Magazine for the professional nail industry.
Issue link: http://nailsmag.epubxp.com/i/688035
136 | NAILS MAGAZINE | JULY 2016 one It starts on the phone. Start your pedicure service with a phone consultation if the client books in advance. Ask her questions such as does she have diabetes or any other health issues you should know about. Encourage her to describe her skin condition and if she is looking for a pedicure that's relaxing, cosmetic, or both. If the client is a walk-in proceed to step 2. two Guest consultation — learn to ask the right questions and use an intake form. First, remove the nail polish so you get a visual on the client's nails. Here is what to assess: a. Health conditions b. Skin condition c. Sensitivity to massage and pressure (To see Neal's intake form, go to www.nailsmag.com/intakeform.) three Towel wrap. Keep the feet cozy at all times by having a soft towel wrapped around each foot whenever you aren't working on the skin. It's a simple gesture that feels really good and spa-like. four Toe fossing! Use soft towels (such as Soft Landings) to gently weave in and out of the area between your client's toes. Although it sounds odd, toe fossing provides efective and gentle cleansing that will keep your pedicure sanitary and also help maintain your client's personal hygiene. Use this time to educate your client about the importance of cleaning and drying between the toes. fve Make product choices a serious matter. You want to fnd a product line that works for your clients, and stand behind it. "You can get results and pampering with the right products," Neal says. He likes LCN's Urea Pedicure line for its "results-oriented ingredients." Take advantage of industry tradeshows like Premiere Orlando, IBS, and ABS to discover products and techniques that are efective for the foot care issues that matter most to your specifc clientele. six Whatever fling method you choose, balance efectiveness with ease of sanitation. Neal uses an e-fle for callus reduction and for dead skin cleanup. He also uses it to smooth the nail. E-fle bits are easy to clean and disinfect — Neal uses a hospital-grade auto- clave for thorough sterilization. If you choose to hand fle, use a fle made specifcally for the feet that is completely sanitizable and uses disposable abrasive pads. Also check out many of the callus softeners available to professional nail techs. seven Sanitary procedures are the most important steps. Make sure you understand and follow a consistent protocol that meets (or exceeds) your state's requirements. Using an autoclave for imple- ments or using single-use implements are two good ways to ensure the highest level of sanitation. For best practices in pedi- cure bowl sanitation refer to the International Nail Technicians Association/Nail Manufacturers Council's Guide to Pedicure Equipment Cleaning and Disinfecting; fnd it at www.nailsmag. com/pedicleaning. If you want a little of that Nellie magic, read on for some ideas you can adopt in your own service menu.