Posts Tagged ‘pedicure’

Tips for the Perfect Polish Application

There are reasons why estheticians take the steps that they do when applying polish to the toenails. So all the doubters out there who say that base/top coat isn’t necessary, remember that most spa pedicures last for at least a month and usually need to be removed only because the toe nail has grown out, not because of chipping.

That being said there are always exceptions. Such as lots of sand.  will rub polish right off.

I’m going to explain step by step what you need to do to get a long lasting polish application at home. This is how I’ve seen it done at every spa I’ve worked at by estheticians trained around the world. There is a process.

Here’s what you need:

• Polish remover
• Cotton balls
• Kleenex
• Orangewood stick
• Base coat
• Polish
• Top Coat
• Drip Dry (optional but super useful)

1) First off, remove polish and do any foot maintenance you feel you need. Steps to a full pedicure can be found here.

2)Once all that business is done, use one kleenex for each foot, weave it between the toes. Keep the ends poking down towards the bottom of the foot so it won’t get in your way. We use kleenex because you can be sure it’s sanitary every time. No guarantee with reusable toe separators. Also the kleenex comes in handy later. Double up if you need to separate the toes even more.

5) Use a cotton ball soaked with polish remover. Neutralize each nail by wiping it with the cotton ball. This will remove any and all traces or oils and lotions, giving you the best possible base for your polish to adhere too. If you skip this step, the polish will flake off where ever there was any oil product. It can’t stick properly.

4) Starting from the outside edge of either foot you will work across. Keep this same pattern through the whole process to give the layers time to dry.

5)Apply the base coat. You just need a very thin layer.  Apply it in one or two strokes to each nail, avoiding the skin as much as possible. Polish peels off of skin within a day. So if it dries leading onto the nail, you will get flaking.

6) Choose your polish color. Wipe the brush back and forth one or two times to get all the color on one side of the brush. You want very little, because toes are very little. Thin coats will give you better coverage and take way less time to dry. Usually you can get the three smallest toes done with one brush load. This of course depends on nail size.

7) The most strokes you want is three per nail. Any more and you’ll start to drag the polish as it dries. Most polish is self leveling. By the time you get back to it for the second coat, it’s usually spread out and settled properly. You want an even coat with no pooling. Use one hand to grip the toe on either side and pull the edges slightly from the nail. It gives you a bit more space to work with. Again, don’t touch the skin. You want to get close, but not touch the cuticle or sides. If you do, immediately use the orangewood stick to collect and clean the edges. You can use the kleenex between the toes to wipe the excess off off the end of the stick.

8)Take your time and be as tidy as possible. This takes practice. In school polishing is one of the first things we learn and takes almost the full year  to perfect. 3 strokes, never touching the skin. It’s tough. Go back and do the second coat. Let it dry and settle for a bit.

9) With the top coat, you want enough product on the brush to keep the bristles from dragging in the freshly applied polish. The brush should glide. Same rule as before, wipe up any excess that gets on the skin. When it peels off the skin it will pull off any color that’s attached to it.

10) Wrap a little cotton around the end of the orangewood stick, dip it in polish remover and do any tidying that needs to be done. Give it a few minutes to set and then spray/drip on the drip dry product. This will set the top layer or so and moisturize the cuticle.

11) This is the important step: It will still take AT LEAST AN HOUR TO DRY. You cannot get around this. The four coats required to get a long lasting application take a long time to dry. No shoes or socks for as long as possible. Two hours is best. Yes the top coat will stop feeling tacky before that, it does not mean the layers underneath are dry. Nothing is more frustrating to estheticians than watching someone decide 20 minutes after the service that it is in fact dry and put on boots. They forget that this is what we do for a living. We gain nothing by asking you to wear  flip flops.

So be patient.

Even going to bed will give you sheet marks on the toes.

There you go! Almost a thousand words on the proper way to polish nails. Who knew it was so complicated?

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog!  Feel free to post your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

Getting Those Toes Ready For Summer! Learn To Love Your Feet

Finally it’s May. It felt like a long, gloomy winter. Those first few sunny days, that warm breeze. You open the closet, take out the flip flops, and then realize in horror that you’ve done little to no maintenance on those feet in months!

A hack job here and there on the nails, the occasional inspired heel filing, but that’s about it. Is that polish left over from your last pedicure for the Christmas party? Oh my.

Over the next couple of weeks we’re going to explore the best ways to take care of and maintain beautiful feet, the esthetician way! We’ll talk about tips and tricks that being in the industry has taught us over the years and give you guides on how to do everything from how to properly file your feet to how to apply french polish on your own toes. The steps to a pro pedicure will be broken down.

There are at least three estheticians in this office on any given day. Between us we have 16 years combined experience and thousands of pedicures. We know feet. I asked around to find out what is the more important thing they’ve learned about foot care.

Leanne (Manager, Esthetician for 8 years): “Try filing the feet when they’re dry, you’ll get a smoother finish”

Majida (Book Keeper, Esthetician for 6 years): “Always moisturize. Always. Go do it right now”

Sheena (That’s me. Social Media/Merchandiser, Esthetician for 3 years): Use a nail file on your toe nails. You get rid of those jagged edges that catch on socks and sheets and it makes a huge difference to the tidiness and look of the foot.

I always loved doing pedicures the best. They were like  mini, hour long art projects. It always broke my heart how insecure people could be, or how quickly others could grossed out. It was also consistently hilarious to hear from every client a variation of “Sorry my baby toe is so weird”.

We’ve seen everything from foot models, to the worst fungus and athlete’s foot. We’ve done pedicures on babies, to the elderly to paraplegics. Feet are amazing in their diversity and it’s the time of year to celebrate that!

So get out that foot file! Prep the nail file! Choose a saucy color that represents you as a person! We’ll help you establish an easy foot care routine that will have others noticing and coveting your look.

First things first. Go get a pedicure.

If it’s been awhile, leave the tough work for the professional. They have a better angle.

After that or if yours aren’t particularly bad, upkeep and maintenance are all you need.

Next Post: The Foot Soak

Visit www.spaboutique.ca for a wonderful array of foot care and nail care products!

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog!  Feel free to post your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

How to Apply Rhinestones/Gemstones to Your Pedicure

Increase your creativity: nail gem art gives you the chance to express your pedicure style!

Step 1 - Start with a finished pedicure (colored nail bed, French or au-natural). Apply a thin layer of clear polish over the nail bed you are planning to add the gems to (I use Orly Top 2 Bottom Base & Top Coat). The clear polish will act as the adhesive for the gems. I have chosen to only add the gems to my big toes only. I prefer to keep nail art subtle and not over do it.

Step 2 - Use Individual Rhinestones to design your custom layout.

Step 3 - Plan and layout your design first to get the expected results. You can lay them out on a piece of paper or draw a mock up. It is a good idea to plan it first so you can see how they fit on your nails. Check out the sample designs below for some ideas.

Step 4 - Position the gems onto the nail while the clear polish is still wet. Use an orange stick or toothpick to pick up your rhinestones. First dip the tip in water and then pick up your rhinestone in your wheel. The water acts as a temporary magnet.

Step 5 - Adhere your rhinestones to your nail bed. Nudge the gems lightly to place them into your preferred design. This may take a little patience - it is well worth it.

Step 6 - After applying all your gems, apply a coat of clear top coat to seal and keep your design in place. Apply a top coat every 3-4 days to keep it lasting pretty!

 

And here it is - all ready for some nice open-toed shoes! Below are some other gem layouts and color schemes that I like to apply to my nails:

Remember, you can be creative and apply your own style. I prefer to keep my designs minimal and only on my large toe - you may choose to be different. To remove, use regular nail polish remover.

 

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog!  Feel free to post your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

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