Dubai Forget your sweet tooth, how about sweet feet this Valentine’s Day - or any day later? A spa in Dubai is drawing a steady stream of customers asking for its “yummy” chocolate pedicure that promises to leave them refreshed and raring to go.
Sally Ann Simmons, Operations Manager at the Spaces Salon at the Oasis Centre, said she came up with the concoction in response to demands by customers that they wanted something warm for their feet during winter.
She said: “We use brown sugar, vanilla, fizzy cocoa beans, mangoes, peach and shea butter for the treatment. We also give you cup of hot chocolate in the process – it does wonders to relax you.”
As with all pedicures, this one too begins with soaking the feet in warm water and lime. Over the next 30 minutes, the cuticle work, shaping and filing of the nails is done.
Then comes the sweet part. A coat of coarse brown sugar and vanilla extract is applied to the feet and lower legs, one at a time, till it melts into the skin. “A good scrub ensures the skin is exfoliated. This is done for around 10 minutes until the sugar dissolves,” said Simmons.
In the next step, a fizzing cocoa bean mask is applied over the feet and legs. And no, it isn’t sticky at all. On the other hand, it feels tingly, soft and is supposedly nourishing.
The mask is now wrapped in cling film to keep the heat in. A towel is also used to cover the wrap, so it makes it warm and comforting. You also get your cup of hot chocolate now, the timing being no coincidence.
Ten minutes later, the mask is removed and the feet cleaned with warm water. A gentle massage with a mango, peach and shea butter jelly follows. “This helps the blood circulation,” said Simmons.
The massage done, your nails are now ready to painted – and be swept off your feet.
The pedicure takes around an hour and 20 minutes. It costs Dh150.
