That would seem a little odd to me, but it’s not odd to me to see Vietnamese men working in a nail salon, and I’ve had a man do my nails more than once, although I rarely get my nails done, maybe twice a year.
Almost always the man in the salon seems to also be the owner or manager. Not that I know that for sure, but that’s how it appears to me, or sometimes maybe it’s just his English is better and he’s being helpful, but I don’t think that’s it.
I wouldn’t turn around and walk out if it was an all male shop. It seems to me that’s similar to all female businesses in industries that have been dominated by men. I think part of what would make me comfortable or uncomfortable is how they seem about their job, if they like it. I feel that way about women too.
I don’t enjoy manicures and pedicures like many people do. I usually get a mani-minipedi. I have ticklish feet, I don’t want all my calluses removed, I worked hard for them, and don’t feel like going through the pain of developing new ones. If your feet hurt, and you are getting pedicures that leave your feet soft, maybe that’s why you’re feet hurt. I always worry about cleanliness and infection. It never seems to me the sponges or pads they use to smooth feet are sterilized or cleaned in any way.
I don’t let them cut my cuticles, except for bits that are truly ragged. Some ESL manicurists interpret that as don’t cut anything, and so they may leave my toe nails too long, or using a file for everything, which I don’t want on my feet especially. I usually get a French when I go, and so there is watching to see if they do the white thick enough. Plus, I like slightly rounded nails, and they seem to gravitate towards square or more pointy, so I either file at least one before, but I have to explain.
See what I mean, usually not very relaxing. If I went regularly I guess then I wouldn’t have to deal with a lot of that.
