrubbing, the massaging, I immediately laugh or smile. I try to think of sad things and horror movies, just so I could stop laughing. I tear up, in most cases. It’s torture. Hahaha!

7. This last weekend, I went to the nail salon because of pure necessity. I was afraid of wounding my toes again, trying to clean up some left over ingrown. I let a professional do it, and what happens? She was able to take out the ingrown alright, but with blood. Yes I saw blood. I had at least 3 OUCH moments there. Why do they say pedicures are relaxing? Why do most women do this to themselves regularly?

8. Item 3’s nail salon is different from Item 7’s. Apparently though, both have Vietnamese-full staff. Why do I know? Because they talk it. They talk loudly with each other, all across the room, the whole time. Again, they were more friendly with the white people, of course. I didn’t get the same service, of course. My seat’s back massager was broken, they don’t care. While someone was working on my pedicure, another woman was working on my manicure. She was standing on my right side the whole time. Instead of walking on my other side, she asks me to stretch out my left hand to the right. So she can work on it. In short: YUNG KAMAY MO ANG LALAPIT SA KANYA. Bwisit. Of course, they weren’t like that with the white woman.

9. It was the first time I tried a non-neutral colored toe nail polish; it was a dark old rose hue. When they put it on my toes, it looked more like fuchsia. So tacky. Fuchsia naman oh! I don’t even know how to pick a nice color.

10. I am perfectly happy with clean pinkish tips and toes. That’s it. Simple, clean, BEAUTIFUL!

I'LL DO IT MYSELF.