Only in America
I’ve had quite a few pedicures in my life, I AM an old broad, after all, but the new idea at a salon in Alexandria, Virginia leaves me with my mouth open. The salon owner, John Ho, was looking for a gimmick to increase the traffic to his shop, Yvonne Hair and Nails that he owns with his wife Yvonne.
At considerable expense ($40,000) and a few hiccups, he has brought tiny carp called doctor fish into his salon and put them in warm water tanks. Salon patrons put their bare feet into the tank and these little fish nibble off all the dead skin. They have no teeth to buy live flesh, resulting in really smooth skin. Once the fish have finished their job - you can buy 15 or 30 minutes in the tank for $35 or $50 - you get a traditional pedicure.
Ho says that he’s had more than 5000 people pay to dip in the tanks in just the first four months of operation.
Would I try it? Hell yeah.. just so I could take photos and show you. My feet are really ticklish so I’m not sure I could last for 15 minutes. I doubt the idea will make it to New Zealand so I’ll have to wait til I go back home to the states probably.
Would you?
Brilliant idea! ….. I just hope they won;t eat the fish LOL!
Those poor fish! I don’t think I’d have the endurance (too ticklish). Extremely interesting from the business creative.
I probably would - I don’t know if I would do it for 50 Dollars though
I’ve always been cheap 
I am not sure I could handle that either but hey to try it once might be a little adventure! He has got a pretty good gimmick to get folks into his shop!
My understanding is that this is actually quite popular in some Asian countries. There, apparently, they go one step further. You put on your swim suit and climb all the way in. After all, there is dead skin on all parts of the body that need exfoliating.
Would I do it? Well, as a guy, I’m much less concerned about dead skin, however my feet are getting a bit scaly so it might be nice.
My wife, on the other hand freaks out when we swim in a pond and a fish comes within 30 feet, so I suspect she probably wouldn’t.
I just saw on “I survived a Japanese Gameshow” where the winning team got to go to a spa and have the doctor fish pedicure!
I’d do it, why not? But I wouldn’t pay that much, LOL.
(I realize I missed typing the n in honey, so sorry!)
That is very interesting and I have no doubt that that works, but I would be laughing the whole time. Lol @ doctor fish!
this is something i really would like to try..wonder if the husband will let me do it? lol
Briliant, bung a few Pirhanas in, they’ll get rid of all your hard skin…soft skin…. infact you’ll have no foot problems at all,WhooHoo
we have one here at the ocean park in manila, philippines. i tried it and even wrote a post regarding that. it was not that ticklish as the doctor fishes were just sort of nibbling. the fee was 100 pesos ($2.50) for 30 minutes.
ewwwwww, NO WAY! Not with my ticklish feet! I can barely let the pedicurist touch them let alone a dozen fish.
Hey, John’s gimmick worked. He’s got the blogging world talking about him
Anita
I’m from Malaysia and I’ve seen this kind of idea in my town last week but it’s very fresh. They brought this thing to beauty spas… Now I know this is from America. The charge are quite cheap over here. If I remember right, it was $15 for 30 minutes, a promotional price though.