NAIL STRENGTHENING TREATMENT

If you are looking to spice up your daily nail regimen you can follow the following smell good recipe!

20 drops Lemon

15 drops Carrot Oil

13 drops Grape Seed Oil

13 drops Rosemary

13 drops Avocado Oil

2 oz. Jojoba Oil

Blend all oils together and store it in a light-sensitive bottle (dark in color) with a dropper. Rub it into your cuticles as well as your nail plate periodically throughout the day, or at least twice a day. It can be used on natural nails or nails with enhancements.

Divas, MPH Highlights Sole Elegance & It's Owner

I am honored to have been blogged about on the August 17, 2010 post entitled "Oh You Fancy Huh?" by Tenille Daniels a.k.a. Diva T of Divas, MPH (making our people healthier). "Divas, MPH loves to celebrate young women entrepreneurs committed to the women’s health & wellness" and they recognize that "...a huge part of health & wellness is feeling and looking our best." So please, check out the post by clicking on the aforementioned green words. It is a short, entertaining and informative read! Thank you ladies of Divas, MPH!

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.

Moisture Lock

It takes approximately 3 minutes for your body to absorb the properties of your moisturizer. So give your body, especially your hands and feet, a chance to soak up the moisture. White cotton gloves and socks are a great way to lock moisture in. You can also intensify moisture therapy by wrapping your feet in saran wrap and then applying cotton socks.

Ravishing Hands… Always!

Regardless of the weather, your hectic schedule, lifestyle, or job, you can have and maintain beautiful hands. If you prefer to wear your nails natural you should visit your manicurist every 1-2 weeks. If you are an acrylic or gel nail client, you should be visiting your nail care specialist every two weeks. Although we as nail care specialist nurture your hands, it is important that you take care of them in between visits. Below are 7 quick and easy tips for keep your hands looking flawless all year long.



1. Stay Hydrated
Rub a small amount of cuticle oil, olive oil, or caster oil on your nails and around cuticles throughout the day and at night before bed. Keep a small amount with you in a leak proof bottle inside your purse, desk drawer or car. That way, you will always have it on or near your person.

2. Wear Gloves
Although they may feel uncomfortable in the beginning, wear rubber gloves when washing dishes and cleaning for protection. Cleaning agents can be harsh and drying to hands and nails. For dual action, put hand cream or moisturizer on before placing on gloves for extra hand softness.

3. Stay Dry
Dry your hands and feet for at least two minutes after washing dishes or taking a shower/bath. Leaving fingernails, toenails, and feet damp increases your risk of fungal infection.

4. Polish
Even if you do not wear color, you should wear a clear coat of nourishing nail polish. Polish helps to protect your nails from natural elements, UV rays, etc. If you wear color, a high quality base coat should be applied to prevent yellowing of the nail, and a quality top coat that will help to alleviate wearing and chipping or color.

5. Remove Polish
When removing polish, avoid polish removers with acetone or formaldehyde. They are drying to your nails. Use acetone-based removers instead.

6. File Correctly
To keep your nails at their strongest, avoid fining in a back-and-forth motion. File only in one direction. Also never file nails after being exposed to water because wet nails break more easily.

7. Massage Daily
Massaging your hands and nails increases blood supply, thus stimulating the matrix of the nail to grow.

Scientifically Proven

Nourishing your mind, body, and spirit enhances your natural glow. A healthy diet, exercise, and skin/nail routine are what produce and keep healthy and strong nails, hair, and smooth skin. In addition to those things as well as regular scheduled manicures, certain supplements can provide a constant supply of essential nutrients that you may not receive from your diet. The following have been scientifically proven to help deliver firmer and healthier nails and skin.

Healthy and Strong Nails
Biotin - is a B vitamin needed for the formation of energy yielding fatty acids and glucose, and helps with the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It’s a water-soluble vitamin that won’t build up in the body and cause side effects. It can be found naturally in food such as liver, cauliflower, salmon, carrots, egg yolks, sardines, mushrooms, bananas, and legumes. A recent study published by a professor of clinical dermatology at Columbia University, show that daily supplementation with 2.5mg of biotin significantly improves nail strength; thus making them firmer, harder, and less likely to crack or chip.

Soft and Smooth Skin
Omega-3 Fatty Acids – have been proven in countless studies to help heal dry skin and the rough red patches of psoriasis and eczema. A published study in the British Journal of Dermatology announced that volunteers with severe dermatitis taking high levels omega-3 oils saw a 30% decrease in symptoms. Omega- 3 essential fats surround the membranes of our skin cells. Our bodies cannot produce these essential oils, therefore we must obtain them from diet or supplements in order to keep the lubricating layer that keeps skin supple. They also aid in the production of hormones that improve skin texture and help combat the inflammatory damage caused by free radicals. Omega-3s can be obtained by eating salmon, mackerel, and albacore tuna twice a week and/or by taking 1,000mg of omega-3 oils a day


Always check with your physician before beginning a supplement regimen.

Gifts That Keep on Giving

As the holiday quickly approaches and shopping malls become crowded with last minute shoppers, think about preparing and showering your friends, family members, and coworkers with a labor of love. Your gifts will not only be unique, but will also save you money as our economy continues to plummet. Below are a few gift ideas and recipes to make the gifts. I chose the following because they are easy to make, long lasting, and will leave the recipient feeling good!

SOY MASSAGE CANDLE
The soy massage candle has wonderful benefits. When lit, the soy wax moisturizer will liquefy and can be poured onto and massaged into the body.

Ingredients
3 oz. soy wax
5/8 oz. shea butter
¼ oz. coconut oil
¼ oz. sweet almond oil
candle wick
tin containers

Directions: Secure the wick in the tin container. On the stove or microwave in non-stick cookware, melt the 4 ingredients together, add your favorite scent (option), and pour into containers. Let harden at room temperature.

FOOT SOAK
Foot soaks help to soothe tired and aching feet. They can also aid in the reduction of foot and ankle swelling.

Ingredients
Epsom Salt
Sea salt
Lemon or orange rind, mint, eucalyptus, lavender, or tea leaves
Favorite Scent
Glass container
Cork

Directions: Combine your ingredients and transfer into a glass jar. Cork the bottle and add personalized note giving instructions to pour into water, soak the feet, and relax.

SCRUB
The sugar, salt, or oatmeal scrub can be used as a hand and foot exfoliator to soften rough and dry body parts.

Ingredients
1 cup sugar (oatmeal or sea salt)
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Scented essential oils (examples: lavender, peppermint, sandalwood)
1 clear plastic or glass jar and cover

Directions: Mix the sugar, oatmeal or sea salt, and olive oil. Mix in a few drops of an essential oil, and pour into desired jar. Attach a note with directions to use a small amount and rub onto hands or feet, and rinse. Also, some can be placed on a washcloth and used anywhere on the body that needs exfoliation. This can be performed in the shower or bath.

NECK WARMER
The neck warmer is great for use when working, relaxing, and doing chores around the house. It warms the body and relaxes tired muscles.

Materials/Ingredients
Rectangular piece of soft flannel, fleece or terry cloth material
Dry rice, corn, or beans
Dry scents (tea leaves, lavender, spices, etc.)
Needle and thread or sewing maching

Directions: Fold the rectangular piece of fabric in half lengthwise. Sew one end and the one side together using needle and thread or a sewing machine. Stuff the fabric with dry rice, corn, or beans, along with a favorite scent. Sew the remaining end of fabric. Place on the rotating “lazy susan” in the microwave and heat for two minutes. The neck warmer can also be used as an ice pack by placing it in the freezer.

Hello Fall

Fall has graced us with its presence and before you know it, winter will be here. As many of you know, the cold, dry weather can wreak havoc on your skin, especially your hands and feet, causing them to become dry, cracked, and flaky. One way to combat this problem is to keep your hands and cuticles moisturized. There are many products on the market but there are some natural products that I recommend which are:

100% PURE & NATURAL SHEA BUTTER / SHEA INFUSED SHEA BUTTER
Shea butter is an all-natural vitamin A cream that serves as a superb moisturizer with excellent healing properties for the skin. The moisturizers in shea butter are the same moisturizers produced by the sebaceous (sweat) glands in the skin. Some body’s sebaceous glands produce more while other produce less. Shea butter is great for use on all skin types with all types of skin conditions. I also know first hand that it promotes and accelerates wound healing and soothes dry itchy skin.

Hands, Feet, Body
You can use shea butter as a total body moisturizers and on hands and feet throughout the day. For advanced moisturizing of the hands and feet, put on cotton gloves or socks after application.

OLIVE OIL
Olive oil is a natural product that can serve as a great hydrator to regenerate and soften the skin. It also hydrates and strengthens nails.

Hands, Feet
To obtain and/or maintain soft and smooth hands and feet, apply a generous amount of olive oil after your shower or bath and cover them with cotton gloves and socks. This could be done daily or several times a week.

Nails
If you have dry and brittle nails, you should soak them in a small cup of olive oil. This could be done several times a week to not only strengthen nails and soften cuticles, but to make nails shiny and healthy.

ALMOND OIL
Almond oil is a light, non-greasy oil that is great for nourishing the skin. It also contains strong concentrations of Vitamin E. Because of its non-greasy nature, it is easily absorbed into the skin. It has soothing, healing, lubricating, softening, revitalizing, and nourishing properties. It is also rich in minerals, vitamins, and proteins; therefore, it is excellent for sensitive or irritated skin. I do not recommended the use of almond oil if you normally have nut allergies in food.

Hands and Feet
You could use the same suggestions of use given above in the olive oil section. It can also be used as a total body moisturizer.

Body
Apply and rub into skin after your shower or bath.


Feel free to share your thoughts regarding my suggestions above as a comment to this blog entry. Also if you have any suggestions of all natural products for healthy hands and feet, feel free to share with Simply Beautiful blog readers.

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!

Back By Popular Demand

Fantastic Friday ladies and gentlemen! I have been on hiatus but am back and ready to blog!!! I guarantee that as long as I have this blog, I will not leave you hanging this long ever again. Remember to comment on posts and ask questions as needed. Your comments are helpful when formulating my blog entries. Thank you for your encouragement and continued support!