The Wahanda Blog

Feet feeling scaly? In no fit state to get out the sandals yet? Well perhaps you need a visit to Aqua Sheko, a plush new day spa in High Street Kensington.  This is a spa with a difference however- average pedi’s are off the menu, to be replaced by the latest eco-friendly beauty treatment, the ‘fish pedicure’. But before you turn up your nose at the idea of bathing your toes in tuna, let’s get one thing straight- these ‘doctor’ fish are alive, well and eager to nibble the dead skin from your tootsies.

The breed of fish used are called ‘Garra Rufa’ or ‘doctor’ fish and were brought from Turkey by two brothers who discovered them accidentally whilst swimming. They have no teeth and rely on ‘suction cup’ mouths to gently lift away dead cells to reveal younger, new skin underneath. The fish are also believed to secrete an enzyme, named ‘diathanol’, which speeds up skin regeneration. This means that not only do these barmy beauticians exfoliate your soles, but regular ‘fish pedicures’ may ease skin complaints such as psoriasis.

You needn’t worry about the treatment being unappetising to your diving dermatologists either. It’s mutually beneficial since the fish thrive in warm water- up to 43 degrees centigrade- in which very little of nutritional value is available. Your old cells make an appetising meal in comparison to their usual slim pickings.

The spa itself – the first to offer the treatment in London – is beautifully presented, with a calming deep blue colour scheme, ambient lighting and sleek, black couches surrounding the pools. The tanks themselves are hygienic and oxygen-filtered to provide the best possible environment for the fish. They are cleaned using ultra-violet light to discourage bacteria from growing.

Upon arrival clients are asked to remove their shoes and wash their feet to get rid of any lotions and potions which may be harmful to the Garra Rufa. They then submerge their feel in the pools, enjoying a ‘fluttering’ sensation which may be slightly tickly at first but soon becomes very relaxing. Because the treatment allows you to be fully clothed it may be slipped into a spare lunch hour and can be sociable, allowing friends to enjoy a pedicure together.

The spa’s website puts it best, describing this piscatorial pedicure as ‘for anyone with an enquiring mind, a taste for the exotic and a penchant for pumice stones’. Check out our tried and tested for insider info and keep eyes peeled for a MobDeal at this fish-friendly spa on Thursday 24^th June