Many people may not know that there are actually a number of benefits to getting a manicure. Most people simply get their manicure done for two most common reasons, and these are to have clean nails, and to have beautiful nails as well. However, there is more to just having clean and beautiful nails. A manicure provides other benefits that many people are aware of.
A manicure is a beauty treatment for the hands. Although, the treatment is applied directly to the nails, the entire hand actually gets the benefit. The primary purpose of a manicure is to maintain the hand’s overall health. As such, it includes some basic steps that results to clean and healthy hands.
Some of the basic steps included in a manicure are nail trimming, removal of cuticles, nail polishing, and moisturizing. While some people prefer to have their nails trimmed and nail cuticles removed, a lot prefer to have their nails polish. In fact, some are even more excited about getting their nails polished than their cuticles removed. This may sound ironic but true. Fortunately, a complete manicure process is never complete without all of these basic steps.
Today, there are a lot of establishments that offer manicure services. Although one can easily do their manicures at home, sometimes it is better to leave this task to the experts. Indeed, getting a manicure in health clinics or beauty salons is one way of pampering yourself. Usually manicure services also include a short hand massage. While a short massage is considered as a small treat to yourself, it also offers other benefits as well. A massage can increase blood flow and the flexibility of the hands and the wrist. Moreover, a massage also slows down the wrinkling of the hands which is practically what a lot of women want to avoid.
Another important benefit that one can derive from a manicure is exfoliation. Dead skin cells and calluses growing in your nails and hands are removed in the manicure process. As such, it allows new skin cells to grow and regenerate which actually results to exfoliation.
Moreover, getting a manicure also removes fungal growth that accumulates at the side of your nails. While most people are unaware of the unhealthy effects of fungal growth, a manicure takes care of these effects even before they proliferate.
Finally, getting a manicure is very stress relieving. Basically the hands are the most hardworking part of the body and they actually need a break after a long day’s work. Besides, getting a manicure is one way to pamper and treat yourself. It can be very relaxing to see beautifully done nails at the end of the day. There are a lot of wonderful nail polish shades that you can choose for your nails for everyday wear or for special occasions.
A Gentleman’s Guide to Manicures
By: Aysha Schurman
Getting manicures may sound a little silly to some men, but keeping your nails groomed is just common courtesy to every hand you shake or shoulder you caress. There are many salons and shops that offer more manly kinds of manicures that exclude the scented lotion or bright polish.
Men’s manicures are more about cleaning and trimming the nails than they are about creating mini art at the tip of each finger. Not only will your hands look better after a manicure, they’ll also feel better. Trimming ripped cuticles and smoothing jagged nails results in less annoying cuticle tears, hangnails and accidental gouges.
Start your manicure by soaking your hands in some warm, soapy water for about ten minutes. Use a nailbrush and scrub your hands well, making sure to get the dirt from under your nails, dead skin off your nail beds and gunk from your hands. Pat your hands dry.
Use an orange stick or cuticle stick to push back overgrown cuticles. Carefully trim the dead skin from around your nail and rinse your hands if needed. Use a file to smooth the nail tips over. Try to create a natural oval, or oval with a flat top, shape with your nails. If you feel odd filing your nails, just remember that it helps make you look clean and tidy.
Once your cuticles are trimmed and nails are filed, it’s time to use some moisturizer. Hand lotion creates healthier skin that heals much more quickly than dry skin does. It promotes healthy nail and cuticle growth, as well as helps strengthen nails.
Lather the lotion on and rub it into your hands and forearms well. Make sure to moisturize everything, from the palm of your hand to the cuticles around the side of your nails. Let the lotion sit on your skin for as long as possible, and avoid washing your hands for at least an hour after application.
Though you can easily perform a manicure at home, there’s a real benefit in going to a salon. If nothing else, professional manicures can include a wonderful hand massage. Hands are so used to being tired and sore that most people don’t even notice. But once you experience a relaxing hand rub and realize how good it feels, you’ll probably be hooked.
Types of Bikini Waxes
By: Julie Knapp
When you visit a salon for your first bikini wax, the uncharted territory may be a bit overwhelming or nerve-wracking. Short of indulging in a cocktail before your appointment, perhaps the best way to prepare is to know details about different types of bikini waxes-you don’t want to be unpleasantly surprised.
Let’s start with the most dramatic type first-the Sphinx. Expect to ditch your skivvies before you begin. If you won’t feel comfortable appearing naked from the waist down in a front of the technician, don’t try this one. Not only will you be bare, but you’ll also have to get into some interesting positions; all of your hair will be removed from the front to the back, including your buttocks and everywhere in between.
Another daring option, and possibly the most well-known bikini wax, is the Brazilian. Again, you’ll be naked from the waist down for this treatment and have hair removed from every area. The Brazilian usually, but not always, leaves a thin “landing strip” behind-be sure to specify what you prefer.
Next on the -do you dare’ scale is the French bikini wax. Whether you wear panties or not is up to your technician. While this wax won’t touch your tush, you can expect to say buh-bye to the hair on your labia and be left with a 2 to 3 inch strip.
And the most basic solution and quite possibly the best for beginners is the traditional bikini wax. This gateway treatment is done with your panties on and you’ll only have the hair removed along your bikini line on your upper leg. No matter what option you choose, take a deep breath and remember how great you’ll look in your bathing suit.
Is There a Proven Nail Fungus Cure
By: Lisa Bower
Thanks to medical breakthroughs, there are many nail fungus cures available in today’s day and age. Nail disorders like fungus are nothing to laugh about: not only is the fungus painful and embarrassing, but it can spread to other toes and your feet. No matter if this is the first time you have ever had a fungal infection or if this is a recurring issue, there is a surefire nail fungus cure for you and your situation. The following are some of the most commonly prescribed nail fungus cures.
Oral medications may be the first treatment a doctor prescribes to her patient. The three most popular prescription-strength oral antifungal medications used are fluconazole, itraconazole and terbinafine. Such medications help the nail grow so that the new, healthy nail replaces old and infected sections. This process may take as much as a few months because nails grow so slowly, but antifungal drugs have been proven to work.
Another treatment proven to work is antifungal lacquer. This remedy is for folks who have a mild or moderate case of nail fungus. The most common antifungal nail polish prescribed is ciclopirox. All a person has to do is paint the infected nails with the lacquer once a day for seven days. On the seventh day, you remove the existing lacquer with alcohol and begin the cycle anew.
If you are looking for a home remedy or natural cure for nail fungus, then you should consider using vinegar. This item has been shown to slow or stop the growth of the offending fungus. All you have to do is apply a few drops of the stuff on the nail for as long as you have the infection. Similarly, many point to tea tree oil as a great natural antifungal agent. To use tea tree oil, combine it with olive oil and then apply it to the infected nail.
Preventing Brittle Nails
By: Teresa Hall
The exposure to such chemicals can cause our nails to become dry, resulting in brittle nails that crack, peel, break and spilt. We spend a lot of our daily lives exposing our nails to harsh chemicals, whether through the nail procedures we have performed upon our hands at the salon or the chemicals we use to clean our homes.
The most common reason our nails become brittle, other than chemical exposure, is an excessive exposure to water. If this isn’t a reason to justify a dishwasher, nothing it! Water will soften the nail and break down the fibers, which in turn makes them more susceptible to breaking, tearing or peeling.
Obviously we cannot go without putting our hands in water, but we can take precautions to keep our nails healthy. One quick tip that doesn’t involve much effort is to wear gloves while washing the dishes. This not only protects the nails, it protects the skin on our hands, which tend to show signs of aging faster than any other part of the body.
Here are a few more ways to protect your nails from drying out and becoming brittle:
•Only use fingernail polish remover that is acetone free and contains conditioners. Many brands now carry acetone-free removers that already contain moisturizers. This is a plus for us!
•Try not to use polish remover-even acetone-free remover-more than once a week.
•Avoid placing your hands in water for prolonged periods of time, especially if the water is very hot.
•Moisturize your nails as soon as you get out of the shower and be sure to rub the lotion into the nail beds. Use cuticle cream as well.
•Never, ever use a metal nail file. Metal files tend to rip the nails, where glass and emery boards gently file the nail with out tearing them.
There are medical reasons why a person’s nails can become brittle. Women who have low amounts of estrogen in their bodies tend to suffer more. Lack of estrogen causes dry, brittle hair and dry skin, which affects the nails. Nails can dry out just like our skin and hair can; most people aren’t aware of this fact.
Nutrition also plays a huge part in how our nails grow. Just like the body reacts to junk food, the nails can react as well. Many doctors believe that disease can be detected on the nails by certain spots or colorations of the actual nail. Eating a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals will nourish not only your body, but your nails as well.
Why Do Nails Turn Yellow
By: Edd Staton
Americans spend billions of dollars each year on their nails, both for products and services. With that much money changing hands, it is apparent that attractive nails are considered an important part of our hygiene and appearance.
Nail anatomy
The nails on our fingers and toes protect us when we’re walking or grasping objects. They are thickly packed epidermis cells, the same ones that make up our skin. But since they are dead cells that are filled with a protein called keratin, we feel no pain when they are trimmed. It takes a full six months for each nail to grow in completely, although men’s nails grow more quickly than women’s. Since they are made up of epidermis cells, nails need oxygen to stay healthy, and therein lies one of the main reason that nails can turn yellow.
The problem with polish
When your nails are always covered with polish, they can become yellow from lack of exposure to oxygen. A bigger potential problem is your choice of color. Because nails absorb not only oxygen but also liquid, the pigment from your nail polish can cause staining.
Shades of red are by far the most popular nail polish color. Many manufacturers use iron oxide to produce the shades of red in their polish. Perhaps you have noticed stains in the porcelain sink of an old house that is plumbed with iron pipes. This is due to rust in the water running through those old pipes that is absorbed by the porcelain material. The same thing might happen with your nails. The keratin can absorb the iron oxide from your polish and cause discoloration. The deeper the shade of red, the greater the possibility of staining.
Formaldehyde is a common ingredient in nail polish of all colors. Sometimes this chemical can react with the keratin in your nails to produce yellowing.
Will a base coat help?
The main reason for using a clear base coat on your nails is to create a perfectly smooth surface before applying the polish. However, if this first coat is applied thickly enough it can serve as protection against absorption of pigment.
What about nail polish remover?
The solvent in nail polish remover can damage the skin around your nails but will not by itself cause nails to yellow. Your best practice is to frequently change cotton balls while using polish remover.
Medical reasons for yellowing nails
Although medical problems are not the most common causes of yellow nails, there are several underlying medical issues that may be the culprit. A nail fungal infection will cause discoloration, and over time the nail thickens and even has an unpleasant odor. Both oral and topical medications can eliminate this problem, but it takes months for the nail to look normal again. Smoking, psoriasis, diabetes, peripheral edema and nutritional deficiencies are other potential medical reasons for yellowing nails.
Bottom line
If you are in good health, yellowing nails will likely be caused by your nail polish. Consider switching to a lighter shade, use a base coat and remove your polish regularly.
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08/06/2014 Azlynn’s Nail Salon.
At Azlynn’s, my sore and tired feet always get the pampering they deserve. bas…..
I love the have my feet pampered!!! jsherman