I love them, but find them worrisome. I have had pedicurists who cut the cuticle too much and caused me to get infected, and some who just don't get it that they have to go light with me. On the other hand, podiatrists don't have a sense of the aesthetics of the thing. I'm thinking of switching to a podiatrist, just to get checked. I've had soemthing that "felt" like an ingrown toenail for almost a month, and there's nothing there; on the other hand, my son noticed in the airport yesterday that there was blood gushing from one of my big toes. Obviously, I'd dropped the suitcase on it, or banged it, or something, but didn't feel it at all, and couldn't really tell what the damage was. He had to check it out and tell me I'd ripped a toenail. I still don't feel it.

Some pedicure places let you keep your own tools there. I see lots of women in NY who just bring their own each time, also.