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C’mon, Why Don’t You Do Manicures at Feetish?
When I first became licensed to offer nail services at Feetish, I put manicures on my menu while remaining well aware that feet were my primary passion. The folks who came in for manicures were lovely humans, and most have remained my good friends to this day. My manicures looked nice and lasted for quite a while, yet something integral was missing and I needed to take a deep dive into what that was, exactly.
Manicures had always made up less than 10% of my total business. This was partially due to the fact that I charged more that the neighborhood nail shop (private rooms and quality products aren’t cheap), I didn’t do artificial nails (I’m allergic to acrylic chemicals), and my schedule was so busy with pedicures and facials that there wasn’t much room for manicures anyway. When I relocated from Fremont Street to New Orleans Square I had to decide what I was willing and able to accommodate in my new space: Manicure table? Manicure-specific tools? Or did I want to go all in on smoothing soles and painting toes?
With minimal hesitation I went with my original love: Feet and the pampering of feet. I absolutely adore the fact that I can spoil your footsies while you relax on a cushy massage table in a darkened room as stars dance across the ceiling. This is my meditation time too; when I can lose myself in the ritual care and grooming of your sore, tired, overworked soles. If you can list five things better than a good foot massage, I’m willing to have that conversation!
To those who wish I had the passion for caring for fingers the way I do toes, big sympathetic hugs to you. Manicures are best left to those who specialize in them, and if Feetish happens to become home to a meticulous manicurist one of these days, I’ll be shouting about it from the rooftops! 😉
Frequently Asked Questions: The B-Sides
The long-standing FAQs page on this site still applies, but I thought it might be useful to share some slightly less commonly asked questions.
Q: Do people often fall asleep during their pedicures?
A: It happens all the time!
Q: Is it OK if I fall asleep during my pedicure?
A: Absolutely! In fact, I’ll take it as a compliment.
Q: Is it OK if I talk during my service?
A: It sure is! This is your time to relax, so I’ll follow your conversational lead.
Q: How long have you been in Vegas?
A: I’ve lived here since 2007, and Feetish has been around since 2013.
Q: What’s the best way to book an appointment with you?
A: Booking online through feetishspa.com is usually easiest for both of us, but you can also book future appointments during a current appointment (“rebooking” as we like to say), or by emailing, calling or texting me (Andrea).
Q: Do you get a lot of weird requests?
A: I actually get fewer weird requests as a self-employed spa professional than I did as a massage therapist at the two Vegas resort spas where I worked, and even fewer than I would get at the fancy day spa where I worked in Rochester, NY. I think it’s because I’m a pretty good communicator, and that’s really important to me. When receptionists who aren’t service providers are booking spa services at larger facilities, they may not pick up on a caller’s subtext and vibe.
Q: OK, but what’s the WEIRDEST request you’ve ever heard?
A: An Instagram request from a European gentleman who wanted some dead foot skin shavings. I didn’t rule out sending him some of mine (you should never give away a client’s castoffs without their consent, of course), but he didn’t want to pay for overseas postage.
Q: What do you like to do in Vegas?
A: In no particular order: Getting massages, taking photos of abandoned places and cemeteries, hiking in the desert, Trauma Recovery Yoga, eating at Vegas’ fun restaurants, working on creative projects with friends, and turning my backyard into a residential Meow Wolf-esque wonderland.
Q: Who massages you?
A: I have a few massage therapist friends who take good care of me.
Q: Do you think you’ll always live in Vegas?
A: I used to say “yes”, but now I’m not so sure. I love it here, but I also have a dream of living on land with hot springs and building a little retreat. Who knows!
Q: What does the future of Feetish look like?
A: I’d like to find some tenants to share my office who are on a similar wavelength to my own, but beyond that I’d be happy to get through the rest of 2020 without a major personal catastrophe!
Q: I have questions that you haven’t answered. How can I ask them?
A: Drop me an email here. Keep ’em coming!
Thanks friends!
I Love Men’s Pedicures
OK, to be completely honest I love performing all pedicures regardless of the recipient’s gender, but it is so amazing to see dudes taking care of their feet!
If you’re a guy who has not had the pleasure of visiting Feetish for the most luxurious pedicure in Las Vegas, let me describe the experience in a manner that may convince you to try one (or at the very least may put your pedicure-considering mind at ease).
Every Feetish Spa Parlor appointment is performed by me (Andrea). I’m happy to answer any questions you may have before, during or after your appointment, and I am adamant about providing the level of service that I myself would find utterly delightful.
80% of your pedicure will be performed in a darkened room while you’re relaxing on a cushy massage table (face up, fully clothed, optional blanket and table warmer). During the other 20% you’ll be sitting up while soaking your feet.
Cleanliness and sanitation are extremely important to me! In addition to the COVID-19 policies described here, I am also on top of disinfecting all non-porous reusable implements, and promptly discarding all single-use implements immediately following each appointment. Your skin will be in contact with clean, properly sanitized surfaces during your visit, because I won’t accept anything less.
My treatment room is private. Our conversation is private. Your feet are my business and nobody else’s.
I’m a licensed nail tech, esthetician, and massage therapist. This means I have advanced training in nail care, skin care, and muscular concerns. When it comes to feet, this is a big deal! I also have foot issues of my own (Morton’s toe! Overpronation! High arches! An overlapping pinky toe!) so I’m pretty relatable and extremely non-judgmental.
Men’s pedicures can include buffing the nails to a matte finish or to a shine, regular nail polish, or gel polish. I’ve performed each one of these options on male clients more times than I can count. It’s your choice, and there’s no extra charge for any of these finishing touches.
Men’s pedicures also include a thorough smoothing of calluses, a foot soak and scrub, trimming toenails and filing them, pushing cuticles back (and trimming them if needed), a soothing foot and leg massage, deep hydrating lotion application, and some time wrapped up in steamed towel booties. And guess what! These steps are included in ALL of Feetish’s 90 and 120 minute pedicures, so it doesn’t matter what your gender is: Book whichever pedicure catches your eye.
I hope this blog post demystified what a men’s pedicure at Feetish Spa Parlor consists of, and I hope you’ll get in touch if you have any questions. Come on in and let me spoil your feet!
Weird Times Update, July 2020
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Reopening News
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Greetings & Updates, May 2020
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How To Smooth Rough Soles
One of the most common compliments I receive from clients following my pedicures is “I have new feet! They’ve never been so smooth!”, and one of the most common questions I hear is “What can I do to keep this going at home?”. Well, my life is an open book and I want you to get as much enjoyment from your feet as is humanly possible, so here’s what I do at Feetish to get those rough, dry soles back to baby soft feet.
FOOT SOAK
Soak feet for at least 10 minutes in warm water, using a magnesium salt-rich bath bomb (but not an oily one…I’ll explain why later) or bath salts. Again, avoid heavy oils or butters at this stage.
SCRUB
Use a clean-rinsing foot or body scrub on legs and feet. Again, not one that leaves an oily residue.
DRY FEET OFF AND APPLY CALLUS SOFTENER
I use Footlogix Callus Softener and the Footlogix Stainless Steel Foot File. Let the softener absorb into your soles for a few minutes, then gently run the foot file over your calluses. You should start to see dead skin rolling up and falling off of your feet. (Do this over a towel for easy clean up. And remember the no oily residue rule? If there’s oil on your soles the callus softener won’t absorb into your skin and this step won’t be successful.)
LET FEET DRY
When you can’t feel anymore moisture on your freshly-filed soles, use a 100/180 grit nail file to further smooth calluses. You can start with the 100 grit side and finish with a pass using the 180 grit side. If you do ANY of the steps up to and including this one, do this step as it will give you the most bang for your buck.
MOISTURIZE
Use a warm, damp towel to remove the “dust” from your feet and apply a thick, rich moisturizer on your entire foot. This can be a body butter (I like Fresh Creamy Milk Body Butter found here) or if you want an even thicker moisturizer, use shea butter or a shea butter based balm (I like the Skin Sticks found here, especially The Healer). Put socks on over this layer of product and go about your day (or night). Moisturize using the same product every morning (and evening as well if you feel you need it). NOTE: If you are prone to athlete’s foot, avoid putting non-medicated lotions and creams between your toes.
ADDITIONAL HOME FOOT CARE IDEAS
Buzz Peel Body Exfoliating Gel is a fun, interesting, satisfying product to use on your soles. You apply a small amount to dry, rough skin and rub it in. Within seconds you’ll see dead skin start to roll up and off of your feet. You can use it a few times per week if you’d like. Find Buzz Peel here.
Find Fizi Bath Bombs for your foot soak here. I prefer the Sweet Lavender formula when it’s available.
Baby Foot Foot Peel will likely cause your dead foot skin to fall off in sheets over the course of 3 – 10 days. Find it here.
RESET YOUR SOLES
Most times it can be beneficial to come in for a pedicure first (like Feetish’s Dead Soles Pedicure) so a professional who loves smoothing your soles (like me!) can get your new feet off on the right foot. After this reset, your self care routine will be so much easier and more effective.
I hope this blog post was helpful! If you need some hands on assistance, please book a pedicure with me at Feetish. I’d love to smooth your soles. 🙂
What Makes A Feetish Pedicure “The Best Pedicure In Las Vegas”
Recently a few lovely new Feetish clients told me they found me by Googling “best pedicure in Vegas” and Feetish came up as the top (non-paid-for) result. For obvious reasons I was tickled to hear this, and it got me thinking: What makes Feetish’s pedicures stand out in a city where you can get a great pedicure at a five star hotel just a few miles down the road?
ENVIRONMENT
While I was designing Feetish, my goal was to create a total environment that would give my guests the opportunity to escape time and space for a little while. A little bit Victorian parlor and a little bit curiosity shop, with a clean, comfortable spa vibe that didn’t look like anything you’d think you’d find in Las Vegas. Attention to uncommon details: The ceiling (matte black decorative tiles), the lighting (dimmed chandeliers), the linens (blacks, grays), and the decor (candles, anatomical posters and models, butterflies, crystals, etc.), white noise, music, essential oils diffused daily, chocolates in a candy dish. Each and every service performed one-on-one on a comfy, padded massage table in a private treatment room, which is essentially unheard of in a nail salon setting.
SERVICES
I am a meticulous pedicurist. Sanitation, quality products, expert massage skills, thorough exfoliation, detailed nail care, and damn near perfect polish; these are some of the things that I love focusing on during every pedicure at Feetish. You know what else I love doing at Feetish? Coming up with themed pedicures that you can’t get anywhere else: The Walking Ped (zombie themed pedicure with a warm, mushy brains foot soak), Bela LuToesi’s Ped (vampire themed pedicure with a warm candle wax massage and shimmer powder application), The Grateful Ped (quite possibly the first CBD pedicure ever offered in Las Vegas), and so many more! You can’t rush quality, so I don’t offer any pedicures shorter than 90 minutes. I have very high standards for my work!
PRODUCTS
Could I use cheaper products? Of course. I could buy bulk oils, scrubs and creams made with inexpensive ingredients by the gallon (or five gallon tub, or fifty five gallon drum) and reduce my product cost on each pedicure by a couple of bucks. But you know why I don’t? I care about what I put on my clients’ skin. I insist on using cruelty free products that don’t contain sulfates, parabens, pthalates or fillers whenever possible. I carry nail polishes that range from OPI (your standard quality salon brand) to Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab (cruelty free boutique line that doesn’t contain many irritating ingredients commonly found in nail polishes) to 786 (a cruelty free vegan line that’s halal, breathable and free from eleven of the most common nail polish irritants). I will always use the best products that I’ve found to get the results that I expect from my pedicures.
HOSPITALITY
Your comfort is my priority. I don’t subscribe to a one size fits all philosophy, so all of Feetish’s services are customized to help you reach your self care goals. I’m one of those people that really enjoys communicating so I can make sure you’re beyond satisfied with your pedicure when you leave Feetish and head back out into the world.
I think that sums up what makes Feetish’s pedicures the top rated pedicures in Las Vegas! If you’ve ever left me an online review, I present you with a million thanks from the bottom of my heart. You’re what makes it possible for me to do what I love for a living. ❤
Lose Your Winter Funk At Feetish
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