Sunday 5 December 2010

A Different Beauty Date

picture is borrowed from the Internet and is very true to the experience

Before going off to Ikea yesterday to secure this winter's supply of candles/napkins and Swedish foodstuff, I had an appointment for a different kind of beauty treatment. The Ladies Who Dine had among other things got me a gift voucher for my birthday for a
fish pedicure...

I have to admit I was slightly sceptical at first, but thought
"hey, you only live once, so why not.."

I arrived for my appointment and I was seated in a very comfortable chair while my feet were gently washed by the beauty technician. She then turned the chair and a tank of water with hundreds of tiny little fish swimming around in it appeared. She ordered me to put my feet in and I have to admit I was slightly worried and carefully dipped one foot in - ready to jank it out if need be. The school of fish immediately rushed over to the immersed foot and I giggled as it felt like what I assume it must feel to put my feet in fizzy water (no, have not done THAT before)! I immersed the other foot in the water and a bunch of them came over to the other foot.

It was very strange.

"You will relax into it", said the technician. And she was right. It took a good 10 minutes for me to just sit and watch the fish do their thing and I finally agreed that "no, they are not chewing my feet off" and "yes, it is weirdly comfortable". The fish does not have teeth, rather they are sucking the dead skin cells off. This is apparently a very ancient technique, discovered in Turkey or perhaps in Far East Asia, I believe. For generations, it seems these finned therapists (species Garra rufa) have been employed in the treatment of skin conditions, particularly eczema and psoriasis. It's all to do with the fish saliva as the enzyme (diathanol),  improves the skin regeneration process.
The technician explained how the water was constantly being filtered and that it was completely cleaned between each customer's treatment.
In some countries apparently, they go for whole-body, full-immersion fish spas.
I don't think I could do THAT!

Would I go again?
Hmmm... think it is a case of 'been there, done that'.
The 30-min feet-sucking fish did make the skin feel a bit softer, but I think a good 'normal' pedicure would be equally beneficial.

Besides, the fish didn't paint my nails...
 ;-)

5 comments:

  1. Jeg så noen som fikk det gjort her og det rykker enda i bena mine. Det der kunne jeg aldri ha greid- det må da kile noe helt forferdelig?
    Jeg syns du er barsk jeg. :)

    Og enda barskere syns jeg det høres ut å planlegge Hogmannay i Edinburgh. Men bare det blir sånn nogenlunde opphold så må jo det bli litt av en opplevelse.

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  2. Herlig historie og du skriver så billedlig :)
    Må si det var en kreativ presang og tenker de hadde det tilsvarende morsomt med å overbringe den :)

    Du får nyte dine fiskenappede ben..

    ♥ Kos deg med 2. søndag i advent ♥

    Klem fra Tove

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  3. OMG....
    Ja, du er tøff. For jeg hadde ikke våget
    å sette bena ned i det vannet!
    .. Iiiiiik..Hehe...

    Kos deg denne adventsøndagen! ♥

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  4. Oh, det skulle jag aldrig klara av, jag är kryp rädd, små fiskar räknas som också som kryp, dessutom ör jag otroligt kittlig under föttterna! Kittlades det inte?

    Mette, jag har hittat en annan translator till dig som översätter bloggen på plats, man behöver inte gå in på en annan sida och knappa. Kolla in den, du kanske gillar den.
    Jag kan inte skriva in den här, jag får upp ett felmeddelande, men jag försöker skicka den till dig med mail.

    Kram

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  5. Sorry, Mette!!! Her er det ikke regn, bare snø:DDDD Masse snø:DD Så ta frem vinterdekk, god tid og tålmodighet, så kommer du frem. I år er det snø før jul, i fjor kom snøen på julaften,- husker ikke året før. Men som regel regner det, på denne årstiden. Ofte hele vinteren i gjennom, men så kommer det brått en vinter hvor snøen ligger fra november til mars. Så varme klær, gode dekk og godt med tid:DD klemz

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