Suspect my nail salon has human trafficking going on

[Anonymous]

The saddest thing they all do a terrible job.
Go to an Eastern European/ex USSR technician if you can find one— the difference will be striking.
And the ones I know (I am not in the DMV so I can’t recommend) are certainly not victims of human trafficking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The saddest thing they all do a terrible job.
Go to an Eastern European/ex USSR technician if you can find one— the difference will be striking.
And the ones I know (I am not in the DMV so I can’t recommend) are certainly not victims of human trafficking.

The saddest thing indeed. Are you crazy?

[Anonymous]

I mean I wish at least more expensive “legal” salons did a better job, but nope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine has men going in now. Never saw that until recently. I know men manscape now but it seems weird.

Do the men go to a back room?

[Anonymous]

It's not just sex workers trafficked, it's the ladies doing your mani pedi. Most nail salons use slave labor around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are all Asians and there is a boss lady (Asian) who walks up and down and watches the nail techs. The nail techs looks intimidated and don't talk much. I have gone to the same lady several times and when I ask her about her life she has told me different conflicting stories - she has kids, doesn't have kids, lives in a house with her family, lives in a condo somewhere else. Weird.

Maybe she just doesn’t want to talk to you. I don’t know why you think asking about her personal life is fair game.

No, that's weird. I've been going to a place for years and the owner is lovely, the staff loves her, and her staff are very personable and fun. All Vietnamese and exactly the type of immigrants we want more of. If you have a gut instinct, OP, follow it. That's the only way people are rescued from human trafficking is people following their gut.

[Anonymous]

I suspect they all have shady business practices and treat workers poorly at a minimum. Not to mention they are unsanitary. I will only go to reputable spa that employs mainly Americans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are all Asians and there is a boss lady (Asian) who walks up and down and watches the nail techs. The nail techs looks intimidated and don't talk much. I have gone to the same lady several times and when I ask her about her life she has told me different conflicting stories - she has kids, doesn't have kids, lives in a house with her family, lives in a condo somewhere else. Weird.

Maybe she just doesn’t want to talk to you. I don’t know why you think asking about her personal life is fair game.

No, that's weird. I've been going to a place for years and the owner is lovely, the staff loves her, and her staff are very personable and fun. All Vietnamese and exactly the type of immigrants we want more of. If you have a gut instinct, OP, follow it. That's the only way people are rescued from human trafficking is people following their gut.

The Vietnamese have a huge human trafficking issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect they all have shady business practices and treat workers poorly at a minimum. Not to mention they are unsanitary. I will only go to reputable spa that employs mainly Americans.

Sweetheart, Americans come in all different colors, shapes, and sizes.

[Anonymous]

Do men get trafficked in these salons as well? I’ve had an Asian man do my pedicure in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do men get trafficked in these salons as well? I’ve had an Asian man do my pedicure in the past.

I haven't seen that before, but it's possible if threats of violence are being used.

[Anonymous]

If you suspect trafficking, why would you patronize that salon? Essentially you are supporting human trafficking when you go to cheap nail salons. How your nails look cannot possibly be worth contributing to another human being's suffering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you suspect trafficking, why would you patronize that salon? Essentially you are supporting human trafficking when you go to cheap nail salons. How your nails look cannot possibly be worth contributing to another human being's suffering.

I just got woke. I never realized that it's likely that most of my mani pedi have been done by enslaved Asian women- in many different salons. I will do my own nails.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was a big NYTimes story about how they're all bad.

My theory is, the work takes place in public view so it's not quite as bad as sex work. I try to identify who the money person is, and I always tip my person well, separately, and I try to do it when the money person isn't looking. Other than that idk what to do about it since I don't know of any clearly above board nail places (chime in if you have one).

I think we're talking about sex trafficking, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you know and who would you call about it?

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/nyregion/at-nail-salons-in-nyc-manicurists-are-underpaid-and-unprotected.html

The industry is terribly abusive to the workers. Americans don't care because we like cheap luxuries. I only get my nails done at day spas where the workers are usually American (of any race) because then I can be certain they aren't be held captive or being trafficked. I pay much more for these pedicures ($75 instead of $35-40 at the cheap places) but for me, the peace of mind that I am not supporting a shady industry is worth it. I get fewer pedicures.

We want cheap nails, cheap lawn care, cheap cleaning services in this country and our actions show that we view the workers serving us as disposable. It's deplorable.

+1 since this article came out a few years ago, I will only go to places like Red Door. Due to the cost, this means I only have my nails done a handful of times a year for special occasions (like weddings), but it is an easy price to pay for having a clean conscience. Another good spa that I believe is paying fair & legal wages is Nusta Spa downtown on 20th Street.