Bad experience having a pedicure | ExpatWoman.com
 

Bad experience having a pedicure

2383
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 15 March 2011 - 22:11

My DD has recently developed a toe infection due to carelessness by a technician at a well known spa in I.B.
Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.

130
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 September 2011 - 10:13
I thought it was just me! In the USA I was accustomed to regular mani-pedis. I had a few favorite places but usually just popped in to any little place as I had time. My job had me traveling so this was all over the USA and Canada. SO I was really looking forward to getting back into my habit, and I "popped in" to a well advertised shop near Burjuman. The water she soaked my feet in was barely warm, and she didn't add any disinfectant to the water. Then she roughly dug into the sides of my big toes, and it hurt more than I have ever experienced in a pedicure. I left the polish on my toes for several weeks, and when I finally got around to removing it my big toenail was solid white on one foot and partially white on the other foot. It was crumbly and soft and I knew I had a fungal infection, but honestly until I read this thread I didn't connect the dots. GOOD GRIEF!! I hate doing my own feet, but now I am paranoid-- it seems that it's hard to find a good place here!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 September 2011 - 09:14
Hi Ladies, I was also given a voucher recently for my birthday and I am going to a salon I dont know called Streaks in Al Nahda 1. Has anyone been, was it a good experience? TIA
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 September 2011 - 01:40
worst pedicure ever, n-style dubai mall and emirates mall.dubai mall branch is the worst,very expensive and the service takes 1 hr and 30 min????!!!! and very rubish at the end.the girl made french but even me i can do it better.and their new nail polish,nstyle sucks big time
573
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EW GURU
Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 12:45
whenever i go for mani and pedi, regardless of the type of saloon, i am always suffering afterwards! the skin of my hands specially leaves around nails and pains for many days afterwards and as for toes well they have bled sometime or nails cut too short not to mention burns on ankles due to excessive scrubbing... SO dubai parlours a big no for mani and pedi!! Whoooaaaaahhh!!! :\: Where do YOU go?
449
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 12:30
Sorry ladies to bring up an old thread, but my DH has bought me a voucher for some beauty treaments in a salon in the Prime Medical Building in Burjuman and i remembered reading this thread the other week cringing at the thought of all the infections you poor women have suffered. Now the thing is i don't want to seem ungrateful for my gift but i also don't want to suffer like some of you had, therefore if anyone as used a salon in this area would you mind please sharing any experiences with me. TIA
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 15:51
i am new to Dubai and i just recently went to Mercato and i came to a spa that i think just newly opened. i always love to do my nails and am very particular with service and hygiene. when i was there( i am having gel nails for the last 2 years), they offered me a personal kit for my hands and they also told me that i can have the same for my feet, which i think is very good if we are talking about infections and all. while i was there, i keenly observed their procedure and i found it very professional. they even asked me what shape i liked. best of all, the nail therapist didn't cut my cuticles and the sides of my nails( for my pedicure), she gently pushed them back(which i preferred to avoid ingrown nails).”
1100
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 10:31
Ladies, If you've really had an infection from a spa you MUST report them to the consumer rights department. They will be made accountable for causing an infection, and it helps to regulate the spa industry here. Too many "well known" spas cause so many infections and they get away with it by dismissing it and making you feel bad for complaining as well as being out right rude. They actually know if you report them they risk being closed down, so they're happier to lose you as a customer then risk being reported. Enough cases reported does make a difference! And btw, those sealed bags, are NOT a guarantee the equipment was actually sterilized, most of the time its there for show, they just reseal them themselves so be very careful!
232
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 09:53
Sooooo, ladies, where can one find a really nice all-in pedi set to take to the spa/salon. After watching that video it made me seriously think about it. I hardly go now, do it at home.... mostly sick of the rude filipinas at the nail spas here. they talk so bad behind your backs....you would be shocked. vp, I got most from Choitram (near the medical section) and the rest from a Life Pharmacy. You should also grab some thin latex gloves as well. If you use an at-home service like brush and co, you can at least ensure that they also have a comfortable place to sit and don't have to listen to them talk in anything but english. Personally I don't care what they say in their own language to each other. They could be calling me anything and they still get a tip.. I feel sorry for them as I get to go home everyday to my family and have a great job.
1381
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 09:29
whenever i go for mani and pedi, regardless of the type of saloon, i am always suffering afterwards! the skin of my hands specially leaves around nails and pains for many days afterwards and as for toes well they have bled sometime or nails cut too short not to mention burns on ankles due to excessive scrubbing... SO dubai parlours a big no for mani and pedi!!
876
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 09:24
Sooooo, ladies, where can one find a really nice all-in pedi set to take to the spa/salon. After watching that video it made me seriously think about it. I hardly go now, do it at home.... mostly sick of the rude filipinas at the nail spas here. they talk so bad behind your backs....you would be shocked.
304
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 09:04
I went to SERA lounge in media city The pedi was fine and felt great whilst she was doing it She told me I had an ingrowing toenail although I felt no pain , no discomfort , no nothing !!! so she dug around for a bit which made my toe bleed and there was no ingrowing toenail .. Within 3 hours of finishing my toe was inflamed - overnight it felt as though it was on fire and for the next 3 weeks I was on antibiotics and wearing flip flops for work - I had a huge welt under my toenail bed and It had loads of horrible infected puss _ proper nasty.. I went back and told them and they were less than helpful.. Soo ... off me trots to tips and toes on the Palm .. between cluster 6 and 7 I think .. my toe had the time to heal nicely had the nicest lady who was very gentle but thorough..the place was mobbed....mental note to go over lunch time and not between 4-7 in the evening NO PROBLEMS - COMFY COMFY FEET - and NO INFECTIONS .. whoop !
232
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 08:39
I will never ever have a mani or pedi here...ever... This is not unique to Dubai but unless I can personally witness them placing the equipment in an orbital sterilizer, it is not going near my feet. I remember when quite a few years ago those nasty, manky quick and cheap nail salons appeared across shopping centres in Australia..... Seemed like every second person I met was limping from disgusting feet fungul infections... ewww Just take a quick look on the web and you'll see this exists everywhere... http://www.beautytech.com/articles/nypost6-24-02.PDF http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJG0ZVyc9jM Ladies, take your own equipment and ensure your technician wears gloves, it's cheaper than a visit to the hospital and less painful than medical treatment.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 00:52
Hi Muurtje There is an excellent podiatrist in Dubai at the Dubai Podiatry Centre. They're on SZR the Nando's Building, 5th floor 04 3435390. I took my son there & she was very thorough and professional. Not the cheapest but I reckon if you've got problem feet she's the woman to see!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 April 2011 - 09:27
I don't believe they sterilise anything properly, so I take my own equipment, base coat, polish etc and I keep a tube of antibiotic cream in the bag and apply to each toe after the pedi/mani dries. Sounds paranoid, but I've had a painful post pedi infection here and don't want another one.
833
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EW GURU
Latest post on 12 April 2011 - 08:48
Good to read this post, I have one infected toe as we speak and it is not pleasant... Think I too will give up the mani/pedi thing. Shocked to hear about the MOE one as that's where I have been going lately as I too got fed up with the attitude of the girls at AR. However I have terribly dry feet and callus (no amount of cream seems to help), so I would need someone like a chiropodist or podiatrist to take care of my hooves. Are there any in Dubai? TIA.
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 22:18
i simply avoid the chains beauty parlours! they are too noisy and the staffs blabss between themselves too much anyway. so far , i haven't had any issues with pedis/manis here. i hope you better now.
26
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 21:47
Ladies, I'm begging you to PLEASE name and shame the bad salons- it's the only way to protect us! I doubt the consumer protection (if it exists) will really do anything. One thing I have learned over the years is that infections are not necessarily picked up from lack of hygiene or incorrect use of the tools : it's what they DO to your feet. According to a really great dermatologist I go to the infections are from harmless bacteria that simply exist in the water, and things like buffing and scraping down the top layer of your nails too much or prolonged soaking in water simply make you more vulnerable to developing infections and fungus. I now no longer have pedicures. I file down or gently cut a little bit of the sides of my toenails if they bother me, but all that excessive cutting of skin at the salons just made the dry bits of skin grow back worse! Simply using a decent foot cream EVERY night means I don't need the scrubbing and nipping of skin and cuticles. The maximum I'll get done is let them do a polish change on my feet. As for hands, I only let them file and polish, no cutting or nipping of cuticiles or anything. I do get Gelish done quite a bit, but again I always wear sunblock on my hands before putting them in the UV dryer . I like Tips N Toes and NBar, but the other N ending in 'le' mentioned here is out for me. I'm not convinced of their standards, and one girl I told NOT to cut my cuticiles started nipping bits of skin and when I tried to stop her kept shouting at me 'I'm not cutting the cuticles! Just the excess skin!'!!!!!!!!! - [b'>THIS WAS MY EXPERIENCE TOO - They just can't help themselves - Down the sides of my nails are terrible. [/b'> I've also become an expert at doing my own bikini waxing...too many wax burns and no evidence of hygiene......I'm over it! <em>edited by Mulberry7 on 11/04/2011</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 21:44
I'm surprised to hear of so many issues with so many places. In all the years I've been here, I can honestly say I've never had any problems afterwards. But then I'm extremely fussy about how my nails are done in the first palce and as I have said before never EVER let them cut the cuticles off! Do you go to the same place? if you have never had any problems - it would be good to try your spar. In the year that I have been here, I have tried 3 places, the last one near starbucks IBN was the worst, NEVER again! My nails are crumbling as I write.
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 19:27
I'm another one who hasn't had any problems... and I've been to a few around the marina! I always keep my toenails short and clip them at home, so the pedicurists only need to file them. I've just been trying to see if my cuticles were trimmed off, and I'm not sure... just pushed back and then the excess trimmed, but no surgery! I also "only" go once every month or so (never went ever in the UK - lol!). On a few occasions, some have drawn blood, but I protest if it hurts (it shouldn't hurt at all, really, should it?!) and haven't set foot back in those places. My current favourite is great (touch wood), clean, bright and attentive and gentle staff. I think I see them take the tools out of a UV steriliser box on the wall, but maybe I'm a bit confused...
876
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 18:33
I won't go back to Tips n toes in the Ranches. I did not get an infection, but suffered pain from the poking and they made out I was fussy when they stuck a sharp instrument up my nail...it bled too... then I watched about 8 of the girls stood there giggling and making fun of a British womans legs, whilst she lay oblivious to what was going on, as she was having eye lash extensions. Eventually the receptionist saw what was happening and came and draped a sheet over the lady. The women were really catty and having a laugh at all of the customers.....I found it humiliating being in there. I tried 3 times...but no more.
1236
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 18:21
I only had 2 pedicures during my 2 year stay in Doha and boy were my feet a mess with infected toenails. I visited my friend a few weeks ago who is a properly trained podiatrist and she was horrified at the mess. I now have comfortable feet with properly trimmed nails.
3804
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 18:18
I'm surprised to hear of so many issues with so many places. In all the years I've been here, I can honestly say I've never had any problems afterwards. But then I'm extremely fussy about how my nails are done in the first palce and as I have said before never EVER let them cut the cuticles off!
38
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 18:13
Ladies, I'm begging you to PLEASE name and shame the bad salons- it's the only way to protect us! I doubt the consumer protection (if it exists) will really do anything. One thing I have learned over the years is that infections are not necessarily picked up from lack of hygiene or incorrect use of the tools : it's what they DO to your feet. According to a really great dermatologist I go to the infections are from harmless bacteria that simply exist in the water, and things like buffing and scraping down the top layer of your nails too much or prolonged soaking in water simply make you more vulnerable to developing infections and fungus. I now no longer have pedicures. I file down or gently cut a little bit of the sides of my toenails if they bother me, but all that excessive cutting of skin at the salons just made the dry bits of skin grow back worse! Simply using a decent foot cream EVERY night means I don't need the scrubbing and nipping of skin and cuticles. The maximum I'll get done is let them do a polish change on my feet. As for hands, I only let them file and polish, no cutting or nipping of cuticiles or anything. I do get Gelish done quite a bit, but again I always wear sunblock on my hands before putting them in the UV dryer . I like Tips N Toes and NBar, but the other N ending in 'le' mentioned here is out for me. I'm not convinced of their standards, and one girl I told NOT to cut my cuticiles started nipping bits of skin and when I tried to stop her kept shouting at me 'I'm not cutting the cuticles! Just the excess skin!'!!!!!!!!! I've also become an expert at doing my own bikini waxing...too many wax burns and no evidence of hygiene......I'm over it!
548
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 17:32
I had a terrible experience at a branch of a well know salon which starts with an "N-" and ends in "...le" at Mall of the Emirates. Nail fungus after a pedicure and for those of you who don't know what this entails, it is a year long medication treatment with multiple meds. I have significantly limited my salon visits since and I now only allow them to use my own manicure set, including my own nail polish, whenever I go (btw, I have never been back to that chain and of course I'm not getting any pedicures until the infection has cleared). Please don't trust anybody to disinfect their equipment, and honestly, I have come to know that the stakes are too high to take such risks.
793
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 16:02
I've never had an infection but i've lost a fair amount of blood in some salons before. I used to be shy about telling them to stop but now i don't care, i figure that they need to know. I now visit a salon across the road twice a month & love it. It took her only 2 attempts to get the whole experience just how i like it & it's great. If she isn't free when i go in i wait for her. Try & stick to the same lady (if possible) & tell her what you like. So sorry to hear some of your aweful stories! Ooooouuuuuccccchhhhhh!!!!!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 15:23
I know that Beauty Spot in Umm Suqeim allow customers to keep their nail kits there and they also sell you their kits for future use as well.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 14:07
Some dreadful stories below! I read recently docs. in UK were warning women not to have those little fish pedicures because they spread infections. All equiptment should be properly sterilised - I'm not sure dentist do this either ... CJD and all that...
1811
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 18:53
Ladies, take your own kit. Its so much better, you know its clean and its yours. My dh gets his hair cut in a little salon in Um Seq and all the local guys leave their kits in the salon:-) I've given up having manicures and pedicures. I got infections twice and was on anti-fingals for ages each time. I was very careful to never let them cut the cuticles but I still got infections. The doc told me he saw so many cases. Now I eiether buff my nails or get dd to do them. Overall condition is much better as nail polish remover can be hard on the nails.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 17:51
Beauticians and technicians here just aren't properly trained. Back home... Anyway, not a fair comparison. Since relocating, must have lost altogether 6 toenails after going to the local salons (yes, several!). Nails just went black and/or started growing inside due to a wrong filing/cutting technique+lack of proper hygiene. Ultimately, the nails either fell off entirely, or, they had to have a radical cut - in both cases ended up having a set of quite deformed toenails. Had to stop going to these nail spas altogether. It looks much brighter now. Only have my eyebrows and hair done nowadays, enough of problems with them already...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 17:21
I stopped getting my nails (mani or pedi) done when I saw a girl run the used equipment under a tap - shake it - and put it back in a bag and then vacuum close it using their own machine. This is at a well known nail salon in JBR. Nuff said Just cause it looks sterilised and comes out of a sealed bag - does not necessarily mean its been sterilised. I have thought about bringing my own hair brush to the hairdressers too.... but that's a whole other conversation.[/quote I bring my own nail kit when i get mine done. Because you are right...they dont sterilise here.
 
 

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