You’re Doing It Wrong: Mani/Pedi Edition

Even though our weather forecast is still looking at little blah, sandals and spring soirees will be here before you know it, which means we will all be flocking to our favorite nail salons to get our fingers and toes splashed with warm weather hues. But before you make your pilgrimage to the salon, make sure you ask yourself these questions to make the most of your mani and pedi. 

Is it clean?

I am sure I am not the only one who has found myself dipping my tootsies into a warm sudsy spa chair foot bath only to notice that things don’t seem as sanitary as they should be. Make sure you choose your salon wisely. All salons should be using an approved disinfectant for their pedicure bowls. This will ensure there are no infection-causing bacteria bubbling around in the water. Also, make sure your salon sterilizes all of their instruments before each use. Nasty bugs like MRSA like to hang around in warm, wet environments. Couple that with an accidental snip into your skin and you could find yourself with a nasty infection.This is also the reason I recommend that you opt-out of cuticle trimming with nail scissors. Instead just ask for the cuticles to be pushed back. Same goes for the infamous “razor” to shave off thick dead skin – don’t do it. As an alternative, ask for a gentle exfoliation with a pumice stone. 

Do you want gel?

That’s the first pressing question usually posed in a salon. The gel manicure has transformed the traditional manicure, but it has its pros and cons. Gel manicures last twice as long as the traditional manicure – as long as three weeks – thanks to a four-step process and specially formulated polish which is “cured” when placed under light. If you do go for gel, it’s advisable to look for a salon that uses LED lights to cure the polish, rather than the old school purplish UV light. If your salon doesn’t use LED, use sunscreen on your hands before you place them under the light. Those UV lights are like mini-tanning beds for your hands, and we all know what damage that does to our skin. The con of the gel manicure is the removal. To be honest, it’s a pain. It’s best to have the gel polish professionally removed in a salon. The alternative being the cringe-inducing peeling off of the gel, which is not only unladylike, but it also strips your nails of the top layer of protective keratin. If you’ve been there, you know it takes months for your nails to recover. 

Have you taken a dip?

The newest craze in nail care is the dip. Remember acrylics? Well this is a hybrid of acrylic and gel and involves painting nails with a special primer coat, then a base coat.  After that the top of your finger is dipped in a jar of colored powder. Each finger goes through the process twice after which the nails are painted with a top coat that transforms the powdered nails into glossy beautiful polished nails. Because there is no UV light needed and the dip doesn’t peel off like gel, it is supposed to be better for your nails. 

Do your nails need a break?

Our nails are made up of a hardened protein called keratin, but they are actually more permeable than your skin. This allows the nail to soak up some of the nail polish that is applied to the surface. By giving your nails a polish sabbatical every two to three months, for 5-7 days, you can let your nails breathe, get rid of stains caused by colored nail polish, and also ensure your nails are looking healthy in their natural state. Butter London has a to-die-for line of nail treatment products which can help strengthen, condition, and moisturize. 

No time to spend at the salon?

At-home nail products have come a long way. If you don’t have time, or prefer to DIY, put together a nail kit for yourself. All you need is an emery board – my favorite is the Tweezerman brand because they last a long time and are gentle on the nails -- and, the base coat is your friend. It will help the polish go on smoothly, and prevent peeling. I like Smith & Cult’s the Basis of Everything; you may like it so much you become your own manicurist!For polish, my current obsession is the Smith & Cult line. The colors are divine, and like nothing you will find in a salon. Nothing says spring like Smith &  Cult’s Short Reprise polish. And don’t forget a nail polish remover. Deborah Lippmann’s Stripper remover is available in a bottle or the convenient Stripper Remover Wipes. They are individually packaged and not only remove polish but also are good for prepping the nails before your base coat. While we are waiting for the sun to shine and flowers to bloom, it’s a great time to get in the spring spirit by spiffing up your nails. Keep these tips in mind to look and feel polished from head to toe.