Tracy Roberts, 33, of Rockville, Md. has her toes nibbled on by a type of carp called garra rufa, or doctor fish, during a fish pedicure treatment at Yvonne Hair and Nails salon in Alexandria, Va." (Well now the whole world knows what Tracy's feet look like.--JOh)
THE SUN, UK, Thursday July 24th, 2008 by Sara Nelson
IT’S a fishy way of freshening up your feet – but letting carp nibble on your tootsies is the latest spa treatment to net beauty junkies.
Fish pedicures are creating something of a splash in the Washington D.C. area, where a northern Virginia spa has been offering them for the past four months.
Salon owner John Ho said he wanted to come up with something unique while finding a replacement for pedicures that use razors to scrape off dead skin.
He said: “I know people were a little intimidated at first, but I just said ‘let’s give it a shot’.”
Customers of the treatment, which is popular in Turkey and some Asian countries quickly became hooked.
After up to half-an-hour of having your feet nibbled by a tank of hungry fish, customers then get a standard pedicure, which is made easier by the fish’s work.
TICKLISH
Mr Ho, who charges $35 for a 15 minute session and $50 for half-an-hour, has more than 1,000 fish at his salon. Around 100 fish are in each individual pedicure tank at any one time. Customer Patsy Fisher, 42, admitted she was nervous as she prepared for her first fish pedicure.
But her fears dissolved into laughter after she put her feet in the tank and the fish swarmed to her toes.
“It’s a little ticklish, actually,” she said.
Mr Ho said the hot water in which the fish thrive doesn't support plant or aquatic life, so they learned to feed on whatever food sources were available - including dead, flaking skin. They leave live skin alone because, without teeth, they can’t bite it off.
Mr Ho is considering a full-body fish treatment to treat psoriasis and other ailments.
Well, I know someone for whom this probably would have been better than what she got!! Kimmie, look at this!!
ReplyDeleteJust up the road from you two!!! ROAD TRIP!!!!
ReplyDeleteI blogged about this a bit ago. Don't know if I am ready to take the plunge though....
ReplyDeleteya know...I would loove that, and I think my friend 'ladyexpat' blogged this and actually went to a spa...said it was wonderful!!
ReplyDeletelol..and love the cartoon....grins..glad youre having a good day!
ReplyDeleteThis really sounds like it would be fun!
ReplyDeletePerfect choice for Heather!
Hmmmm, Pretty Feet ~ where have I heard that before?
Don't think I'll give it try...
ReplyDeleteI heard about this on the news this morning. I think it would be a cool fun experience.
ReplyDeleteyep I saw it too, how cute like the leeches in ole times and new......:)
ReplyDeletehahaha love the 'think tank'
ReplyDeleteEek.... I'm not ticklish... until you touch my feet!!!
ReplyDeleteNO TY - I DON'T THINK SO ..... i am exceptionally ticklish, and personally I don't like the idea of fish nibbling on my feet ! shudder
ReplyDeleteIf i was to do this..all fish would die in that bowl
ReplyDeleteThis was big on the news there and here... and that shot is a great close up of the fishies in action. I would not mind it one bit.. although I am very ticklish in that area, I might endure the soft pecks. I wonder if the sun fish we have in our lake can be persuaded to do the same?
ReplyDelete....nah ....I'll take the old fashioned way....a foot massage by Prince Charming.
ReplyDeleteShe apparently doesn't want fishes nibblin' at her toes... Something about a Ped-Egg.
ReplyDelete....funny how we get fussy who we let nibble at our toes...
ReplyDeleteSounds mighty relaxing to me...something to be said about feeding your potential food source. Puuuurrrrrfect.
ReplyDeleteCan still do a road trip!!
ReplyDeleteHmmm Leeches or Fish? Fish or Leeches? This is a really hard decision!!
ReplyDeleteI saw this on TV....how funny is that. I can never look at my feer without thinking about this.
ReplyDeleteThis would freak me out , I couldn't do it !!!!
ReplyDeleteHei John
ReplyDeleteHehe! Each and everyone for their choice of treatment!
My preferred ones are the full body hot mud ones followed by fragrant hot oil massages
in the spa at Dead Sea of Israel!!
Highly recommend 'em, so i do. :)))
Thanks so much for dropping by -- i am fine; just been so busy with daughter getting married in Ireland and such thingies. The wedding went absolutely fabulously. Keep so grand and dandy.
Ditto! Eeeek!
ReplyDelete