“I was angry. I was humiliated,” claimed Sydnor. “The big deal is that I feel like I’m being discriminated based on my gender. There’s nothing to say that my hands or my nails are different than a woman’s nails. Nobody measured my hands, no one measured my fingernails.”

Sydnor’s lawyer, Jimmy Bell — in need of a challenge or at least a chuckle — maintains his client’s righteous indignation, stating:  “Rosa Parks paid the same amount of money but was required to sit in the back of the bus. My client paid more money for less services because he didn’t get polish, he didn’t get clear to go over the polish.”

The 43-year-old manny-loving man spoke to his local Fox affiliate and poured a decently-manicured finger –you get what you pay for — over the salons catalog, which details in not-the-best English the price disparity between women and men.

A judge has issued an injunction ordering the salon not to charge men more money than women for its services, with the case set to go to trial July 21.

What’s sad is that Sydnor probably has a good chance at winning this — though I doubt anyone would give him $200,00 in damages for a goddamn $10 manicure — that is unless Rich’s Nail Salon can prove that Sydnor’s and the average man’s nail beds are larger or require more work than a lady’s.

And considering Sydnor’s size — big guys like nice nails too — that might not prove so hard. [HuffPo]

1. Soak feet to soothe and prepare: Soaking feet will soften and prepare them for the pedicure ahead. Adding bath salts to warm water will soothe feet and relax tired muscles. Carol’s Daughter Body Aches Bath Salts include essential oils of tea tree, lavender and peppermint for an aromatic and pampering experience.

2. Scrub-a-dub-dub: Before your feet can be at their very softest, you need to remove all those dead skin cells. The easiest way to do it is on the side of your tub before getting into the shower. Caudalie Merlot Friction Scrub uses crushed grape seeds, essential oils and sugar to buff away dry skin and make your feet glow.

3. Moisturizing is key: All of that dead skin buffing will be thrown out the window if you don’t lock in moisture with a good foot cream. Use a liberal amount from ankles to toes after showering. L’Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream is enriched with lavender essential oil to relieve tired, inflamed feet while shea butter soothes and softens skin.

4. Buff and file toenails: If you don’t want to polish toes, this can be your last step in the sandal ready feet process. File nails straight across, not round, to avoid ingrown toenails. Buff and shine nails to get that salon pedicure glow. The Sephora Collection 4-Step Nail Buffer has the instructions written on the tool to get beautifully shiny nails with no effort at all.

5. Soften and nourish cuticles: Even if you don’t want to cut your cuticles, it’s important to moisturize and pamper them. Apply a dab to each fingernail and gently rub into your cuticles. Butter of London Handbag Holiday Cuticle Oil contains tons of vitamins and natural oils that smell great and will make your fingers feel even better.

6. Polish time: You’ve primped your feet, so now it’s time to polish those toes. Make sure to swipe a cotton ball soaked with nail polish remover over toenails to eliminate oils or lotion that could prevent polish from sticking. Start with a base coat, like OPI Natural Nail Base Coat, then apply your favorite spring color. Finish with a top coat like Essie No Chips Ahead Top Coat to preserve that gorgeous pedicure for days!

DIY is wonderful, but if you’re really yearning for a pampering spa pedicure, many salons and spas have extended their Spa Week $50 treatments. Check out the website for more details.

Self-portraits about feet

Credit: TimeOut NY

Graceful Spa Organic Massage: Environmentally friendly organic jojoba oil and organic shea butter combined with organic chamomile botanicals provides skin nourishment along with soothing and healing properties in this 50 minute treatment.

Spa Butterfly Organic Facial: This 45 minute facial is designed to deliver a powerful dose of natural vitamins and anti-oxidants that help tighten pores and fight the free-radicals that damage and stress our skin.

Magnolia Beauty Spa Organic Facial with Customized Mask: This 60 minute facial uses organic products to improve skin concerns such as premature aging and wrinkling and acne. The cures come from nature with ingredients good enough to eat.

Jurlique Organic Facials: Choose between a 45 minute brightening or purifying facial at the Jurlique Concept Store on Madison Avenue. Originating from the lush, unpolluted environment of South Australia, Jurlique strives to raise and produce the purest, most potent ingredients while providing skincare efficacy for all who use their products.

Euphora Medi-Spa Salon Organic Colombian Coffee Body Scrub: This 50 minute anti-oxidant rich scrub includes an all access pass to the sauna, steam room and use of facilities at this high-end European salon.

Aroma Day Spa Organic Cool Seaweed Facial: This 60 minute purifying, enriching, French-born seaweed facial is a healing, detoxifying and nourishing treatment that gently firms and tones at the same time.

The Green Spa & Wellness Center Go Green Vegan Spa Pedicure: Pamper your tired feet with this soothing 60 minute spa pedicure that uses eucalyptus aromatherapy and certified vegan nail lacquers.

Not finding what you’re looking for here? Visit the Spa Week website for all of the $50 treatments available near you.

Young woman having facial treatment, close-up

Not sure if this is worthy of a BeautySpark, but if the Glamour girls say it is then it is. I’m more for keeping your toes clean and pretty, you don’t need nude polish for that, just the occasional pedi, but I agree that this is a great way to elongate your toes and not distract from the cute shoes…

What do you do when your 5 year old asks you for laser hair removal? Or your fourth grader asks for $150 highlights  and a mani/pedi to go with it?

An article in Newsweek talks all about this dilemma:

“Fourth graders are in the market for lush $50 haircuts; by the time they hit high school, $150 highlights are standard. Five-year-olds have spa days and pedicure parties. And instead of shaving their legs the old-fashioned way—with a 99-cent drugstore razor—teens get laser hair removal, the most common cosmetic procedure of that age group.  By the time your 10-year-old is 50, she’ll have spent nearly $300,000 on just her hair and face.”

Guess most of us don’t have to worry about that for some time, but imagine what OUR 5 year old’s are going to be asking? I’m imagining anal bleaching and Dora the Explorer temporary tattoo removal.

WOW!

LINKAGE: NY Mag via Newsweek