From the very first entry of this column, we’ve talked about an array of trends, tips and tricks that guys have been (or should be) doing to keep their nails looking good. But what’s the good of all that knowledge if no one is goes out to try putting it into practice? So I decided to find myself a few nail care virgins and give their feet the royal treatment. Over the course of the summer, I’ll be taking a few of the city’s gents to their first nail grooming experience and sharing here how it all went down.
Kicking off the summer is Luis, a 25-year-old retail professional born and raised in the Bronx. Despite his initial skepticism about getting a pedicure, he admitted that he had thought about trying it before more than once. “In the summer especially, people would make a comment like, ‘Don’t put on flips flops!’ To which I just said, ‘Whatever.’ I didn’t care,” he said with a laugh. “But I just kept putting it off and putting it off.” We stopped in at Pretty Angel Nail Spa on the Upper West Side, a cozy salon tucked off the corner of 81st and Amsterdam that offers services for both men and women, complete with an on-site male manicurist. After getting his shoes off and sitting in the plush, leather pedicure chair, his experience began. His legs visibly relaxed as his nails were scrubbed and cleaned, his overall demeanor becoming more composed. You could tell he was enjoying it. “I’m on my feet a lot and I walk everywhere,” Luis said. “Right now, I feel like my feet are saying, ‘You’re finally treating me right.’”
Luis watched in slight wonderment as expert hands filed, clipped, trimmed and buffed his feet and toenails. At varying points of our conversation, his eyes would dart down to the footbath when a new sensation was felt. To my amusement, admittedly, he winced only once or twice when the bottoms of his feet were being scrubbed. It’s not uncommon for people to get a fit of the giggles when the pumice stone is doing its exfoliating magic. In my experiences, most pedicurists are sympathetic to it, and many just find it downright cute. Well, unless you kick them in the face (which I’ve seen happen!)
Once the last leg of the pedicure was done, Luis declined the clear polish option but looked down at his feet and gave the experience a glowing review. When I asked how he felt after he stood up, he smiled and answered, “Oh I feel great. I’m definitely coming again.” And there you have it, folks. We’ve witnessed one more guy discover the benefits of nail care and the overall good feeling that comes with grooming.
Congratulations Luis! He Nailed It! Now, are you brave enough to get your feet wet?
Check back here every other Friday for more reviews and tips on how guys are NAILING IT when it comes to their grooming.
