Pedicure Experience

Pedicures are an expensive and appreciated luxury, aiding relaxation in stressful times. At $30 per foot at most spas in Chicagoland, relaxing pedicures include softening Solar Oil, warm sloughing lotion, callous and cuticle remover, bubbles, massages and sixty minutes. Soaking one's tootsies in warm water is only the beginning of the relaxing spa experience. Previously thought to be expensive, all that changed today after a three hour pedicure experience at the local Cosmetology and Spa School proved the old adage, "you get what you pay for." For $12 you can imagine what I got.

When signing on for any salon service there is an assumption the provider will be skilled enough to complete the task within a reasonable amount of time and within a reasonable skill level. So to with students completing a $13,000.00 nine month long course in cosmetology (including hair cuts and color, perms and relaxers, facials, waxing, and nail treatments) who are advertised as "salon ready." Not necessarily. While expectations of service vary as much as the customers, leaving with softened soles and oiled and painted nails is considered the norm.

The scheduled 1:00 pedicure began at 1:40. The service provider appeared to be 11, maybe 14, and reported this was her third pedicure (out of the required 25). Arriving at the bubbling foot bath involved moving through a maze of four rooms of hair cutting, coloring, perming and what ever was going on in the fourth room. The large relaxing spa pedicure chairs were missing, replaced with small plastic rectangular containers filled with warm water. Left brain was saying run, while right brain said give it a try. These ten toes have been proud pedicure recipients every other week for far to many adult years to mention. Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salons offer a basic pedicure, which is fine, or an Olive Oil pedicure which is awesome but expensive. Not so with the school girl pedicure which included nothing -- no oil, no lotion, no understanding of what a pumice stone is, and no skill.

The lesson here is to look before you leap, run when directed to do so, appreciate the good things and be willing to pay for desired services, regardless of the cost. Since The Red Door Salon is on speed dial, the next relaxing luxuriant pedicure will be exactly as advertised and behind the big red door in a local Chicagoland spa in a few short days. Complete with Solar Oil. Photo attribution: morleyhairandbeauty.com