It's sandal season. Time to get your feet in shape. And since it's 2016, nobody's going to judge a guy who gets a pedicure.
But if you're like a lot of men, there might be a million feet between a pedicure and your comfort zone. It can be daunting to sit at a spa, which has long been a woman's realm, to have someone get up close and personal with your feet.
But it's not that bad. In fact, getting a pedi is a pleasure everyone should experience. Your feet get scrubbed until they're soft. Your nails get clipped, shaped and polished. You get a massage. And whatever your salon charges, it's a small price to pay to fix your goblin feet.
To ease your anxiety, we asked Jin Soon, celebrity manicurist and founder of JINsoon Nail Lacquers and Jin Soon Natural Hand and Foot Spas, about the worst crimes guys usually commit when getting a pedicure, so that you don't make the same mistakes.
Now you know -- go forth and treat your feet.
Here's what Soon told us, in her own words:
- Men, please do not cut your toenails before getting a pedicure! It makes shaping the nail more difficult for the technician, especially when you over-cut, as men tend to do.
- Don't be closed-minded: Some guys think pedicures are for only for women, thereby depriving themselves of the pleasure and care that a pedicure provides. If you're reluctant to get a color on your toenails, you can try a top coat instead.
- Don't be scared when your cuticles are trimmed. So many of my male clients clench their teeth when the technician gently removes excess cuticles -- don't worry, I have never heard of a man dying from getting his cuticles trimmed! [Editor's note: It's important to note that many experts warn against getting your cuticles trimmed.]
- Don't give in to your ticklish gene. When it comes to feet, men seem to be more ticklish than women -- many even laugh all the way through the pedicure. My advice is to take a deep breath and enjoy it.
- A lot of men have ingrown toenails, so please don't try to cut your ingrown nails yourself -- allow your nail technicians to fix them for you. It's part of the pedicure!
- Don't forgo putting nail polish on your toes; it's getting to be trendy. If you don't like the shade, or any color for that matter, just have it removed.
