Nails Magazine

MAR 2013

Magazine for the professional nail industry.

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Feet Stand Alone? Foot massage can make a great addition to spa pedicures, but how does it fare as a stand-alone service? Should salons ofer foot massage a la carte, or can a little reflexology sweeten the deal? BY TIM CROWLEY A quick stroll through most big cities will show there's a new businesses model — foot massage parlors. At these locations foot massage is modestly advertised on signs with varying prices and durations for the service. In nail salons, most techs already incorporate foot and lower leg massage into the pedicure. It's an easy way to delineate between services on their menu. A salon might offer a basic pedicure, with just a soak, nail trim, and color. But add in a massage with a sugar scrub or massage lotion, and the service gets bumped up to a spa pedicure package that can be priced higher. Foot massage as a stand-alone service can be a useful item on your menu. For clients who are just looking to relax, a foot massage may appeal to them, as you can offer the service at a reasonable rate, and then entice them to a full spa package where more products are used and the nails are tended to. Clients who frequent foot massage parlors are often looking for a more holistic and medicinal experience than an indulgent, pampering one. Reflexology is the service these patrons seek, and it can be used to help alleviate everything from stress headaches, organ problems, nerve pain, and a number of other maladies. Many nail techs incorporate some aspects of reflexology into their massage, while others attend reflexology training and become certified reflexologists. 128 | NAILS MAGAZINE | MARCH 2013 Reflexology Reflexology is the practice of applying pressure to specific parts of the feet to help alleviate a malady occurring somewhere in the body. The practice of rubbing feet to help improve health and wellness dates back to ancient times, with the earliest examples found in China and Egypt. Today the practice is widespread, with clients who swear by the results. The theory is that the feet mirror the entire body, so the tips of the toes relate to the brain, the pad just beneath the toes aligns with the neck and shoulders. Then moving toward the middle of the foot is the internal organs and spine, and descending down to the bottom of the foot are the pelvic areas. The job of the reflexologist then, is to carefully feel for variances in these areas and then slowly knead them out through pressure. Certified reflexologist and massage therapist Raven Webb of Westmond, Idaho, says she can even feel out some diseases before the client knows. "When I'm doing a reflexology massage," she says, "because I know what I'm feeling, a lot of times I can tell a client might have a kidney infection, and they go and get checked out, and it's true." Webb works in conjunction with a spa, where nail techs incorporate her services into their own pedicures. Carrie Turner Bomar, a nail tech who works with Webb, says she is able to get about half of her pedicure clients to opt for the extra reflexology service. Once the pedicure is done, Webb steps in to complete the service.

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