Thursday, March 17, 2011

Spring is Coming!!!

Yay!!! Spring is fast approaching. If you live in the south, Spring has really begun for you. Here in North Carolina, we've been having very Spring like weather.
 Pedicures are back! More and more people are wanting to get their Winter dry and cracked skin off of their feet. Time for sandals. For my clients that kept up with their pedicures through out Winter, I applied shea butter to their feet so they wouldn't have a problem with dry, cracked skin. Those people are sandal ready now.
It's never to late to take care of your feet.
Get to your favorite CLEAN salon and get those feet ready for the Spring and Summer sandal weather. Remember to make sure their are using clean implements and a clean tub or bowl.

Monday, February 28, 2011

C.E. Classes

I recently took my C.E.(continuing education) class. Renewal time is fast approaching for North Carolina so do not wait till the last minute. There are many classes going on. Plenty throughout the state.

My class was with an Young Nails educator, and I really enjoyed learning the new techniques and practicing with the products. I'm usually not one to promote one particular product, but I do love the ease of application and the consistantcy of the acrylic.

Prices are good as well. The pro-starter kit is incredible and you receive EVERYTHING you need to do 50 full sets for just $100. Full size containers of acrylic powers, monomers, protein bond, glue, 100 forms, their rose oil cuticle oil, SWIPE their nail bed cleaser,acrylic brush and much more.The Pro- Gel kit is the same price as well.  Awesome deal. Check it out at www.youngnails.com.

They only sell to licensed nail professionals. You will not find their products in any store where anyone could buy them.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Happy New Year!!

Let's keep up with those manicures and pedicures. Dry cuticles are running ramped in this very cold weather. A good shea butter balm will do wonder for those dry areas. Regular manicures and pedicures are necessary.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

It's Winter ! Brrrr!

It's that time of year again. Cold weather. Not the time we usually get pedicures, but its more important now than the warmer months. We tend to ignore our feet during the fall and winter. This is very bad. We need to keep those toe nails cut more so because our feet are in closed in shoes. When your feet are in closed in shoes, your toe nails rub inside the shoe, which can pain and bruising of the nail bed, and eventually nail loss. Also, our skin gets more dry and cracked. It's important that our feet are moisturized. Regular pedicures can help maintain that moisture. Don't forget the manicures either. Winter maintenance is very important.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

The Infamous Pedicure Throne.

I had a client last week who was happy to see that we did not use pedicure thrones,because they caused foot infections. I quickly informed my client that the pedicure thrones didn't cause infections. The owners of them caused the infections. I explained for the tech, that the pedicure chairs were much better for us, as they were easy on our backs and made the pedicure process much faster us and more enjoyable for them. The problem is techs and owners not following simple cleaning steps.
Which 75% of the cleaning can be done while the client is still in the chair and should be done.
Simple steps like rinsing the tub and spraying the tub with a cleanser containing bleach and quickly scrubbing around the tub. They could leave the spray in the tub while they paint the clients nails. (This is something that all clients should be witnessing at every salon that use pedicure thrones.) Then filling the tub with cold water and bleach and allowing the jets to run for ten minutes kills germs in the jet hoses. Rinsing thoroughly with cold water and drying the tub. Then following with  barbicide spray, all before the next client. Cold water should always be used, because nothing grows in cold water.

 (Hospital operating rooms are always freezing, there's a reason for that.)

I personally love them. They're comfortable, most have massage and heat, making the whole experience a joy. And for the tech (like ME), they make our lives much easier. No need to move heavy pedicure bowls,which can cause back and wrist damage. Take it from someone who knows.
If all salon, nail shops, nail bars or whatever they call themselves, took the time to think about the safety of their clients and practice good sanitation. Nail fungus infections would not even exist. The state inspectors are also the blame for not being on the ball and closing the places that don't follow the procedures that they have set forth for disease control.

I made a promise to myself when I was still in nail school. That no one would say that they caught anything from one of my services. I think that sometimes that I'm a bit too careful, but to this day. No one has caught anything from one of my services.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

MINX!

Lot of people still have not heard of Minx. Minx the latest it thing for the celebs. A fashion accessory.
 Minx is what I like to call shrink wrap nail art.

*MINX MUST BE APPLIED BY A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL FOR THE BEST RESULTS.*

I have found Minx look-a-likes, knock-offs and at home wanna be kits. None these give you the same results as Minx applied by the pros.

Minx has hundreds of different designs for all occasions. The most popular by far is the Golden Lightening that Beyonce` wore to the Oscar's a few years ago. That started the fascination with Minx. Celebrities like Katy Perry, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Keri Hilson are few that wear Minx all the time. Minx will even custom make designs for you. Katy Perry had Russell Band's photo made into Minx nail coatings for a premiere that he was unable to attend with her. Now that's service!

Here are few pics of Minx nails that I have done. Enjoy.
Golden Lightening and Cheetah
Burgundy and Golden Mesh
Cheetah
Golden Lightening Toes



Sunday, November 21, 2010

Onychomycosis(a-knee-co-my-co-sis)

I decided I would try to share some information on common nail diseases and disorders throughout this blog.
Onychomycosis is one of them. Also known as tinea unguium, this is a contagious infection of the nail caused by the same fungal organisms  which cause ringworm of the skin. It can result in discoloration, thickening, chalkiness, or crumbling of the nails and is often treated by powerful oral medications which, rarely, can cause severe side effects including liver failure. Mild onychomycosis sometimes responds to a combination of topical anti-fungal medication, sometimes applied as special medicinal nail lacquer, and periodic filing of the nail surface. Tea tree oil is also an effective treatment.
Onychomycosis is the most common nail infection, it past easily from person to person through improperly cleaned and sanitized tools, and pedicure thrones in nail salons. Please be sure your nail salons are properly cleaning their equipment. This is a very difficult infection to get rid of. 

*all information can be found on wikipedia.com*