Essential Elements of a Professional Pedicure

    

Even if you’ve had pedicures- either at a spa or beauty or nail salons- the rudiments of the procedure may be a total mystery to you. Are you surprised? Because of the very nature of the service, anyone with a foot and a few minutes of having it rubbed will more than likely feel absolutely pleased at that specific experience alone. I can’t fault anyone for feeling this way and don’t by any means! An important part of the service is about feeling good and creating a healthful and relaxing experience. If someone pays huge sums of money just to have their feet rubbed, however, my concern as a licensed professional is the ignorance of the entirety of the pedicure service. A professional pedicure is a very specific and involved set of processes aimed at common key issues which are inclusive to any form of the service- very much like a manicure with the emphasis on health and dealing with issues most of the time. Very few people can walk on their hands but everyone walks on their feet so getting a proper pedicure may be essential to the most important part of your anatomy!

     When people come to me for pedicures the first thing I ask them is if they have any concerns about their feet that I should look at and either work on the problem during the service or recommend medical services to follow up. This is even more important for the feet than the hands because many pedicure clients often can’t actually see the problems but they can feel them. For example, they may have soreness in areas which they cannot reach or view well enough to see what the matter might be. When someone fresh out of school (or completely unschooled) works on your feet they most likely will not notice problems that I can often spot on sight. I ask questions to find out if my suspicions are right or to ascertain whether I can proceed with the service safely. In most cases, I can proceed. My obligation to the client is a chance to give each person a professional assessment of what may or may not be going on with their feet. Having your feet examined by a professional with a lot of experience concerning foot problems or conditions is a plus in any case. I have learned quite a bit about foot ailments by working on people with problems, concerns and conditions and also by consulting podiatrists about diseases and conditions which are not within the scope of my work to handle. In addition, at every opportunity I educate myself about various foot diseases or injuries and how they are studied, examined and treated. I’d certainly rather be overeducated than not be able to help people determine what their foot problems may be, in any case, even if I decide not to perform the service and refer them to a podiatrist instead.  

     The following text and diagrams on this entry are the basics of a standard pedicure service according to the national textbook on cosmetology. If more services than these following procedures are given during your pedicure and they do not cause discomfort or problems for you, then you can assume that the individual performing these services are additional rather than standard in the common practice of pedicures according to most state boards of cosmetology. Licensed, professional pedicurists will never skip the following steps. (In other words, more steps are additional; less steps mean you didn’t even receive a standard service.) Word to the wise!

    

Once your feet are examined and cleared for a basic service the (1) first step will be soaking the feet in quite warm (but not uncomfortably hot!) soapy water. The soaking solution may be specifically formulated for pedicure procedures and a common additive is tea tree oil which has antiseptic properties and is non-drying to the skin and other tissues. Other solutions should all have antiseptic properties even under normal conditions. Feet should soak for at least 15 to 20 minutes before actual work on any part of the feet occurs. No nail clipping should be done prior to the soak unless your toenails are thin and weak or fragile. If the latter is true then clipping and file finishing first may be necessary. (Cutting weak nails after soaking them in water may cause irreparable damage to the nails!) Removal of old polish on toenails prior to the soak is preferable but can also be done after soaking. Personally, I always remove old polish prior to soaking.

     Each foot is treated separately during the service. While one foot is being treated the other should go back to or remain in the water, whether it is the original soaking solution or a clear bath refresh to remove materials used during the service. 









The nails should be (2) cut straight across with standard straight clippers. The corners of

toenails should never be cut at an angle or rounded as this may encourage ingrown toenails depending on how convex, tubular or arched the toenails are- especially along the side edges- the large toe being the most commonly prone to ingrown problems than any other. Filing and beveling for smoothness to the edges is also standard procedure. 

     After removal from the water (3) cuticle remover must be applied along the cuticle line before any work on the cuticle. A fine pumice stone cuticle pusher is best to use on toenails as it is gentle for use on the forward growth from the tougher cuticle (eponychium) attached to the base of the nail plate. Otherwise, a metal pusher may be used but is not recommended by myself. A good pedicurist will work around the hyponychium (foundation mantle which nail is attached to and the sides are embedded in along the side nail grooves) to remove debris- not the hyponychium itself. This should be done gently and without uncomfortable pain, of course. 

pumice stone cuticle pushers

Eponychium can be (4) pushed back and any excess removed from the nail plate should be (5) trimmed with a cuticle nipper. Any ragged or torn pieces of cuticle can also be cut with the cuticle nipper. (Note: This procedure is the same for manicures.) The best tool for working around the hyponychium is an orangewood stick alone or wrapped with cotton. 

The pointed corners of the toenail, created by the straight cut, can be beveled with the pumice stone cuticle pusher safely and comfortably. Invasive work on the hyponychium is not only forbidden, it would also be very uncomfortable and compromising. Be sure to alert the technician if you experience any discomfort or overt pain. Hangnails may occur along the pointed corners and if they loosen and become apparent with beveling they can be cut where they overextend the nail edge quite comfortably. Only allow this if your technician is skilled in the practice of removal with quite a few years of experience. Expert removal of hangnails may help prevent ingrown toenails. Take note that the onset of hangnails is quite common and may be particularly bothersome to someone who does not receive frequent or regular pedicures.

   

  (6) Removal of surface calluses and rough spots are gently removed with foot file exfoliaters. These are oval shaped with a large handle and are quite large in order to handle removal of difficult (hardened) or deep calluses. Used in a back and forth direction, they are quite effective for their purpose. They are NOT for removing blisters, bunions or corns. Those are handled strictly by podiatrists and chiropodists. Extensive work on calluses can also be done with lotion exfoliaters which impart additional smoothness and cause excised skin remainders to just roll off in a gentle peel. That must also be rinsed off the foot prior to the next step.

    







   

(7) Massage with lotion specially formulated for feet is most often used for this very important and serious part of the service. No other part of the technician’s hands, other than the tips of fingers, should make light pressure contact with the foot. Manipulations used vary widely and can be quite involved. Those which work well on the foot are small, rotary movements with sweeping motions upward from the ankle up to the knee. Only very light movements with no pressure may be used over the shin. Licensed manicurists can do massages just past the knee so our allowed massage range is sizable enough to create real relaxation. 

    

Fisting or knuckling the bottom of the foot is not only generally quite uncomfortable, it is expressly dangerous and should not be done. Of the 206 bones which comprise human anatomy, 106 or more are contained in our feet and hands which are very small and fragile- even in the largest of feet and hands. Metacarpal bones in the wrists and ankles are particularly small and vulnerable, so should be left alone. The tendons and ligaments in the feet are intricately structured for specific movement and should not be disturbed or manipulated out of their regions. Your knee can be straightened during a massage but bending it backward to bow will cause serious problems eventually. Can you show me anyone who would want to walk away from a pedicure practically crippled?

     Last but not least, (8) polishing is done and making sure the toenails are free of any residual pedicure product is important. The technician may soak and wipe off the entirety of the feet or simply use a damp towel to make sure the nails are completely clean. Toe separators are used to prevent mishaps while waiting for the finish to dry or cure. Base, color and topcoat are used the same as a manicure.  

     It is currently very popular in spas to use pedicure masks made with avocados, mangoes, etc. and often amps up the price of pedicures considerably. My advice is to stick with basic products specifically formulated for pedicures, without giving in to wild claims of these dubious concoctions. They may be pleasant or extraneously silly but are often just an excuse to charge more for the service. If you really want to try these things, try them on yourself first and then consider whether you really want to pay considerably more for these often outlandish products- packaged or not.

     Fish pedicures sounded like a big joke until I started reading about them in my professional magazines as something to warn our patrons about- absolutely true! I didn’t believe any of it until it was confirmed that many Viet salons were using this method for so-called exfoliation of dead skin. Do I need to tell you not to do it? In many cases it may be a good idea to ask to examine the pedicure area of a salon prior to making an appointment for a service anywhere! If something looks (or smells) fishy it probably is so be sure to report them to your local state board of Cosmetology and/or Barbering. It isn’t legal but it’s definitely crazy! As for me, I’ll pass on the piranha pedicure, thanks !

    

California is leading the country at present for having implemented express and detailed regulations on sanitization of all-in-one pedicure spas. (Those are the chair, seat massage and incorporated bath type units which are quite prevalent today in most nail salons or full service salons.) A spa pedicure can be had without the use of these all-in-ones but are generally regarded as standard pedicures. The true classification of a spa pedicure is in the professionalism in the products and service itself so if your feet are placed in a bucket of soapy water alone you technically didn’t get a spa pedicure. The bath you actually soak in is what makes the difference which will move and heat the water. Professional technicians often personally own a free-standing pedicure whirlpool bath so that they can do pedicures anywhere whether or not they have a mobile license. Sanitization of these independent whirlpool baths is simple by comparison to the fixed station all-in-ones. (All-in-ones must be sanitized topically and internally since it has its own plumbing.)

     I have been doing the California standard for sanitization of pedicure spas since its inception in the 90s because I am California and Colorado State licensed. These rules are quite stringent because they were implemented after serious infectious outbreaks of skin ailments and diseases (which were permanently scarring in most cases) on women in California who received pedicure services with the newly invented all-in-one spas. These brand new inventions were not being properly sanitized despite clear manufacturer’s instructions and the laws passed after that time enforced the instructions as regulations. If your state board has not implemented this standard for the regulations, which are now decades old, you may want to urge them to do so! 

     If you want to know for certain that the salon you have selected conforms to these rules check to see if there is a detailed list displayed in the pedicure area notated with specifics of before and after pedicure services with dates, times and products used for sanitizing. If there is no list posted, ask to see one and if that cannot be produced, proceed only with caution. You can call your state board of Cosmetology to find out if specific salons have received citations for not complying with sanitization. Determining the rules for your state will reveal whether they are rather lax or up to the California standard. There hasn’t been implementation of reciprocity of the California standard in all states so you may have to do quite a bit of checking before you can be certain of these standards for any salon. In any case, the list on the wall is very important because these are checked by regulatory department scouts and employed inspectors from state boards across the country. Nearly all the states have state boards.

     In closing I also want to mention the disposable liner type pedicure stations. Even if you personally buy the liner from a wrapped package you’ll still have to sanitize the liner prior to usage. Save your money and find a salon that is up to or above the state code for an all-in-one. The complete experience will be worth the time you spend to make sure everything is state board approved and followed !

Enjoy ! 

The Castle Lady

Internet DIY vs The Professional Manicure

     I’m starting to become alarmed at the ridiculous and downright conning that is going on in so-called amateur video tutorials, professional-looking web sites that claim to teach people how to do their own nails for $49 (without creds to teach, of course !), DIY nail product selling with dubious tools and products and all types of chicanery in the amateur manicure and nails industry. I cannot emphasize enough that any article, web site, video, T.V. or internet merchandizing that tells you that you can do your own nails with the same knowledge and skill and as good as (or better than) a licensed professional is just a scam to take your money and run.

     The internet videos go on and on with their free advice and clumsy demonstrations (on their own hands, invariably) and impart more misinformation than I have ever read in magazine articles! The other night I watched a video by someone who calls herself a nails enthusiast. She’d taken her acrylics off which she claims has been professionally done for a decade. Taking it upon herself to remove them caused obvious damage to her nails in addition to the damage that the so-called professional did by using a drill on her- and showed how she ‘got her nails back to health’ by rubbing garlic on the ends of her fingers, later digging her fingers into lemons cut in half, etc. Her claims for each one of these was about as far-fetched as any old wives’ tale remedies and it goes on so long that I realized she took months making this long, drawn-out video to the point that I started to think that watching paint dry might be more interesting ! ! OY-VAY ! Not a bit of this video was in any way professional advice nor did it show me anything to prove her point. As a matter of fact it was sheer torture listening to and watching this enthusiast  bungle around with her nails for no less than a half hour. Let me set the record straight right now. Garlic will not make your nails grow faster. Lemons will not whiten your nails but they will make them extremely brittle over a period of time. Professionals use nail white paste or pencils. French manicures are done with a temporary enamel or gel finish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RO_cmsjfgE&pbjreload=10

     I have been doing nails now for forty-one years and when someone sits down at my table I educate them about why I do certain manipulations, use products and tools a certain way and how to go about home maintenance should it ever be necessary. The latter I mentioned is a very rare incidence since I urge my clients to come for regular care if they want to keep up the look I have achieved for them. I don’t know why anyone would think that because they had their nails done by someone for years that they can ‘figure it all out for themselves’ from now on; Perhaps even thinking that they can teach someone else how to manicure or put on acrylic with info that is over their heads is nonsense. Once someone goes to a professional tech- licensed or not- they would know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they could not match the expertise of the work just by messing around with their home remedies or products which can be bought in a Consumer Beauty Supply Store. (Most professionals will not use any product which shows up in a Consumer Beauty Supply for a good reason. Professional Supply Houses drop any product which shows up, under license, in a Consumer Beauty Supply, also, by the way.) I do not recommend that anyone ever go to a non-licensed professional nail tech. The sanitation/ cross-contamination risk is one factor but the damage from incorrect overuse of drills is another reason I would advise potential patrons to avoid them. Another reason is that many of these non-licensed professionals can’t do a simple manicure on hands. They haven’t the expertise or the proper equipment.

  

( cuticle knives sold on internet )

  

     Manicure implements are being sold on the internet which have been banned by the State Boards or have gone out of use by professionals because they have been phased out or proven unsafe or ineffective. One such implement is the cuticle knife (pictured above) which is referred to in consumer-directed ads, sometimes, as dual-ended cuticle trimmers. These implements are not used or recommended by professionals or cosmetology schools. I believed they were banned until I saw them all over the internet to be purchased by consumers recently. I have seen the damage, personally, caused by these horrific-looking implements and it takes a long time to get cuticles to behave and look normal after someone has used them. There is no correct way to use these implements to avoid the damage they do. The actual blade cannot be controlled- it is a non-movable part- and is nearly impossible to use without overcutting. Incidentally, I believe these may be a copy of a surgical tool once used by podiatrists to remove hangnails and agnails (toes) before they cause ingrown toenails. I saw two videos on the internet of amateurs showing how they use these unsafe implements to trim cuticles and loose skin and the videos looked edited.

     Any cutting of loose skin around the cuticle line or the actual cuticle is removed by a professional with a cuticle nipper. If you look close we all have different-looking nippers which would give a consumer the wrong impression. There are two features however which are invariable and make our training a bit easier. These are the two blades that meet and curved handles which fit the hand for complete control. I have watched consumers use these implements which can be bought in any drugstore. A professional could use these, technically, and would probably do a superior job. Consumers use nippers like they are plucking their eyebrows ! A huge no-no. This only causes a worse problem than they started out with and the damage is painful to watch. If you care about your health at all don’t use these implements unless you can get a nail tech or professional to show you how to use it correctly.

     Curved end toenail clippers have made a comeback in mail order and I can tell you what’s wrong with them if you’ll hear me out. Toenails should only be cut straight across in order to prevent ingrown toenails. If you cut the side of the nail with a curved blade you will most certainly get ingrown toenails. It happened to me when I was very young and it took a podiatrist doing the almost unthinkable in order to straighten the problem out. Only soaking the nails in sanitized, soapy warm water to soften the nails will prevent reoccurrences. Therefore you would never want to use a curved blade on your toenails- only a straight, flat blade. The ads are made to appear as if it’s easier to use these implements but the damage you’ll inevitably do with them will be difficult and time-consuming to correct by a doctor or professional.

     Two ads for fungus cures showed up in coupon inserts, recently, in my newspaper so no matter where you live in the states you’ll see these ads. It looks like the manufacturers finally did their homework but the consumer should read everything well. Fungicure claims to kill 6 types of fungus but doesn’t say what these types are or how to detect them. I suppose some information is on the inside of the package but if you want to save yourself some money my advice is to get in contact with the company at www.fungicure.com and ask them every question you can think of and find out how the product works. Lamisil cream was directly opposite that ad and I know personally that it’s highly effective on athlete’s foot only. The way the ad looks, one may be having diabetic pains and think they have fungus! In very fine print the ad tells you that their triple action formula is for treating athlete’s foot where it’s the most difficult to get rid of- between the toes! A longstanding client of mine had a case that wouldn’t go away and she periodically showed me the progress of its use over a period of time and we were both pleased with the outcome. Both of these products must be used exactly as directed and no other way.

     Some people believe that they should only go to a podiatrist with all their foot needs but I know for a fact that many podiatrists send people to professional pedicurists to get normal foot care. They don’t bother with such- beyond showing people how they should cut their toenails. The first reason is that they don’t have time to sit and do an actual pedicure on patients. Even they concede that the patient is better off going to a professionally licensed pedicurist than relying on them for such a time-consuming task. Many of their patients have serious problems and they prefer to work at what they were educated to do. 
    

One more thing... would you let anyone hook this thing up to your big toe? Didn't think so. OY OY OY ! It looks like some sort of torture device. NOT !

     

Magazine Misinformation

     Today I want to tackle the issue of how you should dissect the misconceptions and downright deceptive information which is published in all sorts of periodicals and magazines about manicures. I recently retrieved a full page article I found in the November 2013 issue of Prevention Magazine titled, “Your Healthy Manicure How-To”. The following is the article verbatim:

Avoid salon chemicals (and potential infections) with these five simple at-home steps

1. File your nails Hold an emery board parallel to your nail’s edge. File across, then round out the corners.

2. Soften your skin Microwave a bowl of lotion for 10 seconds, then soak your fingers in it for 60 seconds.

3. Care for cuticles Don’t trim cuticles; they protect nails from infection. Gently push them back with a damp cloth.

4. Smooth ridges  Run a nail buffer, like OPI Brilliance Block ($6; ulta.com), back and forth across your nails to smooth vertical lines.

5. Polish  Polish fortifies the nail. Try peptide-infused toxin-free Dermelect ME in Sophisticate ($14; dermelect.com).

   It further states, on a side bar, to reconsider your polish remover by advising you to try a nourishing one like A Beautiful Life Soy Polish Remover ($20; abeautifullife.com), stating that the acetone is replaced by soy!

*

    Most of this article is not only in error, a large amount of it is even dangerous advice and naïve, at the least. The first premise which is completely false is that you will be avoiding potential infections without proper sanitation and educated precaution. None of the info in this article alerts you to this fact and given the likelihood that readers of this magazine consider it to be backed by medical professionals- the premise is totally inexcusable.

     No less than three sources were listed for the support of this article. They are Zoe Draelos, MD from Duke University; Richard Scher, MD, Weill Cornell Medical College and last, but not least, Donna Perillo from Sweet Lily Natural Nail Spa. The latter source could’ve lent a credible and experienced source were it not for the fact that many nail spas are not regulated by Barber/Cosmetology Boards nor any other licensing board at present. In fact, the words ‘nail’ in conjunction with ‘spa’ may be an indication that the nail technicians hired may not be professionally licensed personally. State boards across almost all states in the U.S. require a person’s license to be displayed prominently in or above their stations. To know for sure, look for them and if you don’t see credentials that match your techs name with the official state logo on it then most likely you are not safe from potential infections. Look to see if implements to be used are actively soaking in disinfectant solution. Is the table clean? Both manicurist and patron must wash their hands prior to the service. These are just some of the precautions.

     Assuming that you still want to try to work on yourself, re-read the five steps above and I’ll tell you why they’re wrong and written by someone who did not speak with a licensed professional at all- leave alone two doctors. Emery boards cannot be sanitized and therefore are potential hazards. Licensed professionals use materials kinder to the nails than a standard emery board and most of these filing implements can be sanitized. Microwaving a bowl of any lotion you have available will create a disastrous effect. Professionals use preparations specifically formulated to emulsify when they are heated and they have apparatuses which will heat the hot oil nail soak to a proper temperature which can be controlled.

      Licensed professionals can trim your cuticles and generally do if anything is extraneous and a potential to worsen if the cuticles are unkempt or forward growth needs to be cleaned off of the nail plate. Cuticles unattended need softening and to be trimmed where they are loose or jagged. This is our job and is best left to us because we were trained how to deal with these issues with our specific implements. It is our raison d’etre. Compris ? If you must do this yourself, wash your hands thoroughly being sure to wet the hands thoroughly for five minutes in warm water. When you dry your hands just gently push back on the cuticle lines with a towel and then leave them alone.

    

The rest of the article starts pushing products which are generally only used by professionals! This article is suggesting that perhaps it might be a good idea to use products that you have not been educated to use correctly- and then tells you the wrong way to use them- to the tune of no less than $40. I’m fairly certain that a manicure of this caliber in a licensed salon would not set you back that far in cash and you’ll rest assured knowing that this person most likely knows how to use them correctly.

     The OPI Brilliance Block is intended for finishing artificial nails- not to try to excoriate ridges on a natural nail. What may initially feel smoother to you will eventually start cracking right along those ridges or lines because you have removed the top tissue which fuses the nail together as a layered unit- being as how your nail is actually epithelial tissue- (horny tissue)!

  

   Regular polish is a fortifier for nails-true! But a peptide-infused version without the so-called toxic three (dibutyl pthylate, formaldehyde, toluene) will most likely bubble after a manicure done with heated lotion. I doubt that anyone is going to like spending $14 on a bottle of polish only to have it look like they have some weird nail disease. I’ll be brutally honest here and tell you that probably an old polish you have on your vanity table would do just fine and won’t hurt you a bit. Here’s another hot flash! I haven’t a clue how soy could be formulated to take polish off ! Whatever they’d have to do to the soy I’m sure it wouldn’t work or if it did you may not want it to. So much for avoiding salon chemicals. It might be worth it to try taking off that insidious gel polish that chips but won't come off. In that case, it would be worse than ketone from which acetone is a diluted version- right!

Just setting the record straight !

The Castle Lady

Shop Smart, Shop Small

      It’s possible that you have seen the ads on T.V. and in print about shopping at local businesses, start-ups and Mom & Pop stores and have changed the usual way of doing business- you know, looking stuff up on Amazon or E-Bay for the cheapest price on over-advertised products. Old habits die hard so I’m writing a bit tongue-in-cheek but very serious about this new and important trend. My thoughts are along the order of the salvation of the American economy. It’s not just about shopping for products made in America- although that’s also important don’t get me wrong! It’s just as important that we recognize and shop smaller businesses because that’s where the lifeblood of our economy and getting back on our financial feet is truly going to happen. Statistics show that for every $100 spent at local small businesses, $68 of that amount returns or stays within the community. This means that small business owners are also supporting local, small businesses! That is a true win/win situation that is guaranteed to help us restructure and keep our communities strong financially.

     If you shop at or work for big business operations and national megastores this may come as a shock to you but that business may not sell items made in America and therefore doesn’t support the local economy. The revenue from the items sold will most likely support only the corporate headquarters locality or somewhere other than your own community. These stores are the reason that the buzzword ‘global’ has taken on a life of its own. Going global doesn’t necessarily mean we are buying products that are outsourced but too often they are where big business is concerned and they wouldn’t be able to offer you the discounts they give without outsourcing.

      Independent small businesses take on many forms in the shape of non-mall music stores, shoe shops or repair, florists, independent bookstores, upstart coffee shops, resell fashion and small beauty salons. Size isn’t our only difference. We get our products from producers and industry that make these supplies in small batches or by hand, often, with obviously better quality. We make up for size with quality, care and a personal touch that cannot be replaced with speed, discounting or large quantity supplies. Innovative ideas and techniques more often start as a small business than in a big box test lab.

      I am a person who loves to buy blank books in which I hand write my diaries and journals. I like to buy handmade blank books when I can. One time I found some beautifully handmade blank books at a renaissance fair in Larkspur, CO and practically bought the proprietress completely out. Each one is unique and I’ve never seen any others remotely like them. Believe it or not I’ve filled every one of those books long since. (I’ve been journaling since I was a pre-teen.) You should have seen this woman. I’m sure that was a happy dance in the back of the stall. Other manufactured books I’ve written in are falling apart and hers are still nearly indestructible after all these years. This is just one illustration but I think I’ve made my point.

      The way we shop or receive services can either make a difference as I’ve stated above or contribute to an economy that no longer supports us. American Express has dedicated a web site to this shopping phenomenon in hopes that it can aid not just the economy but the backbone of all business in our country and around the world. Even the wealthiest of our country, if we trace back their history, started out with modest businesses. Hard work and dedication plus some very smart business strategy made them what they are today- employers on a grand scale.

     For this Christmas season I encourage you to get out there and look for those shops that may be on a wing and a prayer today but may eventually support half your town because you gave them the opportunity over big box. You’ll also sleep better knowing that you are helping your own community. That’s worth it right there.  

Keep Calm and Shop Local !

The Castle Lady

Can Nail Grooming be Considered Repulsive Behavior?

      Back in 2009 when I was perusing Global Traveler magazine online I found a blog entry by the vice president and associate publisher of the magazine, Alex Young, and it really made me think about public behavior of women when it comes to personal grooming.

The following is his blog entry in its entirety:

Pet Peeves

Tuesday, February 12th, 2008

I know we all have them. On a train ride home on the NJ transit, the woman

across from me decided to clip her nails for the world to see and hear. I was

peeved! Granted some may say I have become spoiled traveling in business and

first class, but I am happy to take public transportation to get me where I need

to go. I do it everyday, on the subways, trains etc.. but there are some

behaviors I believe are just not meant for public spaces. Essentially, anything

that should be designated for your bathroom, like nail clipping, should not be

done on a train!

I admit I was so repulsed that I ended up staring in her direction in what must

have seemed like a dirty look. She caught notice of me and gave me a look right

back! I couldn’t believe it. It’s not as if I went into her own home and told

her what to do and not do, but there are some personal items not meant for the

train!

Gum chewing, I have to say, is another. Ever sit next to someone who is chomping

on their gum so loudly you feel like you should be in a pasture with the cows?

Anyway, I consider these to be simple manners, or common courtesy, that do not

seem to catch on to everyone. But what is one to do? Is it the wrong thing to

ask the woman to stop clipping her nails, or tell someone to chew with their

mouth closed? Help me out here people, what would you do?

Here are some additional complaints on You Tube just in case you think it's an isolated incident: 
(Asian woman cutting her nails in public and on a train full of passengers !)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mBlUYEfjLw   

     I came across Alex's article again when I was looking for something else, recently. My initial reaction to this encounter which was not good for Alex, obviously, is still the same. I do think that it was absolutely repulsive behavior to exhibit in public. It’s right up there with picking your nose and spitting when you get right down to it. These acts are too personal to share with strangers and it is meant to be done privately or not at all.

     I’ll go a step further with this particular act. Nail clipping when done incorrectly is downright dangerous. Anyone who has ever been hit with a flying chunk of finger or toe nail clipping can attest to that so it goes all the way to being completely obnoxious and in my estimation should have gotten this woman removed from the train! This is actually antisocial behavior. What this woman did is no less dangerous than smoking on the train or vehemently arguing with someone.

     Being a professional manicurist/nail tech has helped me put this in perspective, knowing the rudiments of personal hand care. I can tell you what I would have done if put in the same situation. First, I would have told her what I do for a living and given her a card. I would have told her that there is a time and a place for everything and that this was not the place for her to clip her nails, put on lipstick or comb her hair. Professionals do these acts under sanitary conditions and take specific precautions when doing their work so everything remains sanitary. If being embarrassed by a licensed pro doesn’t stop someone from committing an antisocial act such as this, then they can only expect people to shun and avoid them when they do.

Enough said.

The Castle Lady