Real Men Don't Do Pedicures
A couple of friends are encouraging me to get a pedicure. I'm not sure...
I am told it is such a relaxing, even rejuvenating experience. Several places nearby are offering the service, and I understand more and more clientale are men. One guy told me he was skeptical, but he tried it once and now he is hooked.
It involves soaking the feet in bubbly water, and rubbing with salts and moisturizers. A hard brush is used to scrape away dead skin, and then a foot file is used for callouses. This is followed by an intense massage, and then a final buffing of the nails to a glossy finish.
Excuse me! Other than my mother, and mothers do not count in this matter, I have never had a woman touch my feet. I do remember once as a little boy insisting that my mother paint my toenails just like hers, only to have the boy next door laugh me to scorn. And even though I proceeded to punch him in the nose, I'm sure it traumatized me for life. And now I know grown men, who lift heavy things for a living, and go once-a-month to have their feet pampered. It just does not seem right.
I can just imagine my friend wearing cute little bunny rabbit slippers at night. Real men do not do that. And they don't have sweet-smelling feet. They cut their own toenails, and do it with their wife's sewing scissors.
Real men don't do pedicures. Do they?
06.15.06 (10:04 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
lurit (
reply)
post date:
06.15.06 (6:16 pm)
I don't see anything wrong with men getting pedicures. It's good maintenance for your feet; they do take a good bit of wear and tear.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.15.06 (6:29 pm)
Reply to: lurit
Yeah, that's what these guys tell me. They keep saying, "Try it. Try it. Just once!" And then, next thing you know, I'm afraid I'll be getting manicures and facials. Then what- makeup?
posted by:
lurit (
reply)
post date:
06.15.06 (9:03 pm)
Manicures and facials are pretty nice as well.
:) Haha! Make-up! Some guys pull it off pretty well.
posted by:
idiotbubble (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (1:24 am)
lol. men these days have changed, pD! well, it's a good relaxation, but somehow i find doing that... a little... weird. but i m getting used to that. so as to guys using make-up, having long silky hair like girls. besides, these people are nice. they shop like girls, that's why girls love 'em! lol. just try it once... or are u afraid you'll get hooked? >__<
LOL.
posted by:
idiotbubble (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (1:24 am)
lol. men these days have changed, pD! well, it's a good relaxation, but somehow i find doing that... a little... weird. but i m getting used to that. so as to guys using make-up, having long silky hair like girls. besides, these people are nice. they shop like girls, that's why girls love 'em! lol. just try it once... or are u afraid you'll get hooked? >__<
LOL.
posted by:
idiotbubble (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (1:24 am)
lol. men these days have changed, pD! well, it's a good relaxation, but somehow i find doing that... a little... weird. but i m getting used to that. so as to guys using make-up, having long silky hair like girls. besides, these people are nice. they shop like girls, that's why girls love 'em! lol. just try it once... or are u afraid you'll get hooked? >__<
LOL.
posted by:
idiotbubble (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (1:24 am)
lol. men these days have changed, pD! well, it's a good relaxation, but somehow i find doing that... a little... weird. but i m getting used to that. so as to guys using make-up, having long silky hair like girls. besides, these people are nice. they shop like girls, that's why girls love 'em! lol. just try it once... or are u afraid you'll get hooked? >__<
LOL.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (2:22 am)
Personally, I have such hideous toenails that I wouldn't even let a total stranger get near them for fear I'd see them in the mall at some later date and they'd point and stare and shout. "Hey everyone, see that guy? His toenails are from another planet!" -I'll just stick with lifting heavy thngs - while wearing socks.
posted by:
Kaikai (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (2:41 am)
Real men are secure in their choices, even if they involve sitting being pampered once in a while.
Try it - if you hate it then you need never go back. Go on, you know you want to!
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (10:23 am)
It sounds like a waste of money and time to me. We could soak our own feet and pamper them if we really wanted to, but we're guys! We don't want to! What's the new term? Meterosexual? Don't bother.
posted by:
preceptlady (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (10:37 am)
It's highly overrated and overpriced. Take your wife to dinner...you will both enjoy it more. :)
posted by:
drforbush (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (12:09 pm)
I wouldn't do it personally. Not because I'd care if anyone saw me there, but because of the chance to get fungus or infection. Every few years we have a story on the news about some pedicure place spreading fungus to their patrons. I figure that I can wash my own feet and paint my own toenails just fine thank you...
:-}
posted by:
dyeblue (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (3:00 pm)
I think men and wome alike should cut their own damn nail instead of having some gross stranger touching your feet. Besides, it is uncomftarble, not relaxing, boring, and sometimes painful, especially when they start digging with their little dagger. I´ve tried several places and it doesnt get any better so it´s not just me. I guess there is just a lot of masochists with nothing better to do out there.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (4:15 pm)
Reply to: idiotbubble
I do believe there is a feminization of men taking place in our society. I guess this is just another step.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (4:16 pm)
Reply to: surrogate
Toenails should not be a distinguishing characteristic of anyone. Keep your toes covered, thank you.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (4:19 pm)
Reply to: Kaikai
I want to? No I don't! Well... it might be nice...just once. But, what if someone who knows me sees me in such a place? Why does that matter? I'm secure in who I am! Maybe I could buy a Do-It-Yourself Pedicure Kit.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (4:20 pm)
Reply to: bawdy
That's right. Why should a guy care how his feet look? But, I think this matter is just as much about feeling good as it is looking good.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (4:21 pm)
Reply to: preceptlady
It is a self indulgence. So, maybe instead, I could buy myself some new sneakers.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (4:22 pm)
Reply to: drforbush
Wow. I sure don't want that. So, absolutely no pedicure for me.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (4:24 pm)
Reply to: dyeblue
So, you have had personal experience with this? And it sounds like you have decided to have no more pedicures. A renewed virgin pedicuree!
posted by:
DonkeyOrchid (
reply)
post date:
06.16.06 (9:17 pm)
What next will they come up with, I know about men having facials, but this! Gross.
posted by:
guerillafunk (
reply)
post date:
06.17.06 (10:20 am)
Seriously, try it. Just once. I've seen men getting pedicures next to me, and usually they
don't make your toenails shiny. Or, they won't if you ask them not to.
BUT, if you do, make sure you see them cleaning the tubs after every client, and cleaning it good. If not, then leave, because the skin and dirt that they just took off the client before you is just stuck in the jets and drains. That can cause major infections, warts, etc. Eew. :)
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
06.17.06 (11:41 am)
Seems posts about body parts are all the rage. I'm gong to do one about my left elbow. I call him "Steve."
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
06.17.06 (1:26 pm)
pastor dave. let me know how it turns out. i am a slightly older than fifty woman who has yet to have a pedicure. alas !! my poor little feet just have my old birkenstock zurich's and, well, that's pretty much it. but we (the feet and I) have survived just fine all by our little selves, so far.
dawn
posted by:
bettybras (
reply)
post date:
06.17.06 (7:26 pm)
lol love your post! i go twice a week to get a mani/pedi and i see men in there all the time, i think it's kind of nice to see a guy that cares enough about his feet to have someone clean 'em and make them all pretty. i guess times have changed....lol
posted by:
almsthvn (
reply)
post date:
06.18.06 (6:49 am)
I think a far more romantic choice would be to either (1) take your wife with you and have it done together or (2) have a "spa day" in your own home - washing each other's feet and pampering each other.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.19.06 (12:09 am)
Reply to: DonkeyOrchid
Yesterday I was told that some men have their eyebrows waxed. Why not underarms?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.19.06 (12:14 am)
Reply to: thunderthighs
I can picture it quite clearly, a hep-looking mother giving a lecture to a pouting 4-year-old. Indeed, I am chastened. Thank you. I mean, "Yes, mam!"
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.19.06 (12:21 am)
Reply to: guerillafunk
Less than a mile from my home is a salon that specializes in pedicures. It is run almost exclusively by Vietnamese ladies. My daughters get their nails done at this place, and they say the ladies talk in their native language as they go about their business, and my girls are convinced these women are ridiculing them. Who knows. It would probably be a funny experience, at least. I'm leaning on the side of giving it a one-time try.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.19.06 (12:22 am)
Reply to: surrogate
Your left elbow? I can't wait...is there a piercing involved?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.19.06 (12:25 am)
Reply to: fractalmom
Lately I have been noticing feet. At church, when making house calls to paritioners, etc. Many people have bad looking feet, especially elderly people. Now the sterotype includes bigger ears and noses, and gnarled feet. Maybe a pedicure would forestall the aging process.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.19.06 (12:28 am)
Reply to: bettybras
Twice per week? Now, you seem definitely to be a person quite serious about personal grooming! Maybe we will run into one another sometime at the pedicure salon. It's on Peachtree Industrial in Berkley Lake- can't miss it; it is run by the Vietnamese ladies who make fun of you in their native language as they torture your feet.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.19.06 (12:30 am)
Reply to: almsthvn
A spa day in my home? Now, I won't get into the details, but we all know that would be cut short.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.19.06 (12:31 am)
Reply to: almsthvn
As I think about it, I like the idea.
posted by:
almsthvn (
reply)
post date:
06.19.06 (2:20 am)
there ya go ;) now you're thinking !
