I have no idea where to put this.
Do you worry about getting manicure/pedicure re: human trafficking? What signs do you look for in a salon to help you feel better about a decision? Is there a way to look for ethical salons?
I rarely get my nails done, but I did go get a pedicure last week for probably the first time in a few years. It was a last minute decision, so I didn't do any research, and the place made me feel very uncomfortable.
pomegranate / 3872 posts
I've read a lot of articles about this issue lately and it's definitely not something I'd considered before. For me, I live in the 'burbs and go to the same few places to get my nails done. All the girls that work there have been there forever and they live in the area, have kids, talk about their families and husbands etc. The owners are present the salons and everything seems on the up and up. So basically it's not something I'm concerned about locally but it definitely seems like a concerning possibility in larger areas/cities.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I don't go often enough to notice who's a regular and who isn't, I am very picky about the salons I do go to and what services I get.
I wouldn't be surprised if it's an issue in the town (suburbs) where I live, I think it can absolutely be an issue outside of large cities.
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts
I think it really depends on the area. In this area, it isn't a problem, according to what I've read. But where I used to live, in the Northeast, it is a HUGE problem. I read that if you are getting your nails done for significantly less than the national average, your salon may be involved in trafficking. https://www.statista.com/statistics/276673/service-prices-nail-studio-services-united-states/
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts
Read this article a while back and it really upset me to know that the reason why manicures were so cheap in NY compared to here was that the workers were being exploited. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/nyregion/at-nail-salons-in-nyc-manicurists-are-underpaid-and-unprotected.html?_r=0
GOLD / nectarine / 2884 posts
@JerricaBenton: I live in a small town (30,000 in the city, 90,000 in the county) and so I figured we would be at least a little bit insulated from this. But I was really creeped out by the place I went yesterday. Extremely quiet place, two manicurists, both women, both foreign, which of course I expected. I was there super early in the AM (like I said, impulse decision). Neither said anything to me except just to ask which pedicure I wanted, which color I wanted. I tend to be super quiet when I get pedicures usually because I am kid free and enjoying the quiet, so maybe this was my fault. One of the manicurists was Asian, one appeared to be central European, and that weirded me out because in rural areas I am used to seeing family run businesses by immigrants, where it is clear that everyone is somehow connected. Plus in all honesty we don't have a significant central European community here (and I say that because I used to live in metro ATL where there are big immigrant communities so I am not totally oblivious to that sort of thing). And then two male owners, both asian, kept walking in and out on their phones, very busy, etc. And I was shocked at the price-- 20 dollars for a pedicure. That seems cheaper than what I remember in the past. The price really caught me off guard.
GOLD / nectarine / 2884 posts
@travellingbee: same goes with chinese buffets. I'm not the biggest buffet goer, but they are all over the south and I'm like, 4.99 for lunch cannot keep the lights on. It just doesn't add up.
pomegranate / 3872 posts
@Mrs. Sketchbook: we do have walk-in places on my area that have lower prices so I guess it very well could be an issue here. The two places I go are probably $15 more per pedicure than the other types of places but I like them because of the people and the cleanliness. It's definitely something to think about and if you're intuition tells you something is off it probably is. My mom is a fan of the walk-in places and I think I'll mention it to her.
GOLD / nectarine / 2884 posts
@JerricaBenton: So stupid question, but how do you tell walk in from not walk in? We have massage places here, and hair salons, but they don't seem to do nails....but then again I've never really sought it out, so maybe I just need to investigate.
pomegranate / 3872 posts
@Mrs. Sketchbook: around here the 'walk-in' places usually are big and new and in strip malls and might even say walk-ins welcome on a sign. The places I like are smaller and have maybe 5 girls working at most and usually the owner works too and you have to make an appointment.
GOLD / nectarine / 2884 posts
@JerricaBenton: http://www.manrepeller.com/2016/08/ethical-nail-salon-nyc.html
So there's a "guide" to ethical nail salons but half of that would make even non-trafficked middle class US born people in my community scratch their heads and say "huh?"
So maybe I just need to commit to doing my own nails. I typically handle it myself, but after winter I needed some professional help, ha ha.
pomegranate / 3872 posts
@Mrs. Sketchbook: it seems like price is a big 'tell.' I like to pay less as much as the next gal but in this case I think higher prices are a good indicator of an ethical salon. I lived in nyc for a while and even though I was amazed at the low prices, I definitely felt weird vibes about cleanliness and having the pedicurist not speaking one word of English and seeming generally unhappy. Maybe ask around for recommendations in your area? And doing your own nails is very therapeutic for me at least. One of my favorite hobbies- even though I do like to let a professional do it sometimes!
pomelo / 5129 posts
@Mrs. Sketchbook: doing your own nails isn't going to do anything to help those who are working hard for ethical companies though.
For me, hygiene is a huge thing. A friend and I "shopped" around to salons for a while and in several, we just simply didn't feel comfortable. We finally found one that was a little more expensive and that you needed to make a reservation for on the weekends, but it is definitely worth the price and inconvenience of not being able to walk in.
Plus if you're a regular, they set aside your files and loofahs so you know they're not being used for anyone else. And we've been going there for several years, and it's been largely the same people working there the whole time.
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