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Pedicure, anyone? Pedicure 101

Pedicure 101- Why you should get one.

"A person either loves Pedicures or they've never had one."

Those aren't just words those are facts!  If you've had one, you know.  If you haven't had a pedicure, you need to ask someone!  Even those with the ticklish of feet love them. Ladies, kids, and men all love a pedicure.  It's good for you and it feels amazing.

There are a lot of reason people have for not trying a pedicure or having them regularly.  I want to clear up some concerns about getting one and talk a bit about why to do it regularly.  I also want to give you some heads up on what to expect.

First and Foremost- Your feet aren't nearly as bad as you think they are! 90%  of the Clients who come in, even regulars, think they have the worst feet and are always embarrassed.  Are your toe nails yellowing, barely have a pinkie nail, thick, ridgy, cracked or feet have callus that are thick enough to stand off you foot?  Ya, so does everyone else we see.  Feet are functional and they all have plenty of wear and tear. Please don't fret about the appearance of yours when you come in.  Your feet needing help is the reason you come in a get a pedicure with a professional.  We got you.  That's what we do.

Besides just embarrassment or you may not feel like you'll be uncomfortable with a stranger messing with your feet.  That is a hard hurdle to talk someone over because it's one of those things that are all in your head and we can't show you different until you get over it.  I will say though, that just like manicures, when someone is touching and holding your feet and hands, your not going to be strangers for long.  It's human nature at it's best. Even when it tickles it is soothing and comforting for another person to to hold your feet in the firm secure way a Nail Tech does when they work on your piggies.  It's not stressful and after a few minutes it is extremely relaxing and comforting.

Once we get you in the pedicure throne, your going to love it, no doubt.  Your going to walk out of that salon or spa skipping on a cloud!

Why don't you all come back regularly?  Time, it's time, and we get that.  We just want you to remember to take that time for yourself.   Pedicures feel so good and make you feel better about yourself so you feel selfish taking the time too regularly.  I get that.  It's like that with so many things we should be doing to take care of ourselves.  That's about it! Seriously, there isn't any other reason people give for not getting them more ofter.....because pedicures.....are.....awesome!

Remember taking care of your feet helps with your overall health. You depend on your feet more then anything take care of them, they take care of you.

Here's a couple things you should know or be ready for when you are ready to come in for your first pedicure.

• DON'T SHAVE!  It's the first thing you want to do to prepare, but the last thing you should even think about doing before a pedicure.  Shaving makes your skin more sensitive.  We use a lot of products that open up your pores and such so you shouldn't take any chances of razor burn or the such.  Shave in early morning if you need to but we would rather you get the best experience from our service and the day before is best.
• Don't make plans you need to wear your heals to, for a while after your appointment.  We give you thin disposable ones to wear so you don't have to dent your new polish, but they aren't for formal wear. :))
• Let us know your ticklish.  1/2 our clients are.  If you let us know we can hold foot more firmly which easy enough really does make a world of difference.
• Don't let anyone use a razor on your feet.  It's not necessary and can hurt you even if there is no pain.  Callus and thickening can be taken care of better over time.  They are self protection, so if you take it all off it will grow back worse. Scrub, exfoliate, and pumus.  Those are the way to go.

Pedicures relieve stress, remove foot odor, better your feets appearence and relaxes the muscles and tendons you use the most. One last time: Take care of your feet, and they will take care of you.

12/28

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In Love and Lacquers Own, Milestone Giveaway- CLOSED

I am so excited to have passed my first few blog goal Milestones I set for myself with In Love and Lacquers blog and Facebook Page. This week passing 100 followers/fans both on my blog and Facebook. Yay, Me!

I decided to celebrate by giving away some of my favorite professional brand nail products.  2 Prizes, one Winner for each.

Prize #1

 Fit to be TIED duo by OPI with Russian Navy and Polka.com and 3 hair tie bracelets.

Wear each shade on its own (2looks). Fot another look, apply Russian Navy to entire nail; once dry apply Polka.com over entire nail. Or, design your own look.

 

You can't beat OPI coverage and color depth. These are really gorgeous polishes, I hope you love

 

Prize #2

 A Juicy Bunch  AvoJuice Skin Flavor Pack by OPI with 6 different scents of AvoJuice Skin Quenchers hand and body lotions.

Peony & Poppy Juicie, Jasmine Juicie, Violet Orchid Juicie, Cran & Berry Juicie, Ginger Lily Juicie, and Holly Berry Juicie, all in easy to carry around 1 fl oz. bottles.

 

 

Click here for Rafflecopter Entry Form

 

Gel polish and Acrylics care tips and a mini OPI Avojuice Skin Quenchers Review

Do you wear gel polish like Shellac, OPI Gel Polish, Gelish? Acrylic or gel nails?  Do you ever have problems with your gel polish peeling off early, or the acrylic or gel lifting (when your extension product starts to separate from your nail be)?

The problem might be how your caring for your hands and prepping for your services, not with the product or your nail tech.

The first culprit to look at is your hand & body lotions.  Products that contain mineral oil, lanolin and petroleum-based ingredients can cause lifting.  It's a fact, that has been know by the industry for years and why companies like OPI, CND and Tammy Taylor all developed and manufacture their own hand and body lotions that don't contain those ingredients.  It's such an old discovery it isn't talked about much anymore because it's a given.  Mineral oil, lanolin and petroleum-based ingredients soak into your skin and then can work back out threw your nail and skin, since they are not permanently absorbed by our body.  They are used just to seal in the moisture so it can soak in.  That stuff gets between the product and your nail and separate the two.

 

Your nail tech may never have told you because they may assume if you've worn overlays then you have been told by your old nail techs. As a practice I tell all my first time overlay clients and they can tell me they already know. I don't want to take any chances and want my clients to love their nails from the moment I am finished until they walk back in for a fill or reapplication in two weeks.

 

You can still use you normal body lotions, just be sure wash your hands well immediately afterward so it doesn't soak in and use a nail service safe product like OPI's Avojuice, or CND's Scentations on your hands. They a quick to absorb and contain mostly moisture and don't leave a slick or greasy feeling from the mineral oil, lanolin and petroleum-based ingredients. I know they don't feel as covered or rich.....but that isn't moisture like other brands want you to believe , it's a coating.  Even Lubriderm and Eucerin have those, but that is really what they are for. They are more to protect and seal then moisturize.

The other big factor can be what you do in the hour before your nail service appointment.  For acrylic, gel polish, and any overlay service besides standard polish you shouldn't be getting your nails soaked.  That should only be done for non gel manicures and pedicures.  You should come to your appointment having washed hands and scrubbed nails in creases and under nail with a nail brush and giving them ample time to thoroughly dry out your nail.  Do not put on lotion or oils after washing.  Your nail tech should sell brushes for less then $2 or if not you can by buy at any beauty store or even target and Walmart have so sort of nail brush in their health and beauty sections.

You just want your nails as clean and oil free as they can be before we apply your gel polish or acrylic.

Hopefully, you can use these tips and your acrylic and gel applications will be more beautiful longer and your nail tech will be that mush happier to see you when you come back in.  Well maintained services are easier and quicker to fill or maintain by her.

If your going to go find a nail safe lotion, I highly recommend OPI Avojuice Skin Quenchers.  They come in a huge variety of scents, so good, I often call them flavors.  They have a few scents they keep year round but always have new ones to try.  Avojuice is a great fresh feeling moisture that doesn't have a lot of fillers and mineral oil, lanolin and petroleum-based products that can wreak havoc on a beautiful nail job.

OPI Avojuice Skin Quenchers are pretty reasonable for a professional product you can buy for home. It can be found at all quality beauty supplies stores like Beauty Brands and should be available from your local Nail Tech.

If you need more protection on your cuticles and fingertips, don't go for that thick greasy lotion. Apply a light application of OPI Avoplex or CND Solar Oil.Both amazingly protective and softening but also a natural protectant.

12 Manis of Christmas: Day 4 My Holly and me

Day 4: 12 Manicures of Christmas

 

 

My Holly and Me

Today's 12 Manicures of Christmas manicure is a really simple clean single finger nail art design. I wanted to use some more traditional colors in some of these manicure so I went with a OPI Classic Color.

I don't wear a lot of reds because of my pasty coloring but for you.....drum roll, please......is the gorgeous deep OPI Chick Flick Cherry!

 

 

For My Holly and Me I did all but my ring finger in very winter/ Christmasy Chick Flick Cherry Red from OPI.  I used the bright white OPI Alpine Snow for my ring finger. I added 3 tiny holly berries in Chick Flick Cherry in the left corner of the tip of my nail and added the 2 holly leaves with a green glitter nail art pen. I used Seche Top Coat to seal and show it off in high gloss finish.

 

 

 

I would like to do this on a client with all white nails, or red with white holly berries and a holly bunch on the corner of all ten nail tips.

 

If you are doing some cute holiday nail art post it on the In Love and Lacquer Facebook Page and I'll add it to our Album.

Day 3 : 12 manicures of Christmas Oh Christmas Tree

3rd Manicure of Christmas.

 

 

Oh Christmas Tree

 

This, Oh Christmas Tree, Mani was done with full color on all 5 nails of OPI Funny Bunny. It's a nice opaque soft whit I really like for full set of solid white.

 I actually used a dotting pen and 3 different greens  Jade is the new Black from OPI, This is Tree-mendous from China Glaze, and Jaded Jack from Butter London for the tree I added a gold glitter start with a nail art pen.

I didn't want to do just the ring finger and felt like it was too much for all five. This was my practice hand.  Can't wait to do it again and on a client, now that I know what to fix.

 

I really love this design even though the execution isn't quite what I had hoped.

Is one tree design enough or should I come up with another?

Win A $150 Nike Gift Card

Stay in Shape for the New Year

 

 

I have been giving the opportunity to join an amazing giveaway and share it with my blog readers. Sheila from The Frugal Exerciser. She is giving away a $150 Nike gift card. To enter the giveaway click the link below and follow her entry requirements. You already get 3 for following my blog, 1 for following In Love and Lacquers Pinterest boards and 1 for 'Liking' my page on Facebook Page.

 

 

Enter Here

What would you get with a $150 Nike gift Card??

 

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for the publication of this post. All views are 100% my own and may differ to those of your own. The participating blogs are not responsible for the shipment of the prize. The host of the giveaway The Frugal Exerciser will choose a winner randomly at the end of the winner and the winner be notified via email. For questions, email The Frugal Exerciser

12 Manis of Christmas: Days 1 and 2

12 Manicures of Christmas, days 1 and 2

 

I have been looking forward to this little project for a while and when I finally got to sit down and play around I ended up having a block.  I couldn't believe it.  I ended up using the Christmas carols playing in the salon as my inspiration and was able to edit the photos and post tonight.  These 2 are pretty simple, but I plan to do some more detailed manicure for the next 2 Manis of Christmas.  I hope you think #1 is as cute as I do.

 

Jolly Ol'St. Nick

1st Manicure of Christmas, Jolly ol'St. Nick, is a red and black french with Butter London Nail lacquer with a Santa belly ring finger.  I just added a little white fluff with OPI Alpine Snow and a nail art pen to add a gold buckle.  The French was done with Butter London Nail Lacquer Come to Bed Red, and Union Jack Black.

I really love the Butter London polish.  It goes on really smoothly. I do wish it had a better and flatter brush.

 

 Starry Night

My 2nd Manicures of Christmas,  Starry Night, is a blue Butter London Inky Six, with OPI Alpine White just on the very tip.  I added a little rhinestone to my pinkie when my North Star got out of control.  It makes me think of the back drop for a 2 wise men scene.

  

 

 

What do you think? Comment here or on Facebook and let me know if you have any ideas or inspirations you'd like me to use for the next 10.

 

RCM Gel Polish Giveaway from Chickettes and Red Carpet Manicures

 RCM Gel Polish Pro and RCM Removal Kit Giveaway

 Are your wearing Gel polish yet?
If your going to do it at home check out RCM. Tell me what you think and go enter Chickettes Giveaway. ONLY 2 Days Left to enter!!

Red Carpet Manicure offers everything you need to do your own gel polish manicures right from the convenience of your home, without the salon prices! If you read my blog, you know that I’m a gel polish fanatic. Gel polish is the way to go for a long lasting, high shine manicures. You can get 14-21 days of wear with no chipping or peeling when applied properly. And what I love most about gel polish is that it’s completely dry to the touch after curing in an LED light for just seconds, so you can go about your business without having to worry about whether you’re going to mess up your nails.
Red Carpet Manicure offers over 100 colors to choose from, and they have affordable starter kits to get you going. They sent me two of these kits to share with one of you!
The Gel Polish Pro Kit has everything you need for at home gel manicures. The kit includes:

• A Professional LED Light that cures in just 45 seconds
• Prep Max Adhesion Sanitizer
• Structure Base Coat Gel
• Brilliance Seal & Shine Top Coat Gel
• Revitalize Nourishing Cuticle Oil
• Erase Gel Nail Polish Remover
• Purify Pre & Post Application Cleanser
• and one LED gel polish color: Red Carpet Reddy

The Gel Polish Removal Kit, includes:

• 20 Foil Wraps
• Erase Gel Nail Polish Remover
• Buffing Block
• 2 Orange Wood Sticks

The Giveaway Prize:
ONE lucky winner will receive BOTH of the kits listed above.
The Rules:

• The giveaway will run through December 13th, 2013.
• Entries will be collected via Rafflecopter only.
• The winner will be selected randomly via Rafflecopter and announced on December 14th.
• The winner will be notified via email, and will have 48 hours to claim the prize or a new winner will be selected.
• This giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY!
• Entries will be verified.

    Enter Here

                                                                   GOOD LUCK!

Sharing this Giveaway from Chickettes.com!

I found a swatcher and a mini review of two OPI holiday colors!!

I am so excited to say that I found a beautiful swatcher this weekend.  I sort of lucked into her too. She has gorgeous nails.  She is a young, college student and is really open to try whatever I have.  Now, I can start doing swatches and taking pictures for reviews that can really showcase the lacquers and polish.  So there won't be as many of these bad cuticles and stubby things!

This by the way, is OPI's Teal me how chic I am, with one light coat of Glitterchic over it and Seche topcoat.  The Teal me how chic I am is really a pretty color that looks good with any skin tone.  It just wasn't as shiny as I liked even with the glitter polish over.  It has sort of a brushed chrome finish even after the second coat.  The Glitterchic is the most covering glitter polish I have ever seen with one coat.
I really liked this combination when I tried it on one nail.  After I did the full mani with it, I have been having second thoughts.  It really reminds me of a Christmas tree, and it's a bit much for me.  My pictures do not do the Glitterchic justice.
Both Teal me how chic I am and Glitterchic are OPI Holiday Polish sold exclusively at Beauty Brands.

Have you been wearing anyone holiday polish? What brand and color? I'd love to see some pictures on the Facebook page.

Polish other then CND, China Glaze or OPI?

Did you know there was Indie nail polish?  Yep, and we are going to file this under, things I am highly intrigued by.  And, not just because I'm thinking of the fumes in their homes, basements, and garages that I assume could get us high when they were starting out.

Indie nail polish isn't from India!  Well, maybe some are. Indie nail polish is generally a name for handmade, or craft, small batch nail polish and lacquer, or more literally independently own nail polish brands.  When someone is looking for an Indie brand they are usually expecting a unique handmade product, not from a manufacturer.

Indie polish caters to all sort of niche markets, but what seems to be the big draw are unique glitters, holo or multichrome polishes.  Although I am finding beautiful lacquer colors of all types, even my beloved cremes.

I plan to start doing a weekly post on Indie nail polish that will consist of either reviews and swatches of different brands or discussions on market itself.   I asked several makers if I can include there pictures in my initial post about this and I picked 4 very different makers.  In no particular order, they are Alter Ego Nail Enamel, Glitzy Glazes, Lacquer Lust (swatched here by Mucker Fusser), and Shirley Ann Nail Enamel.

 

Which of these amazing polish makers should I try first?

 I am going with what you pick so please leave a comment here or on my Facebook page.

Blogger Opportunity (Nike), Let them know In Love and Lacquer sent you;)

Prize: $150 Nike Gift Card or e-card

Hosted by:The Frugal Exerciser & Femme Fitale Fit Club

Tentative Dates: December 14 – December 31
Open World-wide

Deadline of Sign-ups: December 11

Requirements to Participate:

Get 1 Free link (Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest) with announcement post.
($5 fee without announcement post)
Additional links are $3 a piece.

Co-host fee is $20 and you get 4 free links and a daily comment
 on a non-giveaway post on your blog.

The blog who refers the most bloggers will get free co-host spot. (If you paid for co-host and win the referral prize, your payment will be refunded)

Announcement Post HTML: Here
Bloggers sign up: Here

Any questions contact: Sheila/The Frugal Exerciser at sheilafit10@gmail.com

Puh, Push it real good!

No???
I can't help it.  Every time I say, think, or hear the word push(er), those lyrics bust into my thoughts.  Can you imagine what it's like as a nail tech, using a cuticle pusher everyday.  The fact that I don't break out into my middle school dance routine to it 3 times a day is a miracle!  I only do it every now and then!

Today I want to talk about my favorite natural nail manicuring tool.  Can you guess what it is?

Not just any cuticle pusher, the OPI Pusher plus*.  I mean, I'm not breaking out in song and dance over an orange wood stick, folks!

Isn't it beautiful?  Seriously though, it's a nice looking tool, but that's not why I think it's beautiful. It has may qualities that place it ahead of other tools for me, and pushers especially.  I love this implement more then any another for the most important of reasons.

SANITATION!!!!!!!!!!

OPI's Pusher Plus is Made of high-quality, disinfectable, corrosion-resistant 420 stainless steel. Coated in Titanium that won't corrode with repeated disinfection. The ultra-hard titanium
gives unsurpassed precision and corrosion-resistance! Everything I've ever wanted in a cuticle pusher!

Most people worry about sanitation with acrylic, but it can be an issue with natural nails in manicures and pedicures too.  The implements your nail tech uses need to be more then clean. They need to be disinfected or sanitized. If it touches your natural nail, cuticle, finger or nail quick it needs to be able to be completely sanitary. The design of the tool has more to do with that then almost anything your nail tech can do. If the surface isn't completely smooth germ can hide from a disinfect. If it's absorbent, well, I'll just say, "gross", and leave it at that. I know they seem harmless but think about how many client we do. Have you ever been nicked or seen how the cuticle hoovers over nail creating a little germ hiding crevice? If the cuticle pusher presses germs against or under there you could be at risk for an infection. It won't always happen. Hopefully, never will, but it could. I don't want to be the reason it happens to anyone. 

The run of the mill metal pusher can corrode after repeated use of disinfectant solution baths. This orange wood stick can't even come sanitized because it's a natural product.  The plastic gets nicks and scratches on it just from being in a clean draw with other tools, that can hide germs safely away from even liquid disinfectant.  Think cutting boards....

This pusher has a wonderful shape that makes pushing back the healthy cuticle and removing the nonliving material from the nail quick and easy. It doesn't have sharp corners that can poke or cut into healthy cuticle or finger. I love the balance of it in my hand and it make me a lot more comfortable know while I do this I am using as safe an implement as I can on my clients.

This bad boy isn't that expensive, considering it last forever compared to others. So, if your nail tech isn't using the OPI Push Plus or another high-quality coated metal cuticle pusher, look around at her other tools and sanitation procedures. If they look questionable, find another salon! If she is using a sanitizitable pusher and you see she puts them in disinfectant solutions between clients or breaks and tosses orange wood sticks after each client, ask her if she's seen OPI's titanium tooling collection and what your learned about them. She may have a great tool she loves, but she may not know their are better options her customers may prefer.


*This post is not meant to be a review of the product mentioned. It is meant to be an informative piece on my choice of implements and client safety. OPI doesn't endorse my blog and has no knowledge of my post as of publish date.

To each their own

Do you like clean classic lines, and simple accented frenchies?  Or do you love funky bright patterns and hand painted scenes of a unique one of a kind mani?

I admit, I am easy to please.  I love simple color blocking or designs of all 10 or with a single variation on one nail on myself.  Honestly, I will lean this way with most consultations too.

I don't get paid to do my nails though and I kept that mind when I did a set of nails the other night and was allowed to experiment a little with the art. I asked if I could do a little something bright and pretty but clean and and not to crazy for work.

 

She's 20, attached and on a job hunt.  I thought this was just funky enough with the purple tips and gold lining. It wasn't distracting and the colors looked beautiful together.  I loved it, and I thought she would too. 

 

She hated it! Like seriously hated it. I was thing it looked a bit Pleasant Hill Rooster (close high school), but she saw Blue Springs Wildcats. Her high schools rivals and she wasn't about to wear those colors. She wanted something brighter and more out there, and she had a design and colors in

mind.

 

Here is her own creative idea.

A diagonal manicure in alternation bright pink and blue with black lining.

 

She loved them. I said, "They look a kind of late 80's early 90's.".  She said, "Exactly!". She knew exactly what she wanted. They weren't anything I would sport but they weren't my nails and this girl rocked them. She got what she wanted and I was more thrilled she was happy then I cared if I loved the work. They made her feel good, and I was did them. That's what mattered to me. To each their own, especially if they are going to own it like her. And she did, 'keep it clean', even her language.

What are your favorite nail designs? And does your nail tech do a good job of listening to what you want?

Hello and Welcome to my World!

Welcome to my blog, In Love and Lacquer!

This is my first official post on this blog, that I have created to share my love of all things nails, polish and art with the rest of the world as I rediscover the craft, career and art of manicuring.

I thought I'd start off with a bit about myself.  My name is Jennifer Love K. and I got my manicuring license in 1995.  I started cosmetology school, but realized I was a 'natural' at nails, and they became my obsession.  I loved doing sculptured names, nail art, and finding ways to beautify and correct problems with natural nails.  I've done competitions at shows, and peer pressured almost all of my clients into art of some type.

My husband and I have 5 children in our blended family and 2 boys at home.  I am pretty spoiled by them and you'll see some little and big boy hands every now and again, as these guys will do anything for me!

My hands and nails won't always be in awesome shape and never hand model shape, but I'll try to hide the cuts and bruises!  I do other peoples nails, throw pottery, and clean a house full guys, dogs, and other pets and do a lot of volunteer work.   Most pictures will be of either my nails, clients, or friends.

                                       The normal me, not poking fun at swatches, just myself!

I am in love with color and sculpture and indulge in both though my work and play with natural and sculptured nails.
I will be indulging myself in the artist aspect of nail design, with posts on polish color, nail art styles and tutorials, sculptured nail design, but also in the professional aspects of my career and technical subjects like sanitation safety and product review.  I will also be posting color swatches weekly as I buy and try new lacquers obsessively.  And believe me, this is all coming off a lot fancier the it will be!

　
Hopefully you will find my blog entertaining and informative.  I'm new to this so bare with my pictures, grammer, and rambling.  I would love feedback of all sorts, comments, suggestions, and sharing! I am also setting up a Facebook page so you can follow me there and here on blogspot and not miss a thing.