That's Fit

I love a good pedicure. Not sure I'd love one if it involved flesh-eating fish devouring my dry skin and callouses. Hey, I guess fish need to eat too -- which is exactly what they are doing is some spas and salons. Ouch.

People are swimming to one salon in Alexandria, Virginia -- the only U.S. salon featuring the feasting fish from Turkey -- and as one reporter notes in this video after giving it a try, it's not all that bad. It's amazing, actually. As for her feet: they are so soft even her husband noticed.

Here's how it all works: First, you wash your feet. Then, you step into a tub of water, have a seat, and allow the fish to nibble for about 15 minutes. Don't worry, they're only drawn to dead, unhealthy skin areas and won't attack your healthy skin, allegedly. And by all accounts, the whole process is safe. The fish are safe, the water is safe -- it's changed after each use -- and your bank account won't suffer too badly either. The cost of this fishy experience starts at $35.

Sound strange? Does to me. Would you give it a try? Don't think I would.

During the summer months, many women get a few extra highlights (myself included). Even if I'm not hanging out on the beach, my hair can still have that sunkissed glow ... for a few weeks, anyway, until my roots start showing. And no matter how many celebrities go around showing an inch of darkness at the root, I'm just not on board -- my hair doesn't have enough body to pull that look off.

Like many of you, I don't have the time or the money to get my hair professionally highlighted every four or six weeks, so I've come up with a way to go longer between highlights -- with a semi-permanent, at-home hair color (I personally use Natural Instincts).

First of all, I have to tell you that at-home hair coloring can be disastrous -- if you're looking to really change up your hair color, or go from light to dark, you really ought to spring for a professional. However, many of my friends and I have had great success by using a light shade to blend our natural hair color with our grown-out highlights.

It is officially the time of year to start really thinking about New Year's Resolutions. While many people will vow to lose 20lbs, quit smoking and/or drinking, or start working out on a regular basis, I like to stick with something much smaller, simpler and -- let's face it -- easier.

While all of the aforementioned resolutions are very worthwhile, I think it's tough to decide to do any of those things just because it's the new year and everyone else is making plans to change their habits immediately following the holiday-binge season. So I think it's a great idea to stick with something less complex and work your way up to resolutions that are tougher to keep and need some serious willpower.

I am a hair dye enthusiast -- I love to color my hair. While some do it to cover gray or because they've always dreamed of being a blond, brunette or red head, I do it because I love that it's a non-permanent way to considerably alter the way I look. Well that, and also due to the fact that my normal hair color is an extremely unappealing shade of mousy, ash-brown.

While I'm happy to shell out a fair-sized amount of cash to have my hair done professionally for special occasions, I can't afford to pay expensive salon prices every time I decide I need a change. I imagine this is the case for most of you fellow dye fans out there. I know that many hairdressers will try to persuade all of us that home hair-coloring kits will forever destroy our hair, but I also know of a few who will admit that many of the products currently on the market do a pretty decent job at a much lower price.

Having said that, if you do decide to try the DIY method, it is important to do a little research beforehand as the onus is on you to get it right. A botched at-home job will end up costing even more when you have to go to a professional to fix the splotchy, orange mess you've made of your former crowning glory. With this in mind, it's important to think about the four things listed here before you start the process.

Manicures, pedicures, facials and visits to a salon for haircuts, coloring and hi-lites can be incredibly expensive. So what's a girl to do if she wants to maintain a polished, movie star look but obviously doesn't have the same kind of money to spend as a star? Well, you can try some of these tips on getting an expensive look for less.

The piece offers advice on how to keep hair looking shiny, keeping a just-polished look on finger and toe nails and getting celebrity-worthy eyebrows. Tips include not washing hair every day or using mousse as both will make your mane look dry and dull, shilling out for a really great, classic and personalized haircut a few times a year rather than opting for a trendy cut that needs maintenance every six weeks and buffing nails or using light, shimmery polishes -- like opal and taupe -- to keep nails looking like you've just been for a mani-pedi.

Let's face it, unless you've got too much money to throw around -- and most of us don't -- it's not really realistic to try to keep up with all of the treatments and styles that the stars favor, but these hints will help you look great without spending a fortune.

It's a Saturday night and I just want to go out and relax, listen to to some music, and have a drink or two -- see you at the...spa? Yep, the latest rage in beauty treatments and relaxation seems to be for spa and beauty salons to stay open late into the night, serve drinks, and play music you'd probably expect more in a club setting.

The salons that have joined this craze say it makes for a nice social mix of young "up and comings" getting dolled up before heading out on the town and the older more mature crowd that's winding down for evening. It's not only less crowded at that time, but the atmosphere caters to mingling and meeting people -- beauty salons are becoming the new social hot spots.

Yes, sexy lawyer, come over and talk to me while I sit with foil in my hair under a large dryer that looks like a space helmet. Perfect.

Going to the salon to get a manicure, pedicure, or your hair colored is a luxurious experience that most people love. Having somebody wait on you hand and foot (literally!) is something that rarely, if ever, happens for us in our regular day to day lives. But we've also all heard horror stories about infections and health hazards, and here are some answers to the most commonly expressed health concerns when visiting the salon:

• Can I get an infection from a manicure or pedicure? Although it rarely happens, being aware of the possibility of getting an infection -- particularly HIV or Hepatitis -- is essential anytime instruments capable of breaking the skin are involved, as they are when doing nail care. Make sure your technician follows the appropriate guidelines and the risk will be minimal.
• Can hair dye increase my risk for cancer? Many studies have been done on this topic in relation to the risk of developing blood cancers and breast cancer, but all have been inconclusive.
• What services should I avoid when I'm pregnant? Pregnancy is such a complicated and delicate state that the best thing to do is consult your physician before receiving any salon services that involve chemicals, herbs, or other remedies -- even if they're "all natural." And some other services, like certain massages, can post risks during different stages of pregnancy and should also be avoided.

Click here for a more in-depth look at some of these concerns, plus a few others!

This is the kind of news piece I read and later feel extremely frightened about the world around me, about leaving my house and getting a ... pedicure. Yes, I said pedicure.

A pedicure is the kind of sole nurturing and foot treatment every woman and man should splurge on occasionlly without the fear of developing some kind of fungal or bacterial infection later. This WIFR Pedicure Dangers piece (which sounds like highly over-dramatized nightly news) highlights the importance of making sure your salon or foot spa is performing the necessary cleaning procedures to flush out all the water, removing dead skin cells of patrons that -- if not caught -- can cause bacterial infections. Bacterial infections are usually characterized by a red, swollen toe and fungi that, once in the nail, grow and multiply, increasing the thickness of the nail. Let's just say it's pretty unattractive and painful from the sound of things.

Personally, I've never done a thorough health inspection of any of the salons I've been to in the past before dipping my feet into their tubs for a nice footsy rub-and-scrub and I've never known anyone get an infection after a pedicure. It doesn't mean it isn't happening, though, and apparently it's happening enough to make headlines. The article's author suggests walking out of a salon if you feel as if they aren't going the distance to keep your feet happy.

Sounds pretty basic to me.