6 Things Your Nail Salon Doesn't Want You to Know

Whenever I get a manicure, I'm always on the lookout for the telltale signs of a clean nail salon. Is there pre-existing white residue on the "clean" emery board? Did the manicurist wash her hands before touching mine?
Coming from a girl who witnessed a Los Angeles nail technician hide her tools in her purse when the salon got word that a health inspector was on their way in, I have a right to be wary. And guess what? You should be too. Especially after reading the secrets that nails salons don't want you to know, which both nail technicians and doctors advised me on. Check them out:
 

You are always at risk

Podiatrist Dr. Robert Spalding, author of "Death by Pedicure," states that "at this time, an estimated one million unsuspecting clients walk out of their chosen salon with infections -- bacterial, viral and fungal." And no matter which salon you go to, there is always a risk of infection. He claims that in his research "75 percent of salons in the United States are not following their own state protocols for disinfections," which includes not mixing their disinfectant solutions properly on a daily basis, not soaking their instruments appropriately, and using counterfeit products to reduce costs (for example Windex substituted for Barbicide), says the doctor. And the problem is that there is no way to really "verify an instrument has been properly soaked and sterilized" without watching the process.
See alternatives to beauty salon treatments here.

They don't turn customers away

Like most businesses, most nail salons won't turn away paying customers. Which means that people who are sick, have nail infections or foot fungus are being worked on next to you instead of being referred to an appropriate medical professional.

Dr. Spalding says that the greatest danger of the nail salon is "The transmission of infection from one client to another." And, with "millions of people whose immune systems are compromised by diabetes, HIV, cancer, hepatitis and other infective organisms" booking services offered in nail salons, many are dangerously susceptible to infection, warns the doctor.

They swap and dilute bottles

In her long history as a nail technician, celebrity manicurist Jin Soon Choi, owner of Jin Soon Natural Hand and Foot Spas in New York City, says she has heard of many salons filling expensive lotion bottles with a cheap generic lotion. That way the salons can charge you more for the manicure by claiming to use prestige products, but in reality are just deceiving you.

Similarly, she says that some salons will dilute nail polish bottles that have become clumpy from old age or from too much air exposure with nail polish remover. This action compromises the quality of the polish, which will make the formula chip easier once on your nails. To ensure the life of your color and to protect any possible germ spreading, tote your own bottles.
See the highest rated nail polishes here.
Just because there is no blood, doesn't mean you haven't been cut

"Breaks in the skin can be microscopic or highly visible," says Dr. Spalding. They can either come in with the client via "cuts, scratches, hangnails, bitten nails, insect bites, paper cuts, split cuticles -- or be created in the salon," he says. "Nail techs using callus-cutting tools and nail nippers, files, cuticle pushers, and electric burrs and drills, can and do scratch and nick skin," sometimes drawing blood and sometimes not. But just because no blood is visible, doesn't mean these "portals of entry" aren't susceptible to infective organisms, the doctor advises.

If you've ever had your nails filed and it momentarily feels "too hot in the corner for even a second," then you've had the surface layer of your skin broken -- leaving it open for infection.

They aren't talking about you

Some narcissists or paranoid customers might think that nail technicians are talking about them when they speak to each other in other languages across the room, but they aren't. Apparently they don't care to share with each other how lovely your nail beds are or how gross your big toe is. "In general, they mostly gossip about their family and friends and the shows they watched last night," says Choi. Phew.

Not all disinfecting solutions are 100 percent effective

"Some infective microorganisms are easy to kill [and] some are not," says the doctor. And unfortunately, he has seen "industry-wide confusion about the definition of the term 'sterilize.'"

He says many nail techs think their instruments are sterilized, when, in fact, they "have no clue," because not all disinfectant solutions are powerful enough to kill all viruses. Therefore, when nail techs aren't informed of customers' pre-existing medical conditions, they don't know how to properly disinfect for particular viruses. "These are medical situations," says the doctor, which manicure and pedicure-licensed technicians aren't trained for -- it's not in their job description and isn't their fault as they are "neither schooled nor licensed to work in the presence of blood or to maintain a surgically sterile environment," says the doctor.

There are way more secrets they don't want you to know, so be sure to check them all out before heading out for you next mani/pedi appointment.

taken from: shine.com

Nicki Minaj Nails

About Your Nails

Nails

• Fingernails grow an average of only 0.1 millimeter (mm) each day, whereas toenails grow 1 mm per month. Individual nail growth rates depend on age, time of year, activity level, and heredity.
• Nails grow faster on fingers — especially on your dominant hand — than toes.
• Women's nails grow more slowly than men's, except possibly during pregnancy.
• Nails grow more rapidly in summer than in winter.
• Nail growth is affected by disease, nutrition, medications, trauma, chronic illness, fever, and the aging process.

Nail problems

• Nail problems make up about 10 percent of all dermatological conditions.
• Nail problems usually increase throughout life and affect a high number of senior citizens.
• Symptoms that could signal nail problems include color or shape changes, swelling of the skin around the nails, thinning or thickening of the nails, bleeding or discharge, and pain.
• Nails often reflect our general state of health. Changes in the nail, such as discoloration or thickening, can signal health problems, including liver and kidney diseases, heart and lung conditions, anemia and diabetes.
• Fungal infections cause about half of all nail disorders. They are more common in toenails because the toes often are confined to a warm, moist, weight-bearing environment within your shoes.
• Although rare, melanomas can grow under the nail. Such melanomas may be mistaken for an injury, so you should consult a dermatologist if a dark-colored streak appears within the nail plate, if the nail discoloration does not gradually improve, or if the size of the streak increases over time.
• Other common nail problems include:
  • White spots that appear after an injury to the nail.
  • Vertical lines, known as splinter hemorrhages, under the nails that are caused by nail injury or certain drugs or diseases.
  • Bacterial infections, which are most often due to injury, poor skin hygiene, nail biting, finger sucking, or frequent exposure to water.
  • Ingrown toenails, which are caused by improper nail trimming, poor stance, digestive problems, or tight shoes. 

Tips for keeping nails healthy

• Keep your nails clean and dry to prevent bacteria from collecting under the nail.
• Cut your fingernails and toenails straight across and rounded slightly in the center. This keeps your nails strong and helps avoid ingrown toenails.
• Wear proper-fitting shoes and alternate shoes on a regular basis. Tight shoes can cause ingrown toenails.
• Do not try to self-treat ingrown toenails, especially if they are infected. See a dermatologist.
• Use an antifungal foot powder daily.
• Do not bite your fingernails. You can transfer infectious organisms between your fingers and mouth. Also, nail biting can damage the skin around your fingers, allowing infections to enter.
• Report any nail problems to your dermatologist. Nail changes such as redness, swelling, and pain could signal an infection or other serious problems.

Nail salon safety

• Most nail salons follow strict sanitation guidelines, but consumers should check to make sure that the salon, the manicure stations, and the implements are clean and that the technicians wash their hands between clients.
• Consumers who get frequent manicures and pedicures should bring their own implements to the salon.
• Don't let a nail technician cut or push back your cuticle. It might allow an infection to develop.
• If you have itching, burning, or any type of allergic reaction to a nail cosmetic, see a dermatologist.

See your dermatologist for successful diagnosis and treatment of nail problems.

Taken from: www.aad.org

Files, Buffers, and Grits, Oh My!

Top nail competitor Lynn Lammers offers an excellent description of filing grits, and how best to use them in this excerpt from her online NAILS blog, Competition Insider.
“I’ve been to hundreds of competitions and seen thousands of sets of competition nails, and one of the simplest mistakes I see competitors make (even seasoned ones) is to not use the file grits properly.
You see, acrylic is a form of plastic and we all know that plastics can be made in any shape or form with any texture or finish. That is why we (the nail industry) have an almost unlimited amount of abrasives (files and buffers) in probably 20 different grits and at least five different mediums: metal, glass, paper, cloth, and mylar, which is another plastic.
The way it goes is the higher the number, the finer the grit. 100 grit = coarse; 3,000 grit = high shine.
All artificial nail enhancements are one form or another of plastic, and all can be brought to a super shiny surface through different file grits with the exception of gels, which are shiny in their own right. But that’s a different story altogether.
When the grits are used properly, it is very easy to achieve a super high shine without wrecking your shoulder or elbow. The key is to use the grits in succession. Each file or buffer will put scratches in the surface of the nail and to remove the scratches you need to use the next highest grit.
So if you start filing the nail with a 180-grit file, your next file must be a higher grit, say a 220. Then a 280 and so on into the buffers. Buffers are finer grits, but still in the abrasives family, like 400-600. Then it moves into the high shiners like 1,000- to 3,000-grit. Be sure you go over the entire surface of the nail every time you change grits.
When you learn the succession of the file grits and learn to use them all, your filing and finishing will be easy-peasy and your finished nail will be so shiny it will seem as though you are looking in a mirror.”

Taken from: Nailsmag.com

The Waxing of the Toe

Toe waxing can be a great add-on for pedicures. It gives the client that little extra pampering so they know their entire foot will be smooth and clean for uninhibited bare feet flashing. Experienced pedicurist Cyndi Grohowski of Polished From Head to Toe in Haddon Heights, N.J., offers these five steps on how to do a flawless toe waxing.

1. Prep toes with your favorite cleanser to remove any lotion or oils from the toes and wipe them dry.

2. If toe hair is particularly long, trim with brow scissors, being sure not to trim too short. You want the wax to adhere to the hair not the skin.

3. Apply wax to one toe at a time in the direction of the hair growth. Then apply the wax strip to the wax.

4. At this point, use the “pat and pull” method. Just press for a few seconds and then pull. Continue to do this until the hair is completely removed. Grohowski prefers the “pat and pull” method because rubbing can cause the wax to become imbedded in the cracks of the toe, making it difficult to remove even when you pull the toe taut.

5. After removing hair from all the toes, apply a soothing cream.

Vamp it up with this decadent trio of night time shades

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Vamp it up with this decadent trio of night time shades Eyeko Vampira Polish Dare to wear this lust-worthy glossy black lacquer dripping with blood red shimmer. Eyeko Saucy Polish It's a classic! One coat of this rich scarlet shade will turn your talons into hot stuff! Eyeko Cosmic Polish Unique midnight black shade loaded with multi-coloured glitters like fireworks in a night sky! BUY THEM HERE...

Valentino

Doctor Recomendations about your cuticles

1. To prevent infection soak nails in warm water 
2. Push cuticles back with a damp washcloth
3. Skin that needs to be trimmed should be done very carefully
4. Washing with an antibacterial soap before trimming cuticles
5. Sterile clippers should be used, and should also be wiped with alcohol before each use
6. The skin should be nipped, not pulled, and then dabbed with an antibiotic ointment afterwards.

Best Bet: Diamond and 24-Karat-Gold Polish

Though Deborah Lippmann has a full line of splurgy matte nail lacquers, her newest releases steer away from the usual demure nudes and dainty pinks into party territory. Just in time for the holiday rounds, Lippmann is introducing two new shades: Today Was a Fairytale, a blue-tinged silver glitter spiked with diamond powder, and Boom Boom Pow, a glinting gold that contains 24-karat-gold dust. Layer it on top of a base coat to jazz up one of your less exciting go-to hues, or paint on two coats for full-on shimmer. It may be a bit early for holiday plaid and over-the-top fur, but you can ease into the season with festive fingertips.
Deborah Lippmann holiday polishes, $20 each online.

Taken from NY Fashion Magazine

Essie Fans

To all our Essie Fans!!!

Here is a site where you can get all your favorite Essie color for a lower price.

How it sounds to you $5.50?? Yes!!! Other retail sites and stores are selling this beautyful polishes for $8.00 and more.  But there is a minimum order requirement ($12.95) which it means you will have to buy at least 3 Essie colors.

Start with Marshmallow shade one of the most used colors from their line.