Manicure Monday - Post your questions! Monday, November 25th

Manicure Monday

November 25th

Post your questions now!

As always I will answer your questions 

live from 7-9PM EST 

I will pick on random winner to receive this

fabulous bottle of Zoya Polish!

Blu

Friction Blisters - how to treat them!

We've all gotten those annoying blisters at one time or another from new shoes or shoes that are just a wee bit tight for our feet.  Here is some information that you may find helpful about "friction blisters" and how to treat them!

A friction blister is a soft pocket of raised skin filled with clear fluid caused by irritation from continuous rubbing or pressure. Friction blisters usually occur on the feet, where tight or poor-fitting shoes can rub and irritate delicate toes and heels for long periods of time. This type of irritation causes minor damage to the skin and the tissue just beneath the skin, then fluid accumulates just beneath the outermost layer of skin. If the irritation is enough to damage small blood vessels, the blister also may contain blood, and is then called a blood blister.

Symptoms

A friction blister is a small pocket of puffy, raised skin containing clear fluid. It is usually painful when touched. A blister can appear anywhere.

Diagnosis

Blisters can be diagnosed by looking at them. In short, if it looks like a blister and feels like a blister, and if it's in a place that could have been irritated by pressure or rubbing, it likely is a blister.

Expected Duration

Friction blisters typically drain on their own within days. A new layer of skin forms beneath the blister, and eventually the blistered skin peels away.

If pressure or friction continues in the same area, the blister may last two weeks or longer. Continued friction may rub away the delicate top skin layer, and the blister may break open, ooze fluid and run the risk of becoming infected or developing into a deeper wound. If the irritation is mild, the blister may heal despite continued irritation, and eventually a callus will form.

Prevention

The best way to prevent friction blisters is to wear shoes that fit your feet well, so that the shoe is not tight anywhere and does not slide up and down your heel when you walk. Wear socks with shoes to protect your feet and prevent irritation, and try to keep your feet dry. If another activity is causing blisters — for example, if learning to play golf is causing blisters on your hands — ask an instructor to point out other ways to perform the same activity in a nonirritating way, and take advantage of protective devices, such as gloves.

Treatment

Because blisters typically get better on their own in just a few days, generally no special treatment is required other than to keep the blisters clean and dry. Because the skin provides a natural protection against infection, a blister should be left intact if possible. Do not try to drain the blister or pierce or cut away the overlying skin. Try to avoid further irritation, or protect the blister with a sterile bandage if continued irritation is unavoidable. If the blister breaks on its own, wash the area with soap and water, gently pat dry, use an antibacterial ointment and cover it with a bandage.

People with diabetes and people who cannot reach blisters easily (because of a physical disability or other ailment) may need to have their blisters evaluated by a foot specialist (podiatrist) or other health care professional. People with diabetes often have nerve or circulation problems that make it more difficult to recognize wounds, and that cause wounds to heal more slowly. In these people, a simple foot blister might go unrecognized and could become infected. People with diabetes need to care for their feet daily and examine them for sores or blisters.

Do you know what those little white dots are on your nails?

Someone asked me recently what these white dots or streaks in their nails where and if she should be concerned about them.

Here was my reply:  "Nothing to be concerned about this condition is called Leukonychia (pronounced loo-ko-nik-ee-ah) is caused by air bubbles, a bruise, or other injury to the nail. Leukonychia cannot be corrected but it will grow out with your nail."

2013 Holiday Giveaway Valued at over $200!

Holiday Giveaway!  (Retail Value $209.00)

This fabulous manicure/pedicure holiday package can be yours!

You get the following:

(1)  Set of Zoya (6) “Cashmeres” Nail Color Collection (Retail Value $48.00)

(1)  Set of (6) Jessica “Glitzy Effects” Nail Color Collection (Retail Value $40.50)

(1)  Sally Hansen Gel Manicure Kit (Retail Value $64.99)

(1)  Set of Pedicure Moisture Socks (Retail Value $12.00)

(1)  Set of Dashing Diva Nail Bliss Metallic Press On Nails (Retail Value $6.99)

(1)  Set of Dashing Diva Nail Bliss Nail Appliqués  (Retail Value $4.99)

(1)  Bottle of Cuccio Forte Body Butter (Retail Value $11.00)

(2)  Packages of Revlon Nail Files (Retail Value $1.99 each)

(1)  Revlon Nail Buffer (Retail Value $3.99)

(1)  Revlon Nail Clipper with Catcher (Retail Value $3.99)

(1)  Set of Soft Touch Toe Separators (Retail Value$1.99)

(1)  Pair of Pedicure Slippers (Retail Value$1.99)

(1)  Package of Spa Fizz Tablets for soaking! (Retail Value$1.99)

      (1) Reusable/Sanitizable Foot File (Retail Value $4.99)



No purchase is necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received. Contest open to US residents 18 years of age or older only. Confirmed Winner(s) (by Random.org) will be contacted by email. Winner(s) have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is chosen. All entries will be verified before prize(s) will be awarded. Any fraudulent entries will result in forfeiture of your entries.  Rosey The Coupon Coach is responsible for product shipment and/or delivery. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. This disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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HURRY HURRY HURRY Free 24-month Subscription to Marie Claire

No catch a free 24-month subscription to Marie Claire Magazine courtesy of Rewards Country.  Just complete the short survey.  I get free magazines from them all the time.

Click here!

Pretty as a print ad!

As you can see I am obsessed with Zoya's Pixie Dust!  The cashier at Ikea was going crazy over this polish today while I was checking out in her line.  Had to give her the Zoya website address so she could purchase one for herself.  

If you submit the winning question in tonight's Manicure Monday's this is what you will receive - Zoya's Pixie Dust in Chyna!

http://nailgirlsmanicuremondays.blogspot.com/2013/11/post-your-questions-for-manicure-monday.html

Zoya Pixie Dust Collections

I cannot express how much you all need to get these - they are fabulous!

As a licensed manicurist I'm all about the health of the natural nail and when I give a manicure I pride myself in being as precise as I can when polishing a nail.  I would say I'm obsessed!   I've seen some pretty bad polish jobs come out of the top salon's and spa's over the years.

The best part about Pixie Dust is it is soooooooo forgiving!  You don't have to be an expert polisher to get a great look.  You can make a mistake and it can't be detected.  

Buy one collection or buy them all!  

Get a free gift from Zoya with a $30 purchase.

Shipping is free with a $50 purchase!

These are the latest Fall Colors!

Click here to make your purchase of the fall collection!

These are the new summer colors. 

Click here to make a purchase of the summer collection!

These are the original Pixie Dust colors - love these too!

Click here to make a purchase of the original collection!

My 2013 Holiday Gift Guide - Zoya!

2013 Holiday Gift Guide Welcome to my 2013 Holiday Gift Guide! This is one of my favorite things to give as gifts.  Please consider it as you make your holiday gift purchases. Thank you!

As many of you know, I am a licensed manicurist and I am obsessed with the Zoya Pixie Dust collections. These make fabulous gifts and one is as pretty as the next.  There are three collections to choose from, but I cannot choose - they are all so pretty I had to have all three! Go to www.zoya.com to make your purchase.

Post your questions for Manicure Monday, November 18th

You could win this beautiful Zoya Chyna Pixie Dust if your question is chosen as the winning one.

Post a manicure, pedicure, nail product or any question related to nails and I will do my best to answer it for you during Manciure Monday's live from 7 to 9PM EST here on the blog.

Please one question per poster!

Tweezerman - my favorite tool!

I'm sure if you ask any manicurist they will tell you that they have a list of favorite products and favorite tools but this has got to be my all time favorite - the Tweezerman Deluxe Toe Nail Clipper. Whoever invented the toe nail and finger nail clipper should be shot! Those rounded clipping edges are almost impossible to work with. Tweezerman invented a straight slant cutting edge on their Deluxe Toe Nail Clipper which makes for effortless precise cutting.  

The clipper has a rubber case that catches the nail clippings as you clip and slides off easily for emptying.  

Paying a little extra for a professional grade tools is a worthwhile investment. I have had mine for seven years now and it still looks as new and performs well as the day I purchased it.  You can either make the initial investment in a good qualify product or buy the cheap ones and have to keep replacing them time after time.  

Tweezerman will sharpen any tool for as long as you own it free of charge.  All you do is mail them to the company and if for any reason they are not able to sharpen your item they will replace it free of charge. 

The list price for this item is $12.00 but I found it for only $9.99 Tweezerman Professional Deluxe Toenail Clipper - you will love this product!

Sanitation - how to get a safe manicure or pedicure!

Sanitation In The Salon 

How to get a safe manicure or pedicure by Roseann Giannone.

There has been much written in newspapers, magazines and on the nightly news recently about the dangers one can face while getting a manicure or pedicure in the salon today.  Unsanitary conditions can cause serious health complications including infections and fungus, but educated consumers can safeguard themselves from these dangers.

Sanitation is the most important thing to consider when making the choice on which salon or spa to choose for your manicure or pedicure service. Of course you want to choose a salon and service provider that will give you a wonderful service but more importantly you want to choose a salon that will provide a safe and clean environment. Choose a salon that has a good reputation in your community.  You can always ask friends and family members for a recommendation or call a local cosmetology school for a recommendation.  Remember a cheap service is not always your best choice.  The reason some salons are able to charge such inexpensive prices on their services is because they are reusing disposable implements numerous times which puts you at risk.

You can participate in the safe sanitation process by bringing your own implements and disposable products.  You will not insult your service provider by bringing your own tools.  You can invest in a cuticle nipper, nail clipper, disposable orangewood sticks, disposable block buffers and disposable nail files.  The cost of bringing your own disposables is minimal and worth the expense for peace of mind. 

There are two types of block buffers, nail files and foot files. Some are one-time use supplies and others can be used several times only after they have been properly sanitized. Most reputable salons and spas use sanitizible foot files.  These files are scrubbed with a hospital grade disinfectant or placed in a machine called an Autoclave which sanitizes with heat after each use.  

Unfortunately for the lay person it would be difficult to know which are one-time use products and which are sanitizible so it is best to use this general rule. 

Sanitized tools are (metal pusher, cuticle nippers, nail clippers some foot files.)

Disposable products are (orangewood stick, nail file and block buffer.) Disposable block buffers, nail files and orangewood stick should never be used more than one time on a customer.  They are a breeding ground for bacteria and infection.

If your salon is reusing these implements it should be a RED FLAG for you as the consumer.  It is not recommended that these items be reused ever.  A properly sanitized reusable block buffer, foot file or nail file will be clean and look as thought it has never been used. If your salon uses disposable supplies they should provide you with a new nail file, block buffer and foot file at each service. These should either be disposed of after your service or given to the customer to take home.  Reusing these one-time disposable supplies will put you at risk for infection. 

Never allow anyone to use a callus planer on your feet. This is the product that has a razor blade attached to it with a handle. These are against the law in the state of NJ.  They are very dangerous and can easily cause serious harm and infection.  At this point in time no salon in the state of New Jersey should be using a callus planer; if they are you may want to rethink your decision to continue using their services. 

Tub sanitation is as important as tool sanitation.  Your salon and service provider should be sanitizing the pedicure tub after each service with a hospital grade disinfecting solution.   If they are not sanitizing and disinfecting after each service you are at risk of serious harm. 

How can you tell if your service provider or salon is adhering to the NJ state regulations regarding sanitation and disinfecting - by asking the service provider or the salon owner. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the salon owner or service provider. 

You should see the service provider clean the pedicure tub after the last patron leaves and before your service begins.  If not, you have every right to demand that it is cleaned and sanitized property.  At the end of the day the salon owner or service provider should be thoroughly sanitizing the pedicure tub with a process we call “backwashing.”  The pedicure tub is filled with a hospital grade disinfecting solution and the hottest water and run for at least 15 minutes (or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.)  Once the backwash is complete they should rinse the tub with clean water and dry the tub with a clean towel.  If your salon is using household bleach as a disinfecting solution you are not safe from containments.  Household bleach is not an effective agent for disinfecting and sanitizing any implements or salon equipment.  It will not kill the live bacteria that are present in most pedicure tubs or spas. 

I hope that these suggestions will help you make an informed decision when you are choosing to have your next nail service.

                                                               

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Product Review - Zoya Cashmere's and Satins

Meet the latest beauties from Zoya - the Cashmeres and Satins Collections.

My favorite nail polish manufacturer Zoya does it again with colors that look good enough to eat!

You cannot appreciate these in a photo you have to experience them in person and you will fall in love with each and every one of them as I have.

Rich fall shades that will take you into the winter and match all of your fall and winter wardrobe.  

The Cashmeres are what we in the business call "cream" shades.  They are creamy butter-like shades that go well with all the new fall and winter clothes.

The Satins are satin-finish slightly shinny shades that pop with small specs of glitter.

Meet the Cashmeres:   Livingston, Sailor, Hunter, Louise, Flynn and Pepper. 

Meet the Satins:  Neve, Giovanna, Channing, Claudine, Mason and Maria Luis.  Maria Luis being slightly different and having larger specs of glitter and a great top coat to change the look of any Zoya shade.

Check out the Cashmeres and Satins collections at Zoya.com - click here to view all the Zoya collections.

And don't forget my all time absolute favorites the Zoya Pixie Dust Collections!  

 

Is a gel manicure right for you?

As a licensed manicurist I try to give my client’s the best possible advice for their nails while keeping them up to date on the latest trends.

Gel manicures are the latest craze and were introduced about three years ago.  Since I was never a fan of acrylic enhancements I’m happy to see that more people are opting for the gel manicure in place of the acrylic enhancements.

Gel manicures are less damaging to your natural nail. However, you still have to be aware that it is a chemical and will do some harm (even though slight) to a healthy natural nail.  The best part about gel manicures is that they can be removed with regular acetone (nail polish remover) so no more poking and drilling of the natural nail to remove the product.  That in itself is a huge advantage to keeping your natural nail in the best health possible.  A healthy nail is a strong nail and a strong (but flexible) nail will grow long and strong for months at a time.

Gel manicures will not extend the length of your nail.  It is just a coating for the nail like a polish.  I do find that my clients with shorter nails have been able to grow their nails much longer than in the past with the gel manicures as they seem to provide added strength and protection for the nail underneath.

CND (Creative Nail Design) was the first company to introduce the gel manicure system that did not require mixing.  Their product comes ready to apply right out of the bottle much like nail polish. The idea behind this product was to create a manicure that would not chip or peel for up to fourteen days and dry almost instantly.  I have personally used this product and can tell you it lives up to its claim.

Since CND released Shellac, there are many other companies who have introduced similar products (OPI, Harmony, Orly, Cacee, Gelish, Artistic Nail, and the list goes on and on) on the market today.  The list continues to grow from month to month with new products and lots of fabulous colors and effects for gel manicure products.  You can even buy starter kits in drug stores that require no training to apply.

The gel product is applied in thin coats (like nail polish) and cured under a UV light making it dry and touchable almost immediately.
No more sitting in the salon for hours waiting for your manicure (or pedicure) to dry so you can dig into your handbag and get your car keys.

Just a warning about gel manicures.  Although I mentioned that it is much less harmful to the natural nail than an acrylic application and removal you will see a slight decline in the strength of your natural nails when the product is removed.  This is caused by a break-down in the ketatin (the substance that our nails are made of) from the acetone soak which is required to remove the product each time a new gel manicure is applied.  Some nail technicians are now using electric files to remove the gel applications but I'm not sure I am comfortable with that process.  One slip with the electric file and you can be seriously injured.  Once you injure a nail bed it rarely heals properly and some times you can lose your nail permanently.

That being said I do love these gel products and would recommend you give it a try.