I passed by this store the other day, Jeannine’s Dream, such a wonderful name. Had such a lilt to it. Such promise. Such fantasy. The thing is, only the name was still there. So what was coming to fill this now empty space? Close your eyes -wiggle your fingers and toes, and I bet you can guess it? Another nail salon!
Have I missed something? Do people now have a hidden extra hand or foot? Is this a front for something else?! These places are popping up faster than Starbucks. You can’t walk a half a block without feeling you should probably replace Spanish with Mandarin, as your second language. Isn’t it true that these places keep introducing methods to keep your polish on longer and longer, so how is it that people are going more?
Years ago someone said it’s amazing that Haagen-Dazs can charge so much for their ice cream. And a psychologically, business savvy person explained. Everything is getting to be expensive. Yet people want to be able to feel they can afford luxury, be able to buy the best of something. This Haagen-Dazs was a solution. Though it was way more expensive than a standard ice cream at the time. It was still a cheap expenditure to get the top of the line of something. Okay, so what does that have to do with nail salons?
I’m thinking, well you can’t always run and get a massage to feel relaxed, a soothing facial, or a new makeup makeover. But, maybe a little pampering for your hands or feet, maybe that’s the luxury you have time for. And for a few days, afterwards, as you glimpse at your embellished finger tips you can feel that tiny bit of, time for me, coming back to you!
Still there are a few aspects of this experience I seriously commend people for having the patience to go through. In these days of loving immediacy, I admire those who can sit patiently under that little fan or heater, blowing their nail polish dry. The problem is there’s no exact formula as to how long to sit there and if you’re off by one second so is your nail polish.
The other question I have is this, why is it that, even though they are using the exact same polish, on the exact same genetically constructed human being, the polish they put on your toes lasts like a month or two and on your fingers for like a minute?!
And why do they need to use that file? Isn’t there some gentler way of shaping nails? I feel like they stuck me in a class room and are scratching the black board over and over again.
I do recognize that in these places it is not all about fingers and toes. They usually have these secret little rooms in the rear. Because another service they offer is waxing. What’s interesting to note about this is that totally separate salons exist to style, color, straighten, curl, shape, and blow your hair to perfection. These even provide a service to add more of it, by supplying extensions. But when you need it removed you go to a nail salon. Why is it that hair on your head is an enhancement to be continually embellished and yet anywhere else, important to rip off?! And how’d that become a nail association not a hair one?
What’s really nice though, is sometimes when you go there, if they are not busy, someone will give you a manicure while someone else does your pedicure and a very talented person will give you a great shoulder massage. That’s another talent they all seem to have in their pocket. And who can resist that? Other times it’s just a great way to spend a few quality minutes with a friend between running here or there.
I’ve got to say, at least it fills the empty store fronts with something other than another place to eat. Because we seem to need to try any new eatery. So perhaps it’s good to have a place we keep our fingers away from feeding ourselves.
All and all maybe it is a dreamy thing to do. Just to get a little respite in a busy life and even a little extra pampering!
Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com<mailto:rivki@rosenwalds.com