With an indignant stamp of my Clammy little feet…
Kasia October 23rd, 2008
I ask you, women of America (and Canada, and anyone else who cares): what kind of salon hires a nail technician who can’t do a French manicure?
I have had maybe two professional manicures in my almost 32 years of life. I am far from being a manicure aficionado. I had one pedicure once – the experience left me unmoved. Maybe it’s because I think it’s weird and a little creepy to have another woman buffing my feet. Maybe it’s a class warfare thing and it’s the latent Commie in me. Anyway.
So yeah. It’s not like I run around getting manicures and pedicures like crazy. But I thought that, for my wedding, it would be nice if I had a professional manicure. I also thought it would be nice if my bridal shoes didn’t need sidecars for my calluses. Don’t worry; I’ll do most of it at home in the weeks leading up. But it would be nice to have a professional buff the daylights out of my feet so that I don’t run through the three pairs of nylons I’ve ordered before the ceremony starts.
Not knowing who would be good, I remembered that there is a salon in the area of the church (the salon of the unremarkable one pedicure in my life, as it happens), and decided it would make sense to go there the day before the wedding and get the ‘cures. Then I’d be in the area for the rehearsal, and I would have very little time to befoul my pretty new hands and feet before the wedding. (I am notorious for destroying make-up, hairstyles, etc.) I even figured I would see about what they offer in terms of make-up artistry for the big day.
Well, fuggeddaboudit!!! The woman actually told me that she “isn’t sure” if their nail tech can do a French manicure!
I realize that there are many types of manicures, and many tips and tricks and nuances of the nail technician’s profession that may take a long time to master. False nails, for one. Airbrushing. Bling. But a French manicure? Isn’t that…you know…pretty basic? How do you even get hired as a nail tech if you can’t do one?
This is for a wedding. I don’t want a color on my nails. I’ll look like Cruella De Vil. And weddings, of all events, call for a certain focus on the hands of the participants.
Ordinarily, as I’ve said, I could care less about manicures. But puh-leez. I’m going to give you twenty dollars plus tip to give me…something other than what I want? Not. Gonna. Happen. I could do a crappy home job, or have TBS do a pretty good home job, for way cheaper; and even my crappy home job would look better than pink or red professional nails under the circumstances.
So – does anyone here know a GOOD salon in the vicinity of Troy, Mich., that does French manicures and good pedicures, plus maybe has some good make-up artists, that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? Sound off in the combox…
Why not go to the place at Nine Mack Drive in SCS? Great prices, good work and
A MASSAGE CHAIR!!!
TBS
I’ll ask Heather, she might have some ideas.
Have you thought about skipping the manicure entirely and just going with one of those buffing boards?
Much harder to screw up before a wedding, cheaper, and you can do it in your own time.
Plus it gives your hands something to do to work off nervous energy. Not that weddings do that to anyone or anything.
Katie,
Your old classmate here is a professional make-up artist, that I can help you with. Contact me if you wish. I can also supply you with references if you wish (of very pleased clients).
Joie
ps. I will check on the nail tech thing.
Joie, you have just made my day – no wait, make that my week!
I will Facebook you early next week and maybe we could set up a trial run? Fortunately, one of my bridesmaids told me she knows an incredible manicurist/pedicurist and is just going to find out what salon she is at now. And you know, if I’m feeling flush, I might just see about getting my gray hairs touched up in the weeks leading up to the big day!!!
(Really embarrassing…the only thing to do is laugh and roll with it…when I went to get my hair done for my friend’s wedding that I was standing up in, the stylist commented on a “patch of gray right up front”. Seriously, it’s like two hairs…I had no idea it was that conspicuous!!! Conspicuous enough that she actually recommended a pharmacy hair dye – which I’ve never heard a stylist do – I can only assume she reeeeally thought it looked bad!)
Katie,
After I saw you at church the other night I sent this email to an old friend of mine.
“I have a friend who wants a french manicure for her wedding. She is looking for a salon located in the Troy area. Do you have a nail tech that works for you? Where is your salon located?
Thanks, Heather”
This was her response:
“I’m a nail tech! You can check out my shop on our myspace. Find it using this email address nickis_nail_salon@yahoo.com. Make sure to tell her to look in our pics cuz we have an album of just coupons she can print out and bring in. Also, our menu is located in our blogs. If she likes my shop, she can call me at 248-740-9199 and we can set up an appointment! Thanks for thinking of me!!!”
By the way, her name is Nicki.
I recommend a saloon over a salon. Much better conversation.
On that note (sorta), I am reminded of the story of my father’s self-toenailectomy. Having huge flat feet as us Waldmen do, one of his pinky toenails became infected. Rather than waste the money on professional services (he’s a podiatrist, right?), mein pater slugged down a glass of whiskey, sloshed some of the same on his foot, and gouged the whole damn nail out with one of his medical forceps, then put some stuff on the root to keep it from growing back. Eastern European dumbass peasant folk medicine at its finest. (I understand a lightbulb is used to cure measles in some sections of Polonia.)
I have never heard of a nail salon where the manicurist doesn’t know what a French manicure is… run away fast!
Katie,
Do you have the hair thing all set? I noticed you haven’t said much about that. Let me know, I know someone for hair, her name is Simona and she has a FB as well. I do know someone for nails also and her salon is located at 6mile and Telegraph (not the best area, but she does the best work). I have know her for many years. Her name is Kim.
See you Tuesday.
Joie