Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The importance of a mani/pedi

Whoa it's been a while since I've posted one of these, but here is another thing I recommend: getting mani/pedis. Especially for the ladies.

I'm awful at regularly getting them (especially on the toesies) but I do try because I always feel better whenever I go. It's like therapy in a non-retail sense. 

And this weekend, I got my inaugural manicure of the summer season and it was like heaven. My finger nails are buffed and perfectly polished in OPI's color - Feeling Hot-Hot-Hot. It's a perfect hot pink. Subtle yet loud, just like me!

I used to never get manicures and pedicures because it was "too girly" but those doubts melted away the minute I got a leg/hand massage during my first visit. I was total mush because it felt so nice. The ladies had me at "cuticle." Speaking of cuticles, I have the worst ones ever. They grow like trees and are notoriously uncomfortable to trim. But it needs to be done so rather than have me butcher them, I'll leave it to the professionals.

My first manicure was about three years ago (yes, I know, so tragic that I waited that long), same with a pedicure too. And the pedicure reminded me how ticklish I am on my feet, especially because I nearly kicked the woman in the face. Oops. Fortunately, that only happened once...or twice. Now, to curb the need to squirm and giggle, I bite on a stick or leather strap (kidding!)

And when I'm between appointments, I do try to keep up the polish on my toes. Unfortunately, it usually comes out looking like this:

Yes, that's polish on my foot. I have no idea how that happened.

I even bought some new colors for spring to keep at home for my own touch ups. I just hope my Cirque du Soleil bathroom moves for that "professional-looking polish" don't turn out like the above paint job. I'm not very talented at applying my own nail polish.

But while I love the mani/pedi, if the girl nicks me or makes me bleed, that tip disappears. Only fair.

Is anyone else a big mani/pedi fan? Do you go regularly, even in winter? A few friends have said this ritual is "recession proof" but I don't know if it's like that for everyone else.

36 comments:

  1. I just wrote about how I almost kicked the dude in the face during my pedicure.

    Needless to say, I'm a fan.

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  2. i *LOVE* pedis and manis!!! i just wish it was more within my budget. when i worked in the spa we'd get a free treatment for our birthdays and christmas... but since i am no longer Spa i don't anymore and with the discount of being a resort employee its still waaay expensive...

    oooooooh, that's a birthday idea my man get me :)

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  3. LOL, I've had one mani in my life, and that was when I was MOH in my friend's wedding. It was weird! Maybe I'd subject myself to it later on in life when I'm not a student. Right now it's not in my budget. ;) I did buy new nail colors this weekend because of another wedding I was going to. Dark red wine color for the toes that dries fabulously in 60 secs. I don't do them often at all...

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  4. i do enjoy them, but not to the point where i feel the need to go religiously or even regularly. i go when i want, or when i have some extra cash and time.

    i had never had a manicure up until 2 years ago and a pedicure about the same time. my great aunt believes in the finer things in life and when i lived with her for a summer, she made sure to send me every two weeks for touch ups and re-dos. it was nice, but i wasn't paying for it.

    i should probably go again soon, but i'm trying to get my boyfriend to go with me (which he has before, for both mani AND pedi! such dedication, haha..don't tell him i told you...). wish me luck, haha

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  5. I typically go get a spa mani/pedi once of twice a year. Once in the spring (winter feet are just nasty) then I just keep it up on my own. Unless I have some extra cash on hand. I love pedi's but not to the point where I HAVE to get them every so many weeks.

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  6. I work at a salon which of course offers variety of pedicure and manicure.. The good thing about working there is free pedi/mani!! I love it, love it and love it!!!
    Your toes look sooo adorable :) I love the color!

    Such a cute post:)

    xoxo

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  7. I love pedis, especially in the summer, but I don't really care about manicures. I mess them up wihtin 24hours of getting them without fail, so I figure why bother.

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  8. The nail polish on your foot is funny! How did you manage that?

    I'm like a freak of nature and nail polish NEVER dries on my nails. Seriously. I get them done and I have to sit perfectly still for at least an hour lest they smudge. And then it only stays chip free for a few days. It just doesn't seem worth the money or the time to me.

    I had acrylic nails for a year or so and I liked the way they looked, but I hated the upkeep and the regular cost. So many other things I could be getting for that money. Like shoes!

    Although, I'll admit, I have gnarly feet from running. They used to be cute but now they get worse every year. I should probably get some bright polish on there to distract from the gnarly-ness :-)

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  9. I usually do my own toes and hands. The more you do it, the better you become. Eventually the only reason you'll pay is to have someone rub your feet!

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  10. I need a pedi SO bad. I like doing my own nails, but my feet? they need professional help.

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  11. I love them, but haven't gone in forever. Boo.

    I hate when they scrub your foot with the pumace (sp?) stone though. I'm waaaaaay too ticklish and squirm around. I actually kicked the woman once... she was a little mad about that...

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  12. Part of my feelings that I've let my body go to shit have to do with the fact I no longer do my nails. I used to get manis every few weeks. Then I learned how to do a knock-out job on my own. Now? I need to write a reminder in my calendar when to change my toe paint. And unless it's a special occasion, my nails rarely have color. Might need to change that this summer!

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  13. Re: Your cuticles.

    You should be gently pushing them back with your nail or an orange stick regularly. This keeps them in check and prevents hangnails. Cuticle cream is also great!

    Most people don't know this but you're not actually supposed to cut or trim your cuticles--they are the barrier between your nail and your skin; if you cut them you can introduce bacteria and infection into your finger. Ewww.

    Try pushing them back regularly and you won't even need to cut them! :)

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  14. i loooove mani/pedis. uh oh -- Banana Republic spree and spa days?! haha

    i'm SO ticklish on my feet too.

    and i used to go a lot, but i've cut back a little... i think it might only be "recession proof" in the summer!

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  15. I got my nails done regularly in 2008, but cut myself off in September. Now that I live in sandal-land, I think I might start getting pedis again.

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  16. I am a horrendous nail biter so I have fake nails and I love, love, love pedicures! The leg massage is the best part! I get them routinely in the summer and sporadically in the "off season."

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  17. Hot hot hot pink is LOVE :)

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  18. I've only gone once, but I've promised my friend one as a late birthday (and pre-Vegas for me) present. Yay!

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  19. I don't get my nails done that often. I just usually leave them plain because I tend to mess them up quickly. I do love a good pedi though. I always have to have one to kick off the spring toes! They are so gross after winter. The only time I had regular pedis was when I was pregnant and couldn't reach my feet. I cannot wear sandals without having my toes done. That is a huge pet peeve of mine when people do that.

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  20. Now I really, really want to get a pedicure...

    I'm not a big manicure fan, I think my fingernails feel so weird with polish on them and it always chips off an hour later, anyway.

    I despise feet. I think they are so gross. But oddly enough, I love pedicures. And I found this place in Lakeview (Nail.com) before I went to Aruba that I loved, and I'm dying to go back. The owners were so nice!

    Oh and by the way, I gave you an award on my blog! :)

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  21. I love getting pedicures! And they last SO MUCH longer than manicures!

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  22. I like them but I'e only had about 3 in my life! I have a steady hand so I do my own mostly if I want some colour. It's nice to be pampered every now and then though.

    Laughed out loud at the thought of kicking someone in the face though!

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  23. I'm not a normal mani/pedi getter.

    I'll paint my own nails. But most of the time I can't justify spending $30-40 for someone else to do it. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't love to, though!

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  24. i'm not a normal pedi getter (i'm a somewhat regular mani getter though) because $20-$25 for someone else to paint my toes regularly? no thanks.

    but i did get my first one of the season the day before my graduation and it still looks good! and this was 3 weeks ago! the massages and long-lasting color are what make pedis worth it to me.

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  25. I love getting a mani/pedi... and I'm in deperate need of one!!! I have three weddings to attend in seven days. But since my company is forcing us to take furloughs (vacay no pay) I can't afford the $35 plus tip for both. Pedis are my cure for a bad day. My friend becklette and I got one over a month ago when we had craptastic days, and the polish is STILL on my toes and almost chip free. I need to know what superglue they use to keep it on like that...

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  26. I'm a big fan too - I'm getting one right before Vegas! I haven't had a pedicure since before my wedding so it's definitely needed, and my place has massage seats that absolutely pummel you. Love them!

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  27. It's sort of addicting once you start, but it's not a very expensive way to pamper yourself. Also, I'm in love with the OPI south beach collection for summer.

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  28. I like them too, of course. But they are a bit expensive so I usually do my own and treat myself for special occasions.

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  29. I've never gotten a mani or pedi. I need to get one soon.

    And I need to paint my toenails too. It's been about two years since.

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  30. I've never been, but then again I only hear American friends talk about mani/pedis. They're not that common over here in the Netherlands, you only go get your nails done if you want acrylic/gel nails.

    It does sound quite nice though. :)

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  31. I'm too cheap to spend money on it, when I can spend less than half on a good bottle of nail polish. I did go once, because I was given the money for it but I wasn't particularly impressed. I DO like to keep my toes painted, though it's hard to when I go to the pool so much...I'm always knocking my toenails on the bottom of the pool and scraping off the paint!

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  32. I love me some manis and pedis, but manicures last approximately 24 hours on me and then turn to total crap. So, I consider a pedicure a much better investment from a practical standpoint (they last forever). But I agree, the hand and arm massage is worth it, even if the polish goes to shit.

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  33. i loooove mani/pedis. i'm more of a pedi fan myself but i splurge on manis every now and then. seriously just love it all.

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  34. I love mani/pedis! I'm more of a tips girl than just manis though, but my current job has me working outside waaay too much for tips, so I just do my own nails for now. And the same with my toes, hopefully once I get a teaching job, I'll be able to get them more regularly!

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  35. My monthly pedicure is one thing I refuse to skip. They greet you, sit you in the comfy chair, bring you wine and get to work. It even includes a deep tissue massage (below knee) and the whole thing only costs $20! Really, you can't beat that.

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  36. I went in for a pedi once and left with a broken toe and sprained ankle. That'll be a post, someday.

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