Women Beauty Diary » Manicures

One Minute Manicure

Shilah — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 23:12:42 +0000

Is it really possible to get a one minute manicure? The answer, surprisingly, is yes. I too was a skeptic until I tried a few of the products out there that promise a one minute manicure. These products are aimed at the target market of busy women. Well, these days, what woman isn’t busy? The suppliers of beauty products know that the busy woman is a huge target audience. What with careers, family, and fitness, who has time to keep those hands looking gorgeous?

Well, thanks to these new at home products on the market, we all have time to pamper our digits. There are many products ranging in price from a few dollars to well over thirty dollars. They vary in scents, as well. You can find anything from sea salt to cucumber and melon. You can purchase these products just about anywhere. You can check department stores, drug stores, and lastly don’t forget about the internet. You can buy that one minute manicure product without leaving the comfort of your bedroom. There are even huge retail chains devoted to helping us to keep our hands and bodies looking their best. Most of these stores offer their own variation on the one minute manicure.

But do you really get a manicure in one minute? Well, not really. Minus the polish and the salon, the results are similar to a professional manicure. I have tried Sally Hansen one minute manicure and pedicure products. They are available at a wide variety of stores from drug stores, to discount stores, and even the local grocery stores. Basically, you just rub this product, which is an exfoliating scrub, onto your hands. The tube says that you can either start with dry or wet hands. I have found that if you start the process without water, the treatment will result in a deeper exfoliation. For the few dollars that I spent on the product, I would say that the results were satisfactory. I would not compare this to an actual salon manicure, but, if you are looking for a quick fix, it works nicely.

Another product that I have tried is by Beauty Control. Now, I don’t know too much about Beauty Control, I think that you have to buy the products through a representative, similar to Avon. I have to tell you that I was thoroughly impressed with the product. The “manicure” consisted of two steps. The first step was similar to the Sally Hansen product, in that it was an exfoliator; however, it also had some essential oils in it. The oils left my hands feeling smooth, but not greasy. The next step in the one minute manicure is to put on a lotion. I was amazed. In just a couple of minutes, my hands felt like I had just had a salon manicure. My hands continued to feel great for the rest of the day. Even after washing my hands several times, they still felt great. Unfortunately for me, however, they don’t offer a one minute polish.

French Manicures

Shilah — Wed, 19 May 2010 10:50:42 +0000

Mention the words “French Manicure” around nearly any woman, and you’ll immediately see their face light up like a kid on Christmas morning. This is because many women regularly indulge themselves in this classic beauty routine, whether they go out to a salon or do it themselves at home. It has become known as a common form of manicure in the United States, as it most resembles a “natural” look for fingernails. It’s very universal in that the look is ideal for day-to-day life, weddings, proms, special events, or nights out on the town.

The history of the French Manicure is thought to go back to the mid 1970’s when a man named Jeff Pink, president of the popular manicure company Orly, attended a fashion show where he noticed several of the models were using a white pencil to whiten the tips of their fingernails. He immediately realized this could be major fashion trend and brainstormed a way to recreate the look. The result was a kit that contained two shades of polish; a light pink base and white polish to paint the tips of the fingernails. He also included adhesive strips to place at the baseline of the nail so that women could effortlessly create a stunning, perfect look when applying the white paint.

French manicures are still sold in this form today, but have varied slightly since their beginning. Today you can choose from a classic light pink shade, a nude base, or you could even choose a pearl-based shade to add a bit of glamour to this classic manicure. Several kits contain jewels or other accents to add to your newly manicured nails if you are looking to “kick it up” a notch or two. Of course these kits are meant to be applied at home, but if you’d rather head to a salon, you’ll find French Manicures to be a popular choice among salon clients.

Sometimes nail technicians at salons will use acrylic tips when providing a French Manicure. This is usually done when the actual nails are not long enough to get the stunning white tip look. The technician will place long tips on your fingernails, cut them down to your requested size, and sand them down so that tip blends with your actual nail. They will then apply an acrylic foundation that hardens your nails to make it smooth and even, then proceed with the French Manicure techniques. After painting your nails with a base shade, the technician will then add the white paint to your faux tips and finish them off with a drying spray.

For a French Manicure without acrylic tips, prices usually range from $10-$15. You can expect to pay around $30 at a salon for a French Manicure using the tips. The kits to do it yourself at home are sold at any drug or department store for around $8. If you decide to go to a salon, you can rest assured that nearly any nail salon will be trained in the French Manicure application.

All About French Manicures

Shilah — Wed, 12 May 2010 19:17:42 +0000

A French manicure is a nice way to have polished nails without drawing too much attention to your hands. The absence of color makes for easy outfit changes, without having to think too much about clashing colors. French manicures also last longer than traditional manicures with colored polish because you cannot see chips as easily. They are also easier to touch up without being too noticeable.

What is the purpose of having a manicure, if you are just going to put clear polish on top of your nails? Why bother to go through all that time and trouble, to look natural? Well, we women do tons of crazy things, and spend countless hours in the salon trying to make ourselves appear naturally beautiful. Why should manicures be any different? Besides, the polish is not actually clear. The polish is two different colors. A very thin white or off white coat is applied to the tips of your nails and allowed to dry. Then the entire nail is painted with a soft beige or pink color, making the nails very clean and polished looking, but not quite as dramatic as red or pink polish.

While French manicures may look almost natural, they are the most difficult type of manicure to have done to your nails. Most salons charge more money for a French manicure, than a regular manicure with one solid color. Some salons use an actual paint brush, with very fine bristles to apply the thin white coat to the tips of the nails. Other salons will very quickly apply the white coat without much attention to detail. Then they will come back before the polish has dried and remove the excess color with an orange stick wrapped in cotton. This is interesting to watch. I always get nervous when the manicurist paints half of my fingernail white. I’m thinking to myself, great, I could do a better job at home blindfolded and I’m paying her my hard earned money to make a huge mess. But then, she is always redeemed when she had cleaned off the excess and my nails look great. Watching her perfect this skill with ease, I was enticed to try this process at home. I made a huge mess; I think that next time I will leave this skill to the professional.

The popularity of having a French manicure started around the seventies, and is just as popular today. People have been getting French manicures for years. You can see these types of manicures just about anywhere from magazines, to moms at the grocery store. One thing that is kind of interesting about French manicures is that they really don’t have any target age range. Anyone from teenagers, to grandmothers can be seen sporting a French manicure, that is something that cannot be said of most fashion trends.

In recent years, there has been a new addition to the French manicure family. It’s the French pedicure. They have all of the flexibility and versatility of the French manicure. I love that I can wear pink shoes, red shoes, or black shoes without having to rethink my toenail polish.

Popular French Manicure Designs

Shilah — Tue, 11 May 2010 05:40:42 +0000

French manicures are a popular trend among women in America today. And for very good reason – the French manicure is very universal, and is just as appropriate for jeans and t-shirts as it is a wedding or prom dress. The classic French manicure has a light pink or nude base coat, with the tips of the fingernails painted bright white. Nearly every nail salon in America is familiar with this manicure and provides them to clients on a daily basis. But sometimes women like to add a bit of glamour to the French manicure, and this is easily accomplished by incorporating designs to their nails.

French manicure designs are normally done in nail salons. This is because salons carry all the equipment (and talent) to create some amazing designs. A popular method of applying a French manicure is through an airbrush machine, which gives the nails a smooth, even line when painting the tips white. Often manicurists will use the airbrush machine to create stunning designs. For example, instead of airbrushing a classic white line on the tips, you can use a stencil to create upward points (resembling triangles). This gives you the classic look of a French manicure while providing a special and unique touch. If you prefer to add color to your French manicure, you could have the manicurist draw or airbrush a small design on your fingernail. Popular designs include symbolic holiday designs, such as Christmas trees for the winter, pumpkins for the fall, or hearts for Valentine’s Day. Other designs frequently used for French manicures are flowers, palm trees, or letter initials.

Other designs popular among French manicures include the application of tiny gems or stones. These add a small touch of “sparkle” to your manicure. The stones can be applied singly or with a painted design to complete your desired look. The manicurist applies them using small tweezers and a bit of nail glue, then coats them using a clear top coat. This helps to seal the stones and prevent them from chipping off. You can choose to add these to one fingernail on each hand, or apply them to all ten nails for extra special glamour.

Another popular design used on the French manicure is known as “nail tattoos.” These are transfers rubbed onto your nail directly from printed paper. They are very similar to the application of faux tattoos, and are then covered with a top coat to help maintain longevity. These come in a wide variety of designs, and the salon should be able to provide you with a selection of available nail tattoos.

Finally, for those looking for a more extreme approach to nail designs, a popular trend called nail piercing is now available at several nail salons. Nail piercing is usually done on acrylic nails rather than actual nails. This is because once a real fingernail is pierced, it is nearly impossible to repair the nail later without having to cut it down. Using a small ear piercing gun, the manicurist pierces the nail with a tiny earring. These are usually studs or small gems. This procedure costs about $10 extra to your manicure.

With so many options available for French manicure designs, women now have the ability to customize their manicure and go beyond the classic look. Ask your manicurist for ideas on different nail designs.

All About Products And Supplies For Nail Manicures

Shilah — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:38:42 +0000

There are many things to consider when going into business to give professional manicures, in addition to the proper licensing and insurance; there are also some products and supplies that you are going to need. First you will need a store front. Choose a place that will have some visual appeal. You want a place that will be easily accessible, as well as easy to find. You will also need to have some sort of manicure station or table. Whether you are planning to have an entire salon devoted to manicures and pedicures, or to just have one station within an existing salon, it is imperative to have a comfortable manicure station.

The table could be anything from just a basic table, to station made specifically for giving manicures, to an attractive looking antique. It is important that it be comfortable for not only the customer, but also the manicurist. The station should provide adequate space for all of the products necessary to give a manicure.

Each table should have a place for products such as, lotions, polishes, nail files, tweezers, cuticle pushers etc. There should also be storage space for tools necessary for doing acrylic tips, such as gels. Each station should also have adequate lighting. It can be hard to see tiny cuticles without enough light. Some salons can be very elaborate, while others remain fairly basic.

At a fancy upscale salon, the client can usually expect to be offered something to drink upon arrival. Then they will be taken to a station that is usually elegantly decorated. These types of places usually use either antique furniture or expensive manicure tables as their manicure station. The tables usually have leather hand rests for the clients to rest their wrists on during the manicure. Sometimes, they will also provide jewelry cleaner for the clients to have their rings cleaned during the manicure.

At a more basic nail salon. The price usually reflects the absence of these frills. There are usually several stations, and the tables are usually pretty basic.

Surprisingly, however, while the prices of these two different salons may vary greatly, the products usually do not. Any time you get a manicure, they will need to use the same basic supplies and tools, a basic soaking solution, a nail file, or emery board, a cuticle pusher, a cuticle clipper, nail scissors, tweezers and an assortment of polishes. Some salons will use a base coat polish followed by a coat of color and a top coat for shine protection and drying. Other salons will just do a layer of color and let your nails dry under a dryer.

If a salon is also going to give pedicures, which is basically essential these days, there are a few more supplies that will be needed. Most salons have a massage chair for the client to sit in while receiving a pedicure. Pedicure stations also require a miniature tub for soaking. Some of the fancier salons mentioned above, provide cute separators for your toes. Other salons use cotton, and some salons use nothing at all.

All About Manicure Tables

Shilah — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 09:12:42 +0000

There are many different types of manicure tables. Some tables are fairly basic. These tables usually have a metal frame with a laminate top. They sometimes have wheels on the bottom to make room redecorating a little easier. There are also plastic manicure tables, complete with attached chairs. I’ve even seen some plastic manicure tables made to look antiqued like faux stone. These types of tables are similar to those huge faux concrete flower pots. You’ve seen the ones that look really heavy, but then you go to pick them up and they are plastic and very lightweight.

In some fancier nail salons, I have seen the use of antique furniture as manicure tables. The furniture could have been a desk, or perhaps a dresser of some sort. Sometimes the top has been refinished with a stain. I have also seen these types of manicure tables with stone on the top, such as marble or granite.

Another type of manicure table is similar to a desk in that it has drawers for storage. These types of tables are usually made of wood or some combination of wood and laminate. I have also seen some manicure tables with a glass top. The tables with glass tops would probably be the most difficult to keep clean. Glass tables show every speck of dirt and every finger print smudge there is.

Whichever type of table you choose; you should have some sort of space for storage. While a manicure table should be visually attractive if at all possible, it’s more important that it is functional.

Prices vary greatly for manicure tables. These types of tables can be purchased locally at beauty supply shops, through catalogs, and of course through the internet. It is also a good idea to check your local paper for used manicure tables. You could save a great deal of money by purchasing a used table. Sometimes, they are so gently used that you would never know that it wasn’t brand new. The internet is also another good source for purchasing used beauty supply equipment. There are many different online suppliers. EBay could also be a good source for finding used manicure tables.

Try to buy all of your manicure tables at one time in order to save on shipping. With the rising price of gas these days, it’s possible that the shipping charges could actually be more than the price of the actual supplies. This is especially true if you are only purchasing a few tables and they happen to be located on the other side of the country.

Whatever you decide, I suggest that you do some serious shopping around before you purchase. The manicure table is the most important part of the nail salon. The manicure table will dictate the entire theme of the salon. Do you want something basic, or perhaps a little more upscale? Do you want something lightweight and easy to move or something more stationary? Whatever the answer, I wish you good luck and happy shopping.

Manicure Sets Why They Are Handy

Shilah — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:13:42 +0000

Manicure Sets can be as simple or as complicated as you want them to be. You can purchase a basic manicure set at the drug store or your local discount store. A basic manicure set will probably consist of a nail file, tweezers, nail clippers, fingernail scissors and a cuticle pusher. I remember the kind that my grandmother used to have. It was a leather case and each item had its own little elastic compartment that held it in place. The case could be closed with a zipper. She always had it handy in case of an emergency hang nail or broken fingernail. It was basic, and absent of any frills, but in a pinch it did the trick.

Well, nowadays the manicure kits can be a lot more complicated than that. Mine for example is probably the most elaborate of its types. I use a small silver train case as my manicure kit. I have all of the basics mentioned above, except a cuticle pusher. I never much enjoyed that part of an at home manicure anyway. I did replace the cuticle pusher with an orange stick which accomplishes the same basic thing. I also have some cotton, fingernail polish remover (I have both the bottle and the jar that you stick your fingers into), sticky tapes for fool proof at home French manicures, tons of different polishes, and of course one of those cute little toe separator thingies. Mine is hot pink and has palm trees on the end. This is a manicure kit that would make my Grandma proud.

In addition to the old fashioned manicure sets you can purchase all kinds of kits at all different kinds of stores. Some kits will have cute little carrying cases like mine (well not as cute as mine, but cute nonetheless). There are kits aimed at the target market of teenagers and small children. You can even purchase a manicure kit with Dora the Explorer on it. There are also more sophisticated kits that cater to an older more sophisticated target market. These can be compact for the frequent traveler or huge and strictly home bound like mine.

If in doubt, you can purchase one of these preassembled kits and then gradually add to it. You can get all of the basics in the beginning, and add new pieces as you need them. After all, who doesn’t need one of those cute little toe separator thingies.

It is a good idea to go through your manicure set periodically and purge any old and outdated manicure supplies. You should replace the orange sticks and emery boards pretty regularly in order to avoid spreading fungus and bacteria that live under our nails. In addition, you should throw out polishes after about a year. I am guilty of adding fingernail polish remover to that last favorite bottle of discontinued perfect red. You know this particular beauty sin; the polish is real thick so you thin it out using remover. Well stop doing it, its ridiculous. Buy a new color already!

Mens Manicures In Phoenix

Shilah — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:23:42 +0000

The process of getting a manicure is something that is frequently done by women. Women of all different types get manicures. Whether they are professional women who get regular manicures, or perhaps teenage girls who get manicures for special occasions, it is not uncommon for you to hear about a woman getting a manicure.

Surprisingly, the same is becoming true of men. What was once considered to only be for women is now becoming a little more gender neutral. I am not trying to say that you will walk into a nail salon in Phoenix and see more men than women in there receiving a manicure, but I am saying that it would not be uncommon to see one man in the nail salon.

More and more men are receiving manicures. I wouldn’t argue that is becoming mainstream, by any means. However, men in professional positions like management for example have been known to get a manicure on occasion. I think it is a sign of strength to seen a man with nicely groomed hands. I am not arguing that it would be nice for men to have pretty pink polish like we women, but it wouldn’t be so bad to have those jagged edges smoothed out once in a while. It would also be nice to have those dry hands be a little smoother and less cracked. It could only add to the value of a good strong hand shake, if that hand shake was given by a smooth hand.

I think that men in Phoenix are more likely to give themselves an at home manicure than they would be to go to an actual salon and receive a professional manicure. It’s sometimes easier for a man to pamper himself in the privacy of his own home than in a public salon, especially one that is filled with a bunch of women. Some men probably even solicit the help of their wives or girlfriends in getting an at home manicure. I think that could make for a nice romantic date night. You could have dinner, a bottle of wine and an at home manicure for two. It’s probably a good idea to skip the candlelight; however, you wouldn’t want to risk cutting your partner’s finger in the dark.

That being said, I don’t actually think that men in Phoenix are really more likely to get manicures than men in any other city. Perhaps if some of the stigma were removed from this traditionally female ritual, more men would be likely to receive manicures. Maybe someone should open a nail salon that would cater specifically to men. Instead of serving wine and water to its clientele, they could serve beer and pretzels. Instead of playing soothing spa music, they could have multiple televisions showing a variety of different sporting events. Perhaps another good idea would be to have a salon service, where the manicurist would come to the men. They could have a professional manicure in the privacy of their own home.

Manicure Implements

Shilah — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 10:56:42 +0000

There are many tools needed to give a manicure. Whether doing an at home manicure or actually being a manicurist, the supplies can be as endless as you want them to be. If you are to be an actual manicurist, the first thing you need is some training and a license. Thankfully, this type of skill does require licensing. It is a huge relief to know that the girl scraping that razor blade over my foot is actually certified and licensed for doing so.

I am amazed at how many people actually get regular manicures and pedicures. It can be a treat, I must admit. However, unfortunately it is one of those things that rarely make it onto my calendar.

When going to the nail salon, I noticed, how many supplies were actually necessary. They had several pedicure stations. These were nice leather massage chairs. They had tiny little Jacuzzi tubs in the bottom of each chair. These were for feet soaking, and felt great. The manicurist had a little stool at the end of the pedicure station. In between each of the pedicure chairs was a little storage bin. These bins held everything from polish to razor blades. The manicurist needed cotton and some sort of acetone to take off my old polish. She needed scissors and clippers for trimming my fingernails and toenails. She also had a huge variety of buffers and shapers, scrubbers and boards. All of these tools seemed confusing to me, but I think that she used every tool in that bin on my feet. After a thorough cleaning and shaping, she applied lotion to my legs and massaged my feet. It felt great and was much needed.

Now it was time for the polish. The salon had those little foam things that they stick in between your toes to keep them separated while painting. They also had these cute little disposable flip flops for me to wear home. This way my toes could dry and I wouldn’t have to worry about smudging the polish when I put my shoes on. After my toes were polished, I was taken to another station entirely for the manicure.

At this station there was this funny little dryer thing for me to rest my feet on. This was also supposed to help in the drying process and prevent smudging. At the nail station there were even more tools than at the pedicures station. The process was basically the same. First I had to soak my hands. The purpose of this is to soften the cuticles to make it easier to trim them. If was kind of awkward though. Every time I put one hand in, she would take the other hand and either trim or shape my nail. Then she would put that hand back in the water and take my other hand. Half the time, I had no idea what to do with what hand and my arms were overlapping each other all over the place. Anyway, I was surprised at just exactly how many supplies and tools were used during the manicure process.

Manicure Warmers Why They Are Handy

Shilah — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:46:42 +0000

Why would you need a warmer in order to give a manicure? Well, that’s a very good question. The warmer isn’t really for the manicure, and it’s not really used in an everyday basic manicure. A manicure warmer is saved for the purpose of giving a very special type of manicure. This special type of manicure is a spa manicure. A spa manicure, is a little pricier than its basic counterpart, but it is worth the splurge every once in a while.

The manicure warmer is actually used to warm wax used to give a spa manicure. The warmer will heat and melt a paraffin wax. The wax is then smothered onto the hands of the lucky recipient. The wax acts as a moisturizer. It replaces essential oils and moisture that we loose through every day life, especially through hand washing. The wax will help to smooth rough hands and temporarily reduce fine lines leaving hands looking younger and softer. With regular spa manicures hands will continue to look younger, due to the softening of the skin.

Once the wax has been applied the client is left to relax and wait for the wax to harden. The wax doesn’t actually harden into a complete solid form. It’s not like the wax will be as hard as a crayon or a candle. It’s also a very thin layer of wax, so it will come off with a gentle rubbing motion. Once the wax has been heated and applied the manicure warmer is no longer needed. There are many different types of manicure warmers. Some warmers come with disposable cups that allow for ease of clean up, while others have to be emptied and cleaned daily. For anyone who has ever had to clean up dried candle wax, you know that this can be an unpleasant task to say the least.

Some manicure warmers also can be used for other beauty shop purposes. For example, some salons may use their manicure warmer to warm the wax used for waxing procedures, like leg and eyebrow waxing. These waxes are usually stickier and heated to a higher temperature than the wax used for a spa manicure or pedicure.

These manicure warmers can be used to give spa pedicures as well as manicures. Why should hands have all of the fun? A spa pedicure can be a great treat for dry and rough or cracked feet. I know that I treated myself to a spa pedicure after I ran the marathon, and it was just what the doctor should have ordered. My feet felt rested, refreshed and most importantly moisturized. It is important for distance runners to take good care of their feet. I have seen some pretty ugly toes after marathon training. I wouldn’t say that I get regular pedicures, but the few that I have gotten have helped to keep my toes looking good.

So that being said, I am thankful for the invention of manicure warmers. Without them, we wouldn’t have the greatest hand pampering known as the spa manicure.