Should I trim my nails before a mani-pedi?
"If you're doing a pedicure, then no, don't trim them," Barb said. The reason? "The majority of people don't know how to trim their toenails. ... [They] like to trim the sides, and they clip too far in. When the nail comes back in, it'll be an ingrown. You should trim them straight across, not rounded."
For hands, though, Barb said it doesn't matter—trim or don't trim to your liking.
Is it rude if I read the whole time or fall asleep?
According to Barb, reading is fine, and falling asleep is a compliment—sometimes that's even her goal. "I doreflexology... [and when] I hit the central nerve that relaxes you, more than likely you'll fall asleep."
However, know that you may not get a lengthy nap in. Just how long does it take to get your nails done? A basic manicure takes about 30 minutes (more complicated acrylics and dips are closer to 45–60 minutes.)
What if I'm incurably ticklish?
You can tell your nail technician that you're ticklish, but Barb said that it's rarely a problem. However, if you're truly, uncontrollably giggly, nail artists have an ace up their sleeves.
"There's a part in your foot that nail technicians are trained to pinpoint ... that can prevent you from being ticklish. If you're looking at the bottom of your foot and you grab your pinkie and your big toe and flex them inward, it's where the indentation is."
In reflexology, this is the part of the foot that corresponds to your solar plexus. Barb said that once she presses on this area, even the most skittishly ticklish clients have been surprised by how relaxing their treatments became.
My feet are gross. Does that bother you?
"Oh, we've seen it all," Barb said. "We'd rather educate our clients than be grossed out. So if we see a built-up callus, we'll reduce it as much as we can and then give the client recommendations [to keep it from coming back]. As far as yellow toenails, that's usually from polish, [and] we'll tell them how to take care of it."
Fungus doesn't phase Barb, either. "If someone were to have a foot fungus, we'll ask them, 'Have you noticed your toenails looking different?' Nine times out of 10, they already know what they have. We can't diagnose them, but we can refer them to apodiatrist."
For more pedicure advice from Barb and other nail artists, check out ourguide to getting a pedicure with gross feet.
Is it OK to get my nails done if I'm pregnant?
So you're expecting—can you get your nails done when pregnant? Yes, you can. That's because you won't be exposed to any of the nail-salon products for an extended period of time. If you're still nervous, talk to your doctor about any potential risks.
If I nick a nail on my way out of the salon, is it OK to ask you to fix it?
Usually, yes. But to minimize the chances of that happening, Barb said, "we advise clients to hang out for a little bit, 15 minutes or so, while their nails dry."
What's standard nail salon tipping etiquette?
Don't forget to follow Barb's advice and pay and tipjustbeforethe polish goes on. That way, you don't mess up your fresh nails digging out money.
If you still manage to chip your polish in the salon, your technician should be able to patch it up—just don't come in days later complaining that your polish flaked when you were biting your nails.
