Entries from June 2008 ↓

Written by Nails Magazine - a very reputable industry publication in the US!

Hands and feet, like your décolleté, also
can show tell-tale signs of aging. Here are
some helpful tips for keeping hands and
feet looking youthful.

Keep yourself well moisturized. As
you age, your skin begins to thin and
become dry, so it is especially important
to keep your skin well hydrated. Apply a
collagen-rich lotion that absorbs and
penetrates into the skin daily on hands,
feet, and any other part of your body
that feels dry.

Visit your nail technician regularly.
Don’t let too much time go by between
nail appointments. Visit your nail technician
at least every two weeks for a manicure
and at least once a month for a pedicure.
Keep your nails well protected. Just
as skin becomes thin and dries out with
age, nails tend to become more brittle.
Protect them from the damaging effects
of the sun by applying a top coat with a
built-in sunscreen. And don’t forget
about polish, which helps protect nails as
well. Moisturize nails and cuticles with a
daily dose of cuticle oil. Your nail tech
may also recommend a moisture replenishing
nail treatment.

Maintain a youthful glow. As we get
older, it’s not uncommon for brown
spots to start appearing, especially on
our hands. And all those years in the sun Continue reading →

The success of any nail enhancement service (either Acrylic or Gel nails) is shared between the nail artist and the client. It is hard to believe but people tend to blame others for their breakage, lifting or infections etc … It is never one’s own fault or carelessness. Human nature I guess.

But on the serious note, the nail artist is 50% responsible in diagnosing the clients nail needs by performing appropriate consultation to determine her/his lifestyle, activity level and nail plate shape and condition, prescribing the proper service and recommending home care products and procedures. The client is 50% responsible for following the recommended home care procedures, setting timely maintenance appointments, and following any instructions or advise from the nail artist.

To keep a healthy and maintain the good look of finger nail enhancements for longer require common sense and a pinch of effort from both parties. The answer is always in being consistent!

That being said, in order to maintain your Nail Enhancements for long-term durability, follow these simple guidelines.

• Oil nails twice per day to maintain inherent flexibility. Product that is allowed to become brittle will crack and break. This will also keep your cuticle well moisturise too!
• Repetitive or severe pressure on the nail extension will lead to cracks that result in full-blown breaks. Treat your nails as jewels, not tools! Remember that they cost you money to put them on in the first place!
• Nails that are too long for your lifestyle and activity level (repetitive downward tip pressure) result in service breakdown. If your nails become too long between appointments, shorten the length with the a suitable file.
• Properly applied product will shrink when cured and create an airtight seal. Mechanical forcing of product through extreme pressure, picking or nipping rough edges will result in lifting. Use a suitable file to remove rough edges or blend any lifting into the natural nail plate. Holding the file flat to the area of lift, gently file in the direction of the lifted material until the area of lift is removed. Do not over-file! Over-filing removes vital nail plate layers and will weaken the natural nail plate. To re-seal the product, massage a drop of oil into the nail surface, then buff to a dull shine with the say a 360-grit buffer. You may also choose to buff to a high shine with a 3-way buffer.
• Fungus infections (Greenies) are caused by air-borne spores (pseudomonas bacterium) that have become trapped between the overlay and the nail plate layers. These spores require food to eat and moisture to grow. The nail plate layers contain contaminates along with the natural oil and moisture. Should any lifting occur between visits, buff away the area of lift. Do not attempt to glue the area of lift. Most instant glues are not moisture resistant. Instant glue also sets-up the instant it is exposed to air. The glue cannot ‘re-seal’ lifted material and may incorporate air-borne bacteria or spores into the area of lift. The bacteria or spores will be trapped between the nail plate and the overlay, utilizing the natural nail contaminates as food and the moisture to grow. The results are a greenish to brownish stain on the nail plate which is a by-product of the infection. Should any area of lift be too large to remove by filing, or visible discoloration is present, please call for a nail repair appointment. It is your best option to do so.
• Wear gloves when performing domestic chores, working in the garden or whenever you use cleaning solutions. Keep the harmful chemicals away from your nails whenever possible!
• Call in sick. If you have a contagious skin or nail condition, wait until it clears before visiting the salon again. If symptoms persist, make an appointment with a dermatologist.
• Don’t take them off. If you decide you no longer want to wear nail enhancements, do not take them off yourself. Picking and pulling the nails off will damage your natural nail, rip layers from your nail plate, and make regrowth a long, painful process. We nail technicians can safely remove nail enhancements for you and will offer a proper manicure along with appropriate treatment products.

Nail Fungus Infections - 2008 Causes and Treatments - Part I
How do you know if you have a fungal infection in your toenails or fingernails and do you think you might have an infection? Is there a way to treat it?
Source: ezinearticles.com