Street Manicure

Sprinkled throughout the down town area, sit young men with their manicure stalls. Two simple chairs, a fold-up table, a poster with a sampling of effects and an assortment of varnishes make their manicure stations. Some don't have chairs and the manicurist and customer find a convenient sidewalk or steps to sit on. Otherwise, they walk the streets with their stalls balanced on their heads and carrying their stools hoping to bump into customers. It seems like a pleasant encounter and I have caught snatches of conversation about the boyfriend, plans for the evening or the selection of color as I walk by.

I finally get up the nerve to get one at one of the nearby corners. This particular manicurist sits next to a woman selling fruit and usually one or two other young men are hanging out on the steps playing Chinese checkers.

I approach the stall and the manicurist is happy to paint any of the designs he advertises. I don't want anything too flashy and we settle on one of the more discrete colors and designs.

He files my nails, applies cuticle remover and gently removes the superficial skin. I tell him I don't want him to cut using scissors, but he does not use them normally he says.

I ask him why it is that it is men working as manicurists, but he says that there are women as well although I have never seen any. He says that he began out of curiosity. He observed another manicurist and was fascinated by the designs and started for himself. I wondered if he had sisters and if he practiced with them, but no, he is an only child. The number of customers he has a day varies quite a bit, but usually Fridays and Saturdays are his best days. I ask him why he works on the street, whether he would rather work in a salon and he says he wants to be independent and not have to pay the salon any fees. He is pleasant and quiet and life on the street continues as normal. People walk by and hardly glance our way, this is just an every day sight for them I imagine.

BEFORE                 

AFTER
(notice the tiny little hearts)

At 500 Kwanzaas or $5.00 USD this is a bargain. I payed 5 x as much at a "salon" and after two days the varnish peeled of completely. We'll see how much this one lasts...

The fruit lady wants me to buy fruit, but I have already done my shopping I tell her. I offer her a manicure if she lets me take a picture. She gets her toes done!