Nailed! The Truth Behind Discount Nail Salons - NAIL SALON

There are discount nail salons on just about every corner these days and a great deal of competition within the industry.
Salons that are higher in price are now going out of their way to specialize in different, branded systems that are inventive in the different ways they offer you to take care of your nails.

With Nail Salons on every corner, how do you pick the right one for you? There are many different types of Nail Salons, from your basic services to full out Retreats for weekends in the bed of luxury.
How can you tell which one is right for what you want done?

You might enjoy paying less to have your fills done, but the cost of the product used to do that fill is still the same.All nail salons use the same kinds of products to work on your nails, so there really won't be much difference in the type of products found in any salon you might visit. However, there ARE different brands available for each product type.

If the nail salon you are going to uses a name brand product such as O.P.I, China Gaze, Creativespa,LECHAT Color Gel, Solar Oil, even at wholesale prices, the products cost about the same at either high end or low end Salons, so what extra value are you getting if you visit a more expensive nail salon?

What you are getting at a higher cost Salon are typically better services, benefits and in some cases, more personal care and attention. One of those benefits may be cleaner air.Indoor air pollution from the chemicals in nail products can be one of the biggest problems for those who have breathing problems, but still want to get their nails done. If you are getting your nails done at a higher end salon,there is a good chance that they have an air filter or fans or other air cleaners to stop the smell of acrylics from burning your nose or eyes when you walk in the door.

Many additional services are being offered at higher end Salons, other than just your basic acrylic overlays with tips, and simple manicures and pedicures. When we asked clients about the best Salons they had patronized, they said there were differences in what the place looked like, but even when it wasn't called a Day Spa it was just a step down from it. Here is a common list of services offered by higher end nail salons.

o Spa-level Manicures, o Spa-level Pedicures, o Natural Nail Care, o Silk/Cotton/Linen Nail Wraps, o Nail Art beyond simple one color flowers, o Full Sets, o Gel Overlays, o Massage Legs, Arms, Hands o Organic and Botanical products for Pedicures, o Reflexology.

The whole atmosphere is different at a higher end nail salon. There is no rushing to get your nails done, with your cuticles being roughed up because technicians are filing quickly because they must do many more manicures a day to make a living wage.

Each nail technician in a higher-end salon should be dressed for success or wear a smock with the nail salon's name on it.They are typically not gossiping among themselves about other clients and not speaking to each other in languages other than English. Salon clients consulted in the preparation of this article made a very strong recommendation that one language should be spoken when there are clients in the room and technicians should wear little or no jewelry.

All these different services are going to cost more and there is no way around that fact. For those who don't need more than just a fill every two weeks, these benefits may mean nothing, but for those who want more, it's going to cost more.

After asking different salon owners and those who get manicures and pedicures done regularly, all say one word: " Sanitation." The biggest difference between higher priced and discount Nail Salons is the level of cleanliness of the whole Salon, including the equipment and technicians. This should be the most basic criteria of choice.

Based on that, if you can't decide whether you want to go to a discount nail salon or one that is higher priced, then here are a few additional ideas to might help you decide.

When you walk into a nail salon, either discount or higher in price, stop and look around. Are the floors dirty or does the carpet have big stains on it? What do the nail technicians look like? Do they look unkempt or have nails of their own that look like they need work? Are their stations disorganized and untidy? If this is what you are seeing, then the best thing you could do is just turn and walk away.

A health inspector we interviewed said that when she visited a particular nail salon, her first impression was that it looked clean, and the prices was reasonable. Then she began her close examination. What she saw was down right scary for the salon's customers. The whirlpool for pedicures wasn't properly disinfected between each use, and the foot baths provided the perfect environment for the growth of dangerous bacteria. When tested, the bacteria growing in the footbaths could have caused someone a major skin infection. Unfortunately, official inspectors regularly inspecting Salon premises are not as common as it once was. If the possibility of infection is something you are worried about,then a higher end nail salon would be a better choice because they can afford to take better care of their equipment and are typically more conscious of the welfare of their clients.

Today you can buy your own simple equipment for your nail technician to use on your nails and no one else's. Many technicians use nail files that are single use. You can ask for them if that is something you would rather have used on your nails.

Nail technicians are there to give a service. If they do a great job, please don't to forget to tip them - they have to eat too.

If you are not sure which Salon to patronize, ask your friends or family or work colleagues for recommendations about where they go to get their nails done. If you see someone with nails that you admire, don't hesitate to ask them for a recommendation to their favorite Salon. Go with your friends and see their favorite salons for yourself, before having any work on done on your own nails.

Which Salon you choose should be based on many if not most of the ideas we have mentioned above, and on your income, where you live, and what you want done. Only you can decide what you are willing to pay to have the luxury of getting your nails and toes done.

A Look at Nail Salon Equipment - NAIL SALON

The type of equipment required for a nail salon is different than that of a salon that solely offers hair styling services. This equipment can be just as costly as outfitting a hair salon, depending on the style of the pieces and materials used in manufacturing nail salon equipment.

There are several pieces of specific equipment that will typically be utilized in a nail salon. A manicure table is the most common piece of nail salon equipment found in virtually all nail salons.
A manicure table is similar to a common desk and it allows a nail technician an ample, steady surface area to perform work on a client's nails. Basic manicure tables feature storage drawers, a padded hand rest for comfort, and swivel casters.
Additional features of higher-end manicure tables include vents, built in electrical outlets, and polish racks.

Typically, manicure tables are made of a wood laminate for durability and easy cleaning. Nail dryers are a separate piece of nail salon equipment that are often placed on a manicure table to allow the client to fully dry their nails after receiving a fresh coat of polish.

Manicure tables are available through a large number of retailers and can vary in price from under $100 to over $1,000. The price is usually dependent on the features the table offers and the materials it's made of.

A pedicure spa is a staple in salons that offer pedicure services. Pedicure spas are designed to offer a client extreme comfort while a nail technician performs a pedicure. Pedicure spa systems typically consist of a padded chair for extra comfort that often features a rolling back massage.

These chairs are attached to a foot spa where the client can indulge in soaking their feet, prior to receiving their nail treatment. Foot spas often feature jets that offer a full foot and lower leg massage for ultimate relaxation. New pedicure spas typically cost between $3,000 and $4,000.

An additional piece of nail salon equipment that is used in conjunction with a pedicure spa is a technician's stool. This low stool allows the nail technician to face the client and provide nail treatment. These small pedicure stools are often easily adjusted to the correct height for each technician and client.

Nail salon equipment varies from extremely basic, inexpensive, equipment to costly high-end equipment featuring the latest in accessories. As with new equipment, there is also a high demand for used nail salon equipment. Used nail salon equipment may be a good option for a salon owner who is just starting out or values simplicity.

Used nail salon equipment can offer huge cost savings to the buyer. When buying used equipment it is important to ensure that all adjustment mechanisms and electrical parts are in proper working order prior to making a purchase.

Nail Salon Hygiene - What Nail Artists Don't Tell While You're Getting Your Nails Done - NAIL SALON

I recently came across a fairly disturbing study on nail salon hygiene conducted by Choice magazine.

In this study, a group of lucky nail salon shadow shoppers was asked to visit professional nail salons and report on their hygiene levels.
Over 50 nail salons were visited and, according to the study, more than a third of the salons visited were found to be unsatisfactory, with their main complaints being bad hygiene standards, poor customer service and shoddily done manicures.

Upon entering the salon, the participants were instructed to request a complete manicure, tell the nail artist that they had never had a professional manicure done before, then ask the salon professional to describe what the process entailed.
After the session was over, each of the participants were asked to fill a questionnaire, reporting on various aspects of their experience - levels of hygiene observed, how long the manicure took and how much it cost and whether the experience was satisfactory or not.

According to the report, 92% of the technicians who attempted to use metal cuticle clippers on the shadow shoppers didn't put on gloves.

Even worse, they did not use an implement that was package-sealed, even though half of the nail technicians claimed the instrument had been autoclaved (autoclaving is the process of heating water above boiling point in a pressurized device - it is the safest way to sterilize equipment).

The shoppers also reported several hygiene breaches on equipment such as nail files and buffers, which should either be disposable or cleaned between clients. A few salons had surfaces that weren't cleaned between clients and were covered in dust, or even pieces of skin. In one salon, a technician kept her dirty implements in the cash drawer.

Some of the actual comments from the survey participants regarding the low hygiene levels they experienced were as follows:

"The technician picked up the metal scissors ... used on someone else's feet ... she used them to cut some skin from around her own nail. She then went to use them on me."

"This salon had an overpowering smell that burnt my throat and made me feel ill."

"The technicians washed the handtowels in the foot spas."

"Counters and floors were dirty, instruments reused and technicians did not wash their hands at all."

"The technician had open wounds on her hands. I asked her to put gloves on."

Although different state departments of health have their own guidelines for health and safety that nail artists are supposed to follow, a basic requirement of infection control is hand washing - either with soap and water, or a 70% alcohol (or alcohol and chlorhexidine) rub. According to basic hygiene guidelines, both the nail artist and their clients should clean their hands before a manicure.

According to the reports submitted by the shadow shoppers, the majority weren't asked to wash their hands before the treatment, and only 8% of nail technicians were actually observed washing their hands directly before starting the manicure. 64% of nail salon workers didn't wash their hands and in 28% of the visits, the shoppers reported not being sure whether the nail technician had cleaned their hands or not.

What To Look For In A Nail Salon

Here are some of the things you look for when visiting a nail salon:

- Use only accredited salons and technicians and look for certifications of competency, which should be displayed prominently in the salon.

- The salon should be clean and tidy, with linen and towels changed between clients.

- All chemicals should be in clearly marked containers.

- Metal tools that could penetrate the skin should be sterilized in an autoclave.

- Non-disposable nail implements should be rinsed, scrubbed in tepid water and detergent and dried, or wiped with 70% alcohol between clients.

- Some nail salons keep implements especially set aside for each regular client. You should ask your nail technician to do this for you, if you are a regular client of a nail salon.

- Nail implements need to be clean and dry. Don't let anyone use an implement on you that's been left sitting in water, even if the water contains disinfectant.

- Don't use a foot spa if you've shaved your legs the night before or on the day of the pedicure, of if you have any cuts on your legs, as this makes you more vulnerable to infection.

- If you are having acrylic nails put on, ask your nail artist to explain the procedure, what products they're going to use and how to care for the nails at home.

- Don't be shy to ask questions about the manicure, the chemicals being used and how the implements have been cleaned.

The salon I normally go to is very professional and clean, the technicians are highly competent and certified and all procedures are explained in great detail when asked. So, I went ahead and pampered myself for almost an hour and got myself some beautiful nails (included in the manicure was a nail bath, filing and buffing and cuticle work) and a massage. Maybe next time I'll go for nail tattoos or those Tammy Taylor nails!

Typical Nail Salon Services - NAIL SALON

When you are looking for a good nail salon in your area you need to consider what nail salon services you'll be using. Let's say today you want a manicure because you are going out with friends and what to look that little extra special. If the salon you use specializes in manicures and offers no other services then that might be okay for you. But what if you will be wearing open toed shoes and need a pedicure too! Then you'll have to find a nail salon that does both pedicures and manicures.

Fortunately most salons offer a variety of nail salon services so you should never run into this situation. A traditional salon should offer a variety of manicure packages ranging from a simple manicure to hand soaking and complex nail art along with the corresponding pedicure packages.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that these services can be customized to fit your particular needs and you don't just have to order from the menu. If you ask for something special you should be accommodated and usually at a very small additional cost if any. Good salons want to keep you coming back so most try and be as accommodating as possible.

Services should include as a minimum a traditional manicure. A traditional manicure consists of a hand massage with a lotion or cream selected by the manicurist. At higher end spas a much higher quality lotion or cream is used and is usually reflected in the price of the manicure.

The more exclusive the nail salon tends to be the higher the quality of product used. If someone is willing to pay a higher price for a manicure it better sure be worth the additional cost. The client wants to feel like they are getting something that the average person is not. It is the manicurist's job to make them feel like they are.

Along with a hand massage a traditional manicure should include removing of old nail polish, cuticle trimming, the application of cuticle oil, and a top coat of nail polish. In today's nail salon services, nail art is a popular offering. Some people like to wear nail art year round while others prefer to "splurge" for the holidays, sporting events, or other special occasions. What ever your preference, a good nail salon should be able to accommodate you.

A traditional pedicure is also another service that your typical nail salon should be able to offer you. A traditional pedicure should first offer a foot cleanse and soak in a sanitized bowl or sink. Once the foot soak is complete any existing polish should be removed followed by cuticle trimming and the application of cuticle oil. Excess skin from the bottom of the feet and toes is then removed using a rasp, file or an abrasive solution. Depending on how much skin needs to be removed will dictate the method most pedicurists will use.

For those who get a regular pedicure the abrasive lotion or cream with be most effective. If you go once a year, then you may be exposed to the rasp or file. Most pedicurists will go a step further and massage the ankles and calf area as added bonus to make you feel like you've had that spa experience. The finish once again includes a nail polish and nail art if you so choose.

There are many additional nail salon services available in today's market including acrylic nails, gel nails, airbrushing, and jewels glued to the nail art. Depending on the skill and competency of the nail salon you choose, you make be offered a variety of nail salon services. You need to decide for yourself what you want or need and then find the nail salon that works for you.

Dark Nail Polish - Why Wear It? - NAIL SALON

Dark nail polish has always been one of the things of fashion that some people have taken to and others have not. As the winter season approaches, more and more people are veering toward darker shades of fingernail polish as a means of covering up their nails, as it more easily matches many of the components that make up a fall wardrobe.
While dark colored  polish has its drawbacks, one of them being the fact that it can stain nails a nasty yellow color, many people find that it is a perfect accessory for a fall or winter wardrobe. It started out as an essential fashion component in Ancient China, in which dark polish for their nails denoted royalty and transitioned into present day culture as an adornment for the fingers of the chic, ultra fashionable members of society.

As a matter of fashion, many men have even taken to wearing black colors of polish on their fingertips, even if it is only on the fingertips of one hand. David Bowie and Marc Bowan are good examples of fashionable celebrities who have gone so far as to sport black polish.

While black on your fingernails is rather taboo with many outfits, other dark colors like brown hues and deep reds and purples will serve well in this way. Each year has a new favorite shade of polish, that if you check them out are just as much fun if not more than black polish would be.

Dark nail polish is easily applied, although mistakes are a bit more obvious with the darker shades of  polish than with the lighter shades. You will need to reapply it daily as it chips easier and is seen by anyone who looks at your hands. If you are having your nails done by someone else, you might want to buy the bottle of polish that you are going to wear. The biggest reason being no one who is fashionable should ever be seen with chipped polish on their nails, dark or light.

Make sure that when you apply your polish on your fingernails, that you use a good base coat and top coat, as darker colors can have a reaction with the surface of your nail and leave a dull yellow hue behind after the polish is removed, and that is not very attractive at all. If you want to try out the darker colors of polish but you are not the most skilled of nail painters, spend the money and have a professional do it. You can usually get a manicure for about $10 to $15 at your local nail salon. they are trained professionals and can make any darker polish colors look perfect and professional, serving as the perfect complement to any ensemble.

No matter whom you are, you can make darker colors of polish work for you with the right outfit and the right technique. If you don't want to wear black on your nails, why not get a French Manicure done but have black instead of white tips? If you get a manicure or apply it perfectly on your own and you pick the right hues to match and set off your skin tone, dark nail polish can help you stand out among the rest. For most people, black polish on their nails will not do without looking like Vampira, but other darker of polishes can definitely be worked in.

There is no need to wear black on your nails if that is not a color you really like.  For some reason black polish is thought of as Goth but it has hit main stream these days. Just start looking at deep navy blue or royal purple or deep shades of brown as it will work just as well.  Why not pick out a color of dark polish that just might go with everything and most of all have fun with it. Isn't that what wearing polish on your nails is all about, no matter if it's dark and or light?

Copyright 2008 Kim Snyder, owner Overall Beauty Minerals

Home of the famous Magic Lash Eyelash Enhancer!
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How to Pick a Great Nail Polish and Stop Chipping Nails Once and For All - NAIL SALON

Picking a good nail polish is a science. A relatively simple science, the kind most of us prefer. This is a formula you can utilize, to get the most of your polish purchases.
Considering that if you're like most polish junkies; you tend to change polish as often as you change your outfits.
Writing an article on nail polish is hard work. Not pulling a two tonne truck with your teeth hard; but hard work none the less. Think about it for a second, what hasn't been said about polish that you probably don't already know about polishing your nails.
I thought writing this article would be a easy as picking a nail polish colour; simple. Pick the colour you love, open the bottle, and apply, right! Sorry, and I hate to say it, but I, and maybe you couldn't be more wrong.
I consistently hear nail polish users requesting polishes that don't chip.
Well, I don't think manufacturers will be answering the bell anytime soon, as long as consumers continue to buy polish, regarless if chips or not. Well there's hope. After speaking to some great nail techs, I learned there's a science to it all.

Nail polish, varnish, or lacquer is all the same product with different names. I like to use the term polish, just because the other words remind me of IKEA furniture. Silly, I know, but to each their own. The formula for success with polish, starts with preparation as with most things. Most, not all, but most women pick polish based on colour and price; wearability is the last thing that is typically considered.

Which, I surprisingly learned should be the first thing you consider when purchasing polish, or you could just bethrowing your money out the window. My philosophy is, chipped nails that are an awesome colour rarely gets compliments, and usually makes you run late, when the polish chips, right before you are dashing out the door.

With that said, there are an endless amount of nail brands or manufacturers. A few of the top recognized manufacturers include, OPI, China Glaze, Creative, Entity, Essie. These are professional quality brands which are different from your typical grocery store variety brands that some of you may currently use. You can purchase most of these brands, at salons or spas, out in your local beauty distributor.

But, before we start talking about formulas for success, here's a quick tidbit about polish that you may not know: as there are to two key things most of us don't know; cure time versus dry time. Dry-time is what causes the culprit behind most problems. You can have nails which are dry to the touch but not totally cured. That's why if you paint your nails right before you go to bed, you might wake up in the morning with polish streaks on the sheets. Allowing the proper cure-time will rid you of most problems.

The first step to the formula, is to clean the nail area(surface) to remove contaminants(dirt). I recommend finding a good dehydrator to remove moisture from the nail surface to promote great adhesion.
Secondly, apply a base coat. This will anchor the polish to the nail, and also promote great adhesion which is the leading cause of chipping polish. Next, you will need to apply your chosen polish colour to the nail. Some polishes are said to have one coat coverage. In my experience finding one coat coverage polish, is like spotting a white elephant. Good luck with that! It might exist, but I haven't seen it. So, I would recommend a minumum of two coats regardless of the manufacturer, if time permits for longer lasting coverage and super-star quality.
I hope you also noticed, that too totally prevent chipping you will need to purchase additional products if you don't currently own them. I cannot stress this enough, as you will be surprised at the difference this will make. Buying polish is like buying a game that states,"Batteries not included." Yeah you own it, but you still have to spend more money to make it work, and enjoy it.
The last step is grab a bottle of cuticle oil, and apply to nail polish after is dry to the touch. This will speed up the drying and curing time considerably, and also moisturize the entire nail and skin area surrounding the nail, and prevent hang nails.

This article was provided by Wayne Henderson on behalf of Sweetface Beauty Source, Canada's exclusive Entity Beauty provider a professional nail and spa product distributor. Ask your local salon or spa if they use Entity One gel with nanotechnology for long lasting enhancements which are as strong as they are beautiful.