SPA WATCH | The Fish Pedicure at Aqua Sheko

The Treatment

AQUA SHEKO, the first salon dedicated solely to the exfoliating Garra Rufa fish pedicure, has just opened up in London’s salubrious High Street Kensington and by the looks of it is doing a roaring trade. The therapists say clients come for weekly, bi-weekly and monthly treatments and even daily for those suffering from psoriasis – apparently the fish release an enzyme which helps in the treatment of certain skin conditions and different parts of the body can be dipped into the small pools and treated. The fish were originally found in hot springs in Kangal, Turkey and apparently love nothing more than to feast on dry skin, making one of the charms of this treatments the symbiotic nature for all parties concerned.

How Was It?

I TOOK my sister along as a treat, courtesy of a fabulous discount from new health and beauty site Wahanda (if you don’t know about Wahanda, check it out, daily hefty discounts on every beauty treatment you could possibly want) – I paid £12 for what is usually a £30 25-minute treatment. The sleek black salon is small with an open shop- front window that draws the occasional inquisitive look from passers by. There are not more than about ten raised leather seats each with its own little pool of about 80-odd fish of differing sizes, the largest being a couple of inches long.

WE WERE welcomed and made to feel very much at home before having our feet thoroughly rinsed to ensure they were free from any oils and creams, which can cause the occasional fish death. We sat down side by side with tea and water (there’s room in between seats to put your handbag) and then slipped our feet out of our white towel slippers into the pools – best to wear leggings or trousers you can easily roll up to beneath your knee. Be warned, the fish do immediately swarm, but as promised it isn’t at all painful. Just a heavy tickly sensation as they get to work all over your feet. I could hardly feel them on my hardened heels and was fascinated watching them attach their sucker mouths to my cuticles. The only slightly unnerving bit was when the occasional fish went for the softer skin around the ankle, but that was fine too. After 25 minutes our time was up and a therapist helped us out and dried our feet.

The Result

OVERALL, I was pretty pleased. The harder bits on my big toe and heel were definitely more sanded down and the sole of my feet near my toes was extremely soft. I was very happy to slip back into my flip flops and parade my tootsies back out on the streets of London. However, as my feet are quite dry, I could have definitely benefited from a dollop of foot cream or oil as is offered in the Deluxe treatment – £45 for 30 minutes fish-time plus 15-minute foot massage. Ten days later my feet are a little bit tougher round the edges but still presentable.

 

Aqua Sheko, 14 Holland Street, High St Kensington, London W8 4LT (07837 539 325).

Written for beautywoome.com by contributor Julia Rebaudo.

SPA WATCH | Elizabeth Arden Red Door

IT HAS been a frenzied early spring of spa visits for us here... a far cry from last spring with elbows deep in a start-up, simultaneously planning a backyard wedding and, er, hunched over the laptop all the while. How we cherish the fact that spa visits are all in a day's work for a beauty writer. Facials? Massages? Pedicures? YES, please, even though the end results mights not be long term unless you keep a standing appointment with your torturer therapist.

With sandal season just a few weeks out, I have started doing some serious foot repair as well. Not six months ago I was mountain climbing in the same socks for seven days, hiking, farming and swing from tree tops by a harness. And not a professional hand has set upon my feet in the meantime.

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The Organic Pharmacy Deluxe Pedicure

Elspeth Waters had a preview of the new Deluxe Pedicure Treatment last week and is here to tell you that even the most pedicure averse person should stop in for this treatment.

"Being rather disturbed by feet – mine in particular – a pedicure is not something I’ve ever really contemplated. But when the chance to test The Organic Pharmacy’s newly-launched Deluxe Rose Pedicure fell in my lap, I decided it was time to fight the feet fear. After all, maybe if I prettied them up a little, I wouldn’t dislike them so much? Sure, I have a slight bunion on one side and my nails are cut any which-way but straight… but I figured whoever was going to get the pleasure of seeing my little piggies must surely have seen worse… right?

And it turned out she – the delightfully and aptly named Rose – had indeed seen worse. She even called my feet beautiful. Now, I’m sure she was just being kind, but I certainly feel a lot better about my little stumps after 75 minutes in this girl’s company!

So, to the treatment. Well, I have absolutely no experience in this arena, of course, but I suspect you’d be hard pressed to beat it. While I sipped delicious rose petal tea and reclined on the bed, Rose bathed my feet in a basin of piping hot Cleopatra Milk Bath and rose buds, scrubbing them with Cleopatra Body Scrub. It wasn’t entirely relaxing at this point but I’m sure my dull, hard skin needed a good seeing to.

Then came the indulgent reflexology and lymphatic drainage with essential oils for the feet and calves – heavenly. And, apparently this can help flush out toxins and alleviate water retention to leave calves looking slimmer (perfect for cankle-proofing in time for summer). I’m not sure I lost any width off my trunks but they sure looked glowing and full of lustre afterwards.

And finally we came to the traditional pedicure treatment – file, shape and polish. Although inclined to go for my trusted dark red, as I knew I’d be wearing a purple dress at a wedding the next day I chose a light pink, which looked pretty good in the dimly-lit treatment room. Unfortunately, by the next afternoon it was already a bit streaky. Perhaps it hadn’t dried before I left despite Rose dabbing on some protective Lemon and Neem Nail Oil after the quick-drying top coat. I was a bit disappointed but my toes still looked pretty neat and groomed, which is not a state my friends are used to.

All in all, a perfectly luxurious Rose experience. Rose body lotion, Rose body spritz to refresh, Rose chocolate to compliment the sweet tea… and of course, the lovely Rose herself.

I am very happy with my new digits – even my feet-phobic boyfriend had to admit they look far less offensive. But then as he has a fleshy growth on one of his toes that he insists is “perfectly normal”, I suppose I probably shouldn’t pay too much heed to his opinion, really."

The Organic Pharmacy Deluxe Pedicure launched on May 1 and costs £70 for 75 minutes. For more information call: 020 7351 2232 or visit www.theorganicpharmacy.com.