ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Ready for the latest in spa pampering? Prepare to dunk your tootsies in a tank of water and let tiny carp nibble away.
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He said he wanted to come up with something unique while finding a replacement for pedicures that use razors to scrape off dead skin. The razors have fallen out of favor with state regulators because of concerns about whether they’re sanitary.
Ho was skeptical at first about the fish, which are called garra rufa but typically known as doctor fish. They were first used in Turkey and have become popular in some Asian countries.
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State regulations make no provision for regulating fish pedicures. But the county health department — which does regulate pools — required the salon to switch from a shallow, tiled communal pool that served as many as eight people to individual tanks in which the water is changed for each customer.
The communal pool also presented its own problem: At times the fish would flock to the feet of an individual with a surplus of dead skin, leaving others with a dearth of fish.
“It would sometimes be embarrassing for them but it was also really hilarious,” Ho said.
Honestly…I wanna try it It would actually be kinda cool…and as one customer said, ticklish. And, only $35!
^ Watch the video. Apparently they sense the points of tension and move toward them and the feel of their body on your skin/muscles is relaxing. Or some crap like that. I definitely won't be trying that :D
umm...yeah. i would rather get the fish to eat my dead scales. i mean i don't mind snakes, but this whole massage thing seems like snake oil to me...no pun intended :D