More pedicure tips

When it comes to nail care, it is fingernails that first will come to our mind. Some people say that the fingernails should need more ‘attention’ as compared to toenails care. The reason is, toenails can be covered with shoes. But how bout at the time when you want to wear sandals or slippers? Your toenails will be noticeable. So it is also important to take care of your toenails. The below is some tips for your nails care, specifically for your toenails care.

“When most people think of nail care, it's fingernails that come to mind. Regardless of the reason, however, urban sophisticates have gorgeous toes: smooth, moisturized, and dressed with subtle nude, classic red, or some seasonal shade of nail colour. You too, can have lovely feet - in fact, good-looking toenails are easier to create and maintain than attractive, well-cared-for fingernails. That's because your toenails need in-depth attention only every 2 to 3 weeks, while fingernails need a fresh manicure every week or week-and-a-half.

Assembling your tools

Your pedicure access ones should include nail ­polish remover and cotton balls; hand and cuticle cream' a buffer buffer; an orangewood or birchwood stick; a nail brush; nail clippers; and nail antiseptic. Have a bowl of warm, soapy water with a few drops of lemon juice and a few drops of olive all to hand. An antimicrobial base coat is a smart option for those of you worried about fungal infections, while a foot pumice, nail mask, nail colour, and top coat are optional extras for your pedicure. Now that you have got all the equipment together, you can get to work on your toenails.

Preparing your toes

With nail-polish remover and a cotton ball, remove any traces of old polish. If you have any thick, ridged toenails, or calluses on your toes, use a buffer to gently smooth these. Work gently and conservatively! Too little buffing is safer and healthier than too much.

Soak your feet for 2 or 3 minutes in a basin of warm, soapy water to help clean under your nails and to soften nails and cuticles. Use a nailbrush to dislodge dirt and exfoliate any dry skin, and dry thoroughly. Using an orangewood or birchwood stick, GENTLY clean away any remaining dirt under nails. Now would be a good moment to treat your feet to a gentle exfoliation with a foot pumice.

Trim your nails with nail dippers, taking care not to dip them too short, or to curve nails in at the corners.

Moisturizing your feet and toes

Dry, cracked feet steal attention from well-tended toenails. Moisturize feet with a 2- or 3-minute massage using your favorite hand or body cream. If using a nail mask, apply it now and allow it to remain on for an hour. Not everyone has heavy cuticles on their toenails. If you do, massage a bit of cuticle cream into cuticles and gently nudge back overgrown skin with an orangewood stick; if you are particularly sensitive, wrap the end of the stick in cotton.

To remove any oily residue, swipe nails with nail antiseptic. Prime nails for polish with a base coat. To apply, place your foot flat on a level surface and spread your toes out - if your toes are particularly bunched, separate them with cotton balls. Paint a thin coat of base coat on each toenail. Those who prefer a natural look can end the pedicure here.

You should apply polish in the same way that you applied the base coat. When the polish is dry, apply a second coat. Remove any stray traces of nail colour with an orangewood stick wrapped in cotton and dipped in nail-polish remover.

When nail colour has dried, apply a top coat. Do nothing, touch nothing, put on nothing, until your toenails are dry.”
Credit to: Ashu, author of article
Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com

Well, apart from doing pedicures on your own, you should at least get the service from the professionals pedicurists once in a while. To my knowledge, OPI nail salons always provide the best service to the customers. Besides that, you can also get the advice from our well trained pedicurists and manicurists regarding nail care and nail treatment. For more info about us, feel free to visit www.colourculture.com.my or www.opi.com.my.

Practice a good hygiene for your nails care

It is always a good to practice good foot hygiene and toenail care. It will always make your toenails looks healthy and stronger. I have read one good article about toenails care and nails health generally. Here is what I’ve read.

“To ensure a safe and effective pedicure, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society suggests the following:
1. Soak your feet in warm soapy water for approximately 10 minutes. This helps soften and clean skin and nails.
2. After the foot soaking, gently remove calluses with a pumice stone, Hindu stone or emery board. This gets rid of dead skin cells as well as calluses. Some body scrub products can help exfoliate dead skin between pedicures. Many pedicurists will cut or shave calluses with razors. However, it is not legal or safe for an unlicensed practitioner to cut the skin and definitely not recommended.
3. Push back the cuticles with an orange stick or a Hindu stone. A normal part of the nail, cuticles offer protection from bacteria and infection. Cuticles clearly overhanging the nail margins should be trimmed carefully. Any trimming which goes further than the nail margin or draws blood is unsafe.
4. Trim toenails straight across rather than in a curved pattern. This helps prevent ingrown toenails, allowing the straight edge of the nail to advance as one unit. Cutting the toenails in a curved pattern allows the recessed edges to grow into the skin. The pedicurist should take care not to trim the nails too short since this also can promote ingrown toenails. The toenails should be trimmed just enough so that you can see a few millimeters of skin just beyond the nail margin. Nails should not overhang the edge of the toe.
5. Refine the nail edge with an emery board, maintaining the straight edge.
6. Apply cream and moisturizing lotion to the skin and nail margins. You can find several creams and foot masks on the market specially formulated for the feet.
7. Massage the cream or lotion into the feet. A foot message can help relieve tension and tired, aching feet. You can get a good massage at home by rolling your feet back and forth over a rolling pin. Reflexologists believe that points on the foot correspond to other body parts and ailments can be relieved through reflexology. They believe the ball of the foot has a connection to the lungs, the heel to the lower back, and the great toe to the head. Although no scientific research exists to back up these claims, reflexology does seem to produce positive results in some people. People with significant medical problems should consult with a medical doctor.
8. Apply nail polish remover to the nails to gently remove excess lotion. This allows nail polish to adhere better to the nail. A pedicurist usually will apply polish as a base coat, then one or two coats of color, and finally a clear topcoat.
9. Space your pedicures apart by approximately eight weeks.
After applying the finishing touches, relax and put your feet up. They look good. And if, you've followed these guidelines, your feet will feel good, too.
Source of Article: www.aofas.org

Sometimes, it is also good to get a service from the professionals. So for that reasons, feel free to come and visit our nearest nail slons. You can also get some more tips for your nail care from our well-tarined beautician. For more about our service, visit www.opi.com.my or www.colourculture.com.my.

More tips for your nails care

Even though I have discussed a lot of things about manicure, but sometimes the info is not completed. As additional here is some other info about manicure that you might never know about it.

“Manicure is a cosmetic beauty treatment for fingernails and hands. A manicure can treat just the hands, just the nails, or both. A manicure is the treatment and care of hands and nails. A pedicure is the care of the feet and toenails. Many steps in nail and foot care involve only the intact skin and represent a minimal risk of disease transmission.Manicures generally include the following components:

• the nail is filed and the cuticle softened;
• cuticle nippers are used as needed, cuticle oil rubbed in, and the nail buffed;
• the hand is massaged; and,
• oil is removed from the nail and polish applied.

A standard manicure usually includes filing and shaping of the nails and the application of polish. Treatments for hands usually include soaking in a softening substance and application of hand lotion. A similar treatment performed on the feet is a pedicure.Some mistakes commonly committed when manicure is carried out at home.

1. Most people cut the nails back and forth using an emery board and deeply cut the nail from the left and right corner. So the nails are most likely to get split and worn out.

2. Do not neglect the cuticular part of the nail as it can cause the problem of hangnails.

3. Gently push the cuticles with a cloth and do not nip away at the cuticles, as it can cause nail infections.

4. Before you apply a polish to your nail you should first lace it with a base coat.

5. Replace the nail polish after every five days because too many coats will dehydrate the nails and therefore remove the top layer of the nail.”
Source of Article: www.pedicurecenter.com/manicure_pedicure.htm

Well for best manicure service, I can guarantee that you can get it from OPI nail salons. Here, at our nail salons, we provide the best services for our customers. Apart from that, you can also get advices and some good tips for your nails care from our beautician. For more info about us, feel free to visit www.opi.com.my or www.colourculture.com.my.

Facts about nail salons service

In the previous entry, I have discussed a few tips before you get a nail treatment or service at any nail salons. Here are another tips regarding the issue which important for your nails care.

“Health Tips
· Before receiving any nail care service, you should inform the licensee if you are diabetic, have a peripheral vascular disease (such as arteriosclerosis), or are taking any blood-thinning medication, including daily doses of aspirin. This will alert your manicurist or cosmetologist to take special precautions.
· Cracks or fissues in the nail could cause infection or gangrene, or even result in the amputation of a finger or toe.

Warning Signs
· If the skin around the nail becomes painful, red, or inflamed, seek medical attention.
· If any part of the nail appears green or black, it could indicate an air bubble under the artificial nail where dirt or bacteria has accumulated. You should have the artificial nail removed if this occurs.
· Manicures and pedicures should never be painful.

Are Artificial Nails for You?
· Whether you will be happy with artificial nails depends on several factors, including your lifestyle and the type and length of nails you choose. In addition, you may discover that you have an allergic reaction to the chemicals in artificial nail products.
· Different types of artificial nails may be applied to natural nails to enhance their length and make them stronger. The most common are acrylic and fiberglass applications.
· Some people are hard on their nails and hands because of their jobs or lifestyles, and are not good candidates for artificial nails.
· Speak to your manicurist or cosmetologist.
· Discuss what your hands go through in a normal day, and ask for suggestions.
· You may decide that a plain manicure is the best service for you.

Nail Lifting, Fungus
· Sometimes an artificial nail begins to lift around the edges, allowing moisture to get trapped under it. Left untreated, mold or fungus (causing a green or brown discoloration) may begin to grow.
· If this occurs, your manicurist or cosmetologist should immediately remove the artificial nails and refer you to your doctor.
· Do not have the nails reapplied until your natural nails are completely healthy. Without proper treatment, these conditions could result in a permanent deformity of the nail. It should not be painful to have artificial nails removed. If the process causes you any pain or discomfort, tell your operator.

Electric Nail Drills
· Electric nail drills are often used to file artificial nails. A licensed manicurist or cosmetologist may also use a drill on natural nails, but only if the drill is designed for use on natural nails and the operator follows the manufacturer’s directions.
· The drill bits on these devices must be disinfected before use. Sandpapertype drill bit coverings, if used, must be thrown away after use on each client.

Pedicure Concerns
· The Board’s laws and regulations prohibit licensees and students from working on a person with an infection or communicable disease.
· It also prohibits them from massaging any person’s skin if it is inflamed or infected, or where an eruption is present. Thus, if a client has athlete’s foot, eczema, or other similar conditions, the manicurist must, by law, refuse the service in order to protect other customers.
· Your operator should never use illegal tools like Razor Callous Shavers (Credo Blades) and metal scrapers or graters. Used improperly, these devices can cause injuries that require medical attention.”

Source of Article: www.cchealth.org/topics/warnings/pdf/manicure_factsheet.pdf

Again, if you want to get a good service, don’t hesitate to come to our OPI nail salons nearby you. We extremely pay attention on the above issues as our customers’ safety and health are our main priority. We definitely provide the best nail treatment and service for our customers. For ore info about us, feel free to visit www.colourculture.com.my and www.opi.com.my. You may find some info and good tips as well for your nail care in our websites.

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Well the above promotions will only valid until February 2008. For more info about the promotions and our services, feel free to visit our websites at www.colourculture.com.my and www.opi.com.my. You can also simply visit our nail salons nearby you and get the advice from our beauticians and other staff.

Manicure and Nail Salon Services

Do you know any tips before you get any nail treatments such as manicure or pedicure at any nail salons or nail spas? Well I have read some good tips about it from a website. Here is what I’ve read.

“Manicure and Nail Salon Services

Consumer Tips
· Before you accept any manicure or nail services, check out the salon first.

- Make sure:
· The establishment license is posted prominently in the reception area
· Each operator's license is posted in plain view at his or her work station
· The Board’s Health and Safety poster is displayed in the reception area
· There is adequate ventilation for release of fumes created by artificial nail products, nail polish, or other chemicals.

- Use your senses
· The salon must have clean working equipment and a clean work area. Licensees must wash and disinfect all tools and instruments before they can be used on customers.
· Make sure the operator never uses the same tools on you that were just used on someone else without first disinfecting them. If an item cannot be disinfected (such as a nail buffer block or an emery board),it must be thrown away immediately after use.
· Don’t allow an operator to perform a service on you if they don’t use a clean set of tools. The improper disinfecting of tools and equipment can spread disease and bacteria from one person to another. A prime example would be the spread of nail fungus during a manicure or pedicure.
· You have every right to ask the operator to explain the disinfection procedures before a service begins. Various viruses can be transmitted through the use of dirty instruments, including HIV and Hepatitis B.
· In addition to disinfecting tools and instruments, operators are required to wash their hands before their next client. Before an operator begins nail care services, they should also ask their clients to wash their hands.
· Don’t risk your health. If the disinfection procedure doesn’t sound adequate, you should refuse the service.”

Source of Article: www.cchealth.org/topics/warnings/pdf/manicure_factsheet.pdf

Well if you are planning to come and visit our OPI nail salons, please put your hesitation away. At OPI nail salons, I can assure you that we only provide the best quality and service to our customers. In fact you can get a good nail care tips from our experience beautician. For more info about us and our services, feel free to visit www.colourculture.com.my and www.opi.com.my.

Toenails care, tips and prevention

I have recently read some other tips for toenails care. Here are some other tips for nail care, especially for toenails tips and care that I’ve read from a few articles.

“Are your toes pretty and straight or lumpy and misshapen? The problem could be due to faulty footwear. See to it that there is ample room across the toes and firm arch support while choosing your footwear. Move about barefoot in your garden to exercise your feet and toes. Tip-toeing as you go about your household work is a marvelous exercise for toes and arches.
Toe-nail care:

• Trim your toenails straight across. They should be no longer than the tip of your toe.
• File the nails smooth with an emery board but don’t round off corners as this will encourage ingrown toe-nails.
• Soak your feet for 5 minutes in warm water, then smooth rough areas with pumice stone or abrasive cream. Rinse and dry, then massage the moisturizer of body cream.
• For brittle nails use lanolin or petroleum jelly daily
• Before applying nail polish, put cotton wool in between the toes to keep them apart.
• Use a base coat, two coats of an enamel and a sealer, letting nails dry between each coat.
• Paint the nails in the same shade as the finger nails.”
  Source of Article: myblogonbeauty.blogspot.com/2007/01/toe-nail-care.html

“Ingrown Toe Nail: Find the solution
The simplest way to make sure you don’t become inflicted with an ingrown toe nail is to be extra careful when trimming your toenails. Here are some trimming and maintenance guidelines to help prevent an ingrown toe nail:

• If you want to avoid an ingrown toe nail, it’s important to keep your toe nails short – but not too short. Your toe nails should be slightly longer than the tips of your toes, as recommended by The Podiatry Institute.
• When trimming your toe nails, pay attention to the natural line of the nail if you want to prevent an ingrown toenails. Clip the nails carefully and straight across that natural line to make sure you don’t end up with an ingrown toe nail.
• You may want to use specially designed toe nail clippers to help prevent an ingrown toe nail. These clippers will help make sure you do not gouge into the corners of your toe nails when cutting.
• When trimming your nails, never dig down into the corners of the nail if you want to avoid an ingrown toe nail.

Here are some other tips for helping prevent and treat an ingrown toe nail:

• Wear appropriate fitting shoes with plenty of room in the toe box (especially if you already have an ingrown toe nail).
• If you have an ingrown toe nail, soak your feet to keep them – particularly the toe area – clean and antiseptic.
• Apply a mild antiseptic to an ingrown toe nail to ease pain.
• Do not cut away the extended nail to treat an ingrown toe nail. That will only make your ingrown toe nail feel worse.
• If you continue to have problems with an ingrown toe nail, see a podiatrist to have the offending edges removed. Your regular doctor may also be able to help.”
  Source of Article: www.footsmart.com/Skin-Nail-Care-Ingrown-Toe-Nail.aspx

As usual, I would like to recommend for you, for best pedicure and manicure services, feel free to visit OPI nail salons. For more info about our services, feel free to visit www.colourculture.com.my and www.opi.com.my.