Entries from October 2008 ↓

With so much negative energy around during this financial and economic downturn, and the media isn’t helping the case either, by bombarding the mass with more fear using their huge paper-selling headlines, we spent our spare time on this inspirational book, Lessons In Leadership from a spinster in a brown cardigan. Take a look for yourself!

Lessons in leadership from a spinster in a brown cardigan is a unique book that innovatively uses the print and online mediums.

Want to know more about the history of Save the Children organisation? This is a place to start!

You could call it a biography, because it tells the remarkable story of Eglantyne Jebb ‘the unsung heroine’, founder of Save the Children, and one of the greatest leaders you’ve probably never heard of.

You could call it a picture book, because it uses striking illustrations and images. Or you could call it a motivational book, because it has been purposely written to inspire people. It sure has inspired many of us here. Enjoy!

Many times we have been asked by clients and even other nail professionals if switching from one product line or type to another will alleviate skin allergy symptoms for those who opted for artificial nail enhancements.  Since we’d been trained and taught at Nails and Beauty Schools that all artificial nail related products ’share’ many of the common chemicals, we always tell them ‘no‘.  Once an allergic, we are allergic for life, sobering but true, so the best way to alleviate the problem of allergic reaction, is to soak off the enhancements in an approved remover, perform a good natural nail manicure, and prescribe a Nail Toughener/Strengthener (such as Toughen Up by Creative Nail Design, Nail Strengthener by OPI or Revitalnails Strengthener) that will help to give the nail plate more strength by revitalising the nail plate until it grows out naturally.

We notice that this is not a very popular answer and not at all pleasing to hear for clients, who insist that they had always wear enhancements in the past without such allergy or symptom. But consider the following technical notes from Doug Schoon, M.S., Vice President of Science and Technology, Creative Nail Design. 

Allergic reactions to many types of cosmetics may occur when the skin is repeatedly exposed to small amounts of allergy causing ingredients.  Dermatologists have a special name for allergy causing substances; they are called allergens.  For example, pollen is a common allergen.  In fact, most allergens are natural substances, (i.e. poison ivy, ragweed).  Some ingredients used in cosmetics may also be allergens.  Usually these ingredients are beneficial for the vast majority of people.  However, just as there are people sensitive to pollens, some people are sensitive to cosmetic ingredients.  Of course, the great majority never experience any problems.  But, a smaller number of people may develop skin allergies when exposed over a period of time.  Allergic skin reactions usually occur after several months (or years) of exposure to the ingredient’s.  It is important to understand that cosmetic related skin allergies usually don’t happen right away.

Fragrance ingredients are the most common cosmetic allergens.  In fact, sensitivity to preservatives (necessary for proper shelf-life) and fragrances account for most cosmetic-related skin allergies.  Of course, other types of ingredients may also cause sensitive clients to develop symptoms such as redness, itching or other signs of irritation.  Simple irritations usually reverse themselves when exposure is discontinued.  However, symptoms may worsen with repeated exposure or could develop into skin allergies.  Once skin develops an allergic sensitivity to an ingredient, the allergy will be permanent! Continue reading →

Since the recent TV current affair program reporting an unfortunate incident of a lady client who had her toe nails badly damaged and infected, allegedly caused by getting her TOE NAILS done at a cheap and unprofessional salon, naturally we were concerned and our clients had also raised their fears with us here at Manhattan Nails.

Here are what we think and like to reassure the points of difference between Manhattan Nails and other nail places:

Such a story tend to generate undesirable impact to similar business because the story generalised every other salon businesses in a negative light and failed to point out the good quality nail salon from the bad. This is not the first time such a story was aired. There were others with similar tone, whether in healthcare field, hairdressing cases and more. And the impacts were almost always the same. These stories supposedly meant to keep the public informed about malpractices and/or unsafe products and treatments. But somehow most of the times all we get were FEARS.

These sorts of stories are understandable, as often the media tend to only sensationalise the issue and do not examine the full story, from both sides in terms of cause and affect. We hope and wish that they researched their story professionally. Journalism is a profession with ethics and proper conducts right?
In any case, here at our salon, first and foremost, we take our customer’s safety and health issue extremely seriously. We take no compromises when health and safety are concerned, both for our clients and our nail technicians. Hygienic sanitisation and safe practice are of paramount importance. Even if that means turning away clients who have unsuitable nails condition, which we must ask to get medical treatment first before we offer any nail care services. Our loyal customers can attest to this. We called such practice professionalism and quality care. Every technician here is trained and well aware of this practice.

Secondly, we have never advised and/or done acrylic or gel enhancements on toenails for any clients ever. In fact, we very often advise against doing so when customer ask for or had them done from elsewhere.

Why? Well the current affair program mentioned above is one of the many reasons.

Without wearing acrylic or gel toenails, one is already prone to fungal infection naturally if personal hygiene are not observed sufficiently or neglected. If you have acrylic covering your toenails, this will increase the chance for infection ten folds because moistures and dirt will be easily trapped between the acrylic and the toenail plate, especially if the acrylic was not sealed properly during the enhancement process. This will become a place of breeding ground for bacteria. And you know how bad the feet can get since they go many places we rather not mention, particular in public showers in the gyms or pools etc, unlike your finger nails where you look after them much better than your feet, a very important part of the body but often a neglected area.

Foot care, whether from regular pedicure treatments or from your local podiatrist are essential. And remember to stay correctly informed and get the right treatments for them. If you are unsure, always ask the pros, not the TV reporters ! (only joking , apology to our TV reporter clients).