Edition 5 - Summer 2008

Get Set for Summer!

What Do Your Feet Say About You?

It's liberating to be able to wear sandals in the summer, but do you find yourself hiding your feet away, ashamed of the unsightly dry, hard skin? Ever waited at the check-out, looked down at the woman in front and had to look away quickly because her feet are so ...... revolting?! I know I have, and the first thing that goes through my head is "why on earth doesn't she do something about them"?

Many women's experience of a Salon Pedicure is a quick nail shape, cuticle tidy and polish, a massage if you're lucky and a cursory swipe with a foot file. If you have a lot of hard skin, you are faced with an expensive trip to a Chiropodist. Without doubt, there is a need for a 'Medi-Pedi' - The Nail Lounge has the solution. 

For some years The Nail Lounge has been offering a 'Therapeutic Pedicure' - we spend as long as is necessary to remove all the hard skin. It takes time, patience and hard work, but the results are amazing. But, Ladies, it just got even better!

The Nail Lounge launches the revolutionary Callus Peel Treatment

The Callus Peel Foot Care System is a 30 minute, four step system. The first step is a skin softening patch which is wrapped around the area to be treated to soften the skin, secondly a special scraper is then used to gently 'peel' off the dry skin and calluses; followed by the third step which is to buff away any remaining calluses with a foot file. Then, finally, the treatment is completed by applying a soothing moisturising foot cream. 

The Treatment has almost the same principle as face peels, using AHA products. If we can have face peels, why not have foot peels?

Callus Peel can either be incorporated into a Pedicure, or taken as a Treatment on its own. Results are instantaneous - truly incredible! Those that have already experienced it, were astounded - it certainly has that 'wow factor'! 

Just £10 when added to a Pedicure or £15 as a Treatment


Continued pressure applied to the feet over time can cause the skin to harden once more and calluses to re-appear, however this is avoidable. Using a good foot cream, such as Cucumber Heel Therapy and regular Callus Peel Treatments will ensure you never have to hide your feet away again and once again feel confident enough to stride out in style in the strappiest of sandals!



Paint The Town!

Ever wondered who decides what is 'hot' and what is 'not' in Nail Polish colour? Well, like make-up, hand bags and shoes, Nail Polish takes its lead from the Cat Walk. Once the seasons colours have been paraded by the Fashion Designers, the Beauty Industry soon follows.

So what is 'the new black' this Summer? As always, French Polish is a classic look that never dates but, increasingly, women are becoming bolder in their choice of Polish colour, especially on their toes - but we'll talk about that in a minute. This seasons trend goes one of two ways; either a very soft pastel in neutral tones, or hot - very hot! Bright corals, hot pinks and vibrant oranges. All work very well with a tan and will compliment the colours in your new wardrobe. 

When it comes to toes - the same trend applies, although women who will choose a lighter shade on fingers, often are a lot more adventurous when it comes to their toes - why? Psychologically, feet are more distant than hands, therefore brighter shades are better tolerated by the eye and mind! 

So, think of your nails as your most affordable accessory. With a bold coat of paint, a simple flower, or even a gem-encrusted tip you can dress up casual summer styles, turn up the heat on snazzy summer ensembles or let your personality peek through in more conservative work environments. And, if you're daring, there's nothing sexier than vamp red nails peeping through a set of killer heels!

Nails in Parliament!

Climate change, the Olympics, the rising cost of petrol – just what you would expect them to be talking about in the House of Commons. So the news that Phyllis Starkey MP recently introduced a Bill on rogue nail bars may come as a surprise. 

She is concerned about nail bars that are not properly licensed; many disreputable places offer cheap extensions and overlays by using chemicals and drills, which make for a speedy set of extensions, but damage the nail underneath. 

It is something the industry itself is concerned about. You may have heard me say that the chief culprit is monomer methyl methacrylate (MMA), which is a cheap acrylic. It does not adhere well to the natural nail, therefore so called 'nail technicians' resort to using a harsh electric file to shred the surface of the nail first, thinning and weakening it in the process. MMA is banned in the USA, Australia and New Zealand.

Whilst most gels will flex with the nail and the gel may split if knocked, MMA will not budge and therefore any trauma to the nail can result in the whole nail coming away and a visit to A&E. I have been told, first hand, that the pain is so unbearable, you cannot speak and physically feel sick.

It is easy to tell when MMA is being used: it has a strong smell and comes in unlabelled bottles. Excessive filing is another indicator, technicians wearing masks another, as is the price: if it is cheap and quick, it is probably MMA. 

Continued visits to such unreputable nail bars will, without doubt, result in paper-thin and damaged nails and, worse, bacterial infection. 

Nails damaged by MMA and an
Electric File at a 'rogue salon' (above) and after 4 months of 
Bio Sculpture Gel Treatment at 
The Nail Lounge (below) 

If you know of anybody who may be at risk, please do show them this article and encourage them to see sense! A visit to a Nail Salon should be a very pleasurable experience, not a painful one.

For more information, visit:
http://www.labouronline.org/wibs/146885/146d74fe-073d-4b14-fd88-35570740a233