Treatment Review

 

FISH THERAPY PEDICURE, AQUA SHEKO

Tested by Astrid Mitchison

What it promises: Tucked away on a discreet side street off High Street Kensington is London’s first fish therapy spa, Aqua Sheko. Inspired by a popular Asian beauty treatment, Aqua Sheko specialises in a unique type of exfoliation; by fish. Founder Karen Ho explains, “Fish therapy is an enjoyable and relaxing way to remove a build up of dead skin and maintain smooth, good looking feet all year round.”

What happens: The small salon has a minimalist, Oriental-inspired interior, with eight sterilised treatment pools in a row. My first impression was of how welcoming the staff were, offering me a cleansing tea, magazines, and explaining in detail about what would happen. The treatment, which originates in Turkey, dates back centuries. Using small Garra Rufa fish (a variety of carp with no teeth and approximately a finger’s length in size) dead skin is exfoliated from feet without harming the delicate, healthy skin layer beneath. There is no need to remove any clothing other than shoes and rolling up trousers - I opted for leggings, which I’d recommend. The treatment began with my feet being washed, to remove any traces of oil or lotions that might harm the fish. Perched upon a stool, I slowly lowered my feet into the pool, but couldn’t bring myself to watch as the fish explored my feet. Possibly not one for the squeamish, as the treatment initially feels like a light, slightly tickly massage. Having said that, I’m incredibly ticklish and I wasn’t phased by it. It certainly isn’t painful - the fish merely suck and nibble at the areas of dead skin, including cuticles in a mutually beneficial process. It is also believed that the fish secrete an enzyme that boosts skin’s regeneration. As I became acclimatised to the feeling, I found it relaxing and in fact, incredibly mesmerising to watch the fish nibble away at the dead skin. My therapist explained that although the treatment is currently only being offered for the feet, in Asia it is used anywhere on the body, including the face – and she showed me how enviably smooth her hands were from working with the pools. My feet were in the pool for approximately half an hour, and by the end I was impressed at how smooth my feet felt. The treatment is recommended once every few weeks and I’d agree with that - with regular sandal wearing in the summer, the results aren’t particularly long-lasting. The great thing in that the exfoliation is targeted - so unlike products, the fish will only remove the dead skin from the necessary areas and nowhere else. The treatment finished with a traditional, relaxing foot massage using oils to leave my feet feeling wonderfully conditioned.

The Results: Make no mistake, this is no normal pedicure and there’s no polish at the end. However, I’d definitely recommend this for anyone who enjoys trying something different or who prefers natural treatments.

Price: From £30 for 25 minutes.

Location: 14 Holland Street, High Street Kensington, London W8 4LT. 07837 539325. www.aquasheko.co.uk