Lasting Color for Natural Nails

Over the years, there has been an increase in all things natural, especially in nail care. Many individuals have opted out of nail enhancements and opted in for healthier alternatives. The one thing that natural nail clients despise is the fact that nail polish does not have longevity on the nail. The wear of polish on natural nail does depend on the quality of nail preparation, base and top coats, and color lacquer used, as well as the type of work performed by the hands.

Two leaders in the nail care industry, OPI and CND, have come up with a solution for individuals who want to remain natural and wear nail color.

Almost a year ago, OPI introduced Axxiūm to the world. Axxiūm is a soak-off gel lacquer system that is polished onto the nail and then UV cured. This system provides flawless color for up to two weeks. It comes in many of the OPI nail lacquer shades you love! Axxiūm soaks off in approximately 15 minutes.


A few months ago, CND came out with Shellac: their breakthrough patent-pending UV3 technology which combines the ease of polish with the permanence of gels. It is truly an innovation in chip-free, extended wear color. It is applied like polish, UV cured, and can be removed in as little as 10 minutes.


The great thing about Axxiūm and Shellac is that there is zero dry time! Since both systems are UV cured, clients don’t have to worry about smudging their nail polish before or after they leave the salon. Axxiūm and Shellac also add extra protection to natural by minimizing nail breakage. Both products wear very well; however the application process and removal process of Shellac is less time consuming. Both products can also be applied to toenails for a chip free pedicure!

So now you can have natural nails with the confidence that your nail color will last for up to 14 days! At this time, Sole Elegance (SE) is only taking new clients by referrals only. If you are not an existing SE client and do not have a referral, you can visit www.opi.com or www.cnd.com to find a local salon that provides these services.

You Get What You Pay For

Since I’ve been into nail care, I’m always amazed at the number of individuals who sacrifice quality service for cheap, bottom-dollar service from discount nail shops. I totally believe that you get what you pay for. This means that if you pay for a $25 pedicure, I guarantee your walking out the door with just as much dry and callused skin as you walked in with, as well as cuticle build-up, ridges, and possibly bacterium or fungus. Never the less, your nails will be esthetically pretty but the polish will only last for a couple of days…then its peeling and chipping time! If you get a $10 manicure, you may get cut from the nippers and develop hangnails within a day or two. If you get a $12 acrylic fill-in, your acrylic probably lifts within a week. Another downside of receiving service at a discount nail shop is that you don’t know what quality, professional brand name products, if any, they are using.

On the other hand, if you go to a professional nail salon or spa, you know that if you are paying $40 and up for a signature or spa pedicure, $20 or more for a classic or spa manicure, and $25 and up for artificial nail services, you are more than likely receiving quality service.

So f you’re searching for professional quality nail care service, please contact me for my service menu or the name of a shop or spa in your area (MD, DC, VA).

Have a Simply Beautiful Weekend!

PrayStampEatSleep asks...

"The area around my cuticles is tough, especially around my toes. I just hate it, what can I do?"

This can be frustrating and an eyesore but DO NOT PICK OR PEEL!!! I recommend you get manicures and pedicures often so that a licensed professional can soften, loosen, and nip the dead and hard cuticle skin. At home, you can take a sturdy nail file, dampen it with water, place the file flat on the skin, and file the skin in a downward motion. This helps to file away and soften some of the dead skin. Exfoliate your hands and feet by using an exfoliating scrub and be sure to keep your cuticle area moisturized and nourished. You can use a moisturizing lotion, shea butter, Vaseline, cuticle oil, or olive oil. Keep me posted ;)

Manicure Outline

It’s been a few days since my last posting but I hope you have been utilizing some of the information, tips, and pointers that I have shared with you thus far. Remember, I encourage you to comment to my postings. Also, you may ask questions in the form of a comment. No question is simple or dumb so please ask. You’d be surprised by the amount of people who have the same inquiries as you.

Now as I promised postings ago, I am going to explain the steps of a manicure.

1) Wash your hands with antibacterial soap. This minimizes the transference of germs/bacteria.Your nail technician may then give you and themselves hand sanitizers. This also minimizes the transference of germs/bacteria.

2) Any polish that is on your nails should now be removed with cotton.

3) Your cuticles should then be softened. This is done by soaking nails in a fingerbowl filled with soapy water. Some nail techs apply cuticle remover/softener to your cuticles before placing them in the finger bath.

4) After soaking fingers for a minute or so, the nail tech will then loosen the cuticle off of the nail plate by using a cuticle pusher or an orangewood stick.

5) They will then clean under the free edges to remove any dirt or debris.

6) Now they should nip only the cuticle that has been lifted and pushed back off of the nail plate.Removal of the entire cuticle is not recommended. The purpose of the cuticle is to protect and nourish the nail. Nipping of the entire cuticle can cause hang nails and I’m sure you already know that it’s dangerous because you can get hurt and bleed if your skin is cut. This now makes you susceptible to infection.

7) Some nail technicians will then buff your nails to a smooth finish. Some use cuticle oil and some don’t.

8) You should now receive a lotioned hand massage .The massage is meant to be relaxing so if you are feeling uncomfortable because the nail tech is applying too much pressure, don’t be afraid to let them know.

9) After the massage, your nail plate should be cleaned with lint free cotton to remove traces of oil. This helps to assure that the polish will adhere to the nail plate.

10) If you are getting polish, a base coat should be applied which is then followed by one or two applications of color. The polish is then sealed with a topcoat.

11)Now all you need to do is let your nails dry before attempting to go about the rest of your day.

Also there are add-on services that you can purchase a-la-carte to enhance your manicure experience. Some of the following add-ons are included in a spa manicure or other specialty manicures your nail spa/shop offer. Some add-ons include: exfoliation, aromatherapy, paraffin, or a longer message.

So if you haven’t been receiving the basic steps outlined above as part of your weekly or biweekly manicure service, have a talk with your technician or ask a friend for a referral...ASAP!

Simply Yours,

Leah
soleelegance@gmail.com

Why should I care about keeping my nails, hands and feet groomed?

Have you ever paid attention to someone’s hands or feet and thought something like “How could they have the audacity to walk around looking like that?” It’s the truth right? But the main reason why many individuals walk around with issues like dry hands, skin build-up on their feet, and long discolored thickened toenails, is because they are not educated on the importance of nail and skin care.

Keeping well-groomed nails, hands, and feet, should be a part of your daily hygiene regimen. This goes for both men and women. Frequent manicures, pedicures, moisturizing, exfoliation, and a well balanced diet, will help keep your nails and skin healthy and simply beautiful. You know how good you feel when you get your hair done or cut, when you have on a new outfit, pair of shoes, perfume or cologne? Well having and maintaining nicely manicured hands and pedicured feet will make you feel good as well because it enhances your personal appearance.

Nails are also a prime source for the transmission of macro and microscopic organisms, toxins, and irritants, as well. In addition to bathing, washing your hands periodically throughout the day with antibacterial soap, using hand sanitizer, and even using antibacterial lotion are ways in which you can limit the amount of bacteria your nails harbor and transmit. When washing your hands, you need to make sure to wash under your nails free-edge and around the cuticle area. These are places where bacteria like to camp out. If you have a nailbrush handy, or even an extra toothbrush, you could use it to scrub around and under your nails when washing. When bathing, be sure to wash in between toes and under toenails and make sure your feet are completely dry before placing them in slippers or closed toe shoes. Fungi like to grow in dark, damp and moist places.

I hope today’s entry helps you to understand why it is important to keep your nails, hands, and feet well groomed!