Beyond Beautiful Nails with a Regular Manicure and Pedicure

We know how easy it is to get caught up in the daily grind, neglecting a little TLC for ourselves. But taking some time for a regular manicure and pedicure is more than just fabulous-looking nails - although, that's a great perk! Manicures and pedicures are an investment in your overall health and wellbeing. Here's why.

Stronger, healthier nails and soft skin

Our hands and feet take a beating every day. Chores around the house, running errands, whatever it is, they’re working hard. One of the best benefits of a regular manicure and pedicure is healthy, strong nails and soft skin. During your appointment, we'll gently shape your nails, remove dead skin around the cuticles (bye-bye hangnails!), and encourage new skin cell growth. These new cells act as a guard against nails splitting and becoming brittle, while also preventing dry, cracked skin on your feet. The result? Beautiful, strong nails and soft, smooth skin that feel amazing.

Understanding your nails and promoting growth

Our nails are fascinating. Did you know that they grow at a steady pace of about 3-4 millimetres per month, or roughly 0.1 millimetres a day? Your nails consist of several parts:

• Matrix: This hidden "factory" beneath the skin produces 196 layers of cells that combine to make each of your fingernails and toenails. It's located at the nail root, the deepest part of the nail unit.

• Nail Plate: The hard, visible part you paint and shape.

• Nail Bed: The skin beneath the nail plate that nourishes and supports it.

• Cuticle: The thin layer of skin protecting the base of the nail plate. 

• Nail Lunula: The visible crescent-shaped, lighter area near the base of the nail and it reflects the underlying matrix.

Regular manicures help keep these structures healthy, promoting optimal nail growth. 

Did you know that stress can actually affect the growth of your nails? When we're stressed, our bodies prioritise essential functions, and nail growth can slow down or even stop temporarily. This is because your hair and nails are both made from the same protein, keratin. However, nails have a tighter arrangement of keratin molecules, making them stronger than hair.

Boosts circulation, reduces stress, and improves wellbeing

Part of a manicure or pedicure includes a soothing hand or foot massage. This is your chance to hit pause, relax, and enjoy some dedicated "me-time". This regular self-care ritual is ideal for a quick recharge of your batteries and helps to combat stress so your nails continue to grow.

Relaxing isn’t the only benefit here, the massage is also an effective way to boost circulation – something we all need, especially during winter. Better circulation promotes nail growth and can even improve mobility and reduce aches and pains.

Taking care of your nails, both in terms of health and appearance, can make you feel great long after you leave the salon. Imagine compliments on your beautiful, healthy nails and stunning new colour! Choosing a fun nail design lets you express yourself, and can boost your confidence, too.

Identify common nail concerns

Trained nail technicians are like detectives for your nails. During your appointment, we can identify potential problems early on, like fungus or ingrown nails. Catching these issues early means getting the right treatment to prevent them from becoming bigger problems.

The power of a listening ear

Here at the salon, we love a good chat. We believe in the power of conversation and how it can benefit your mental health and wellbeing. Sharing your day, your worries, or even just catching up on life's little moments, can be a great stress reliever. Sometimes, talking things out can help you gain a new perspective or simply feel heard and understood.

Of course, we completely understand that sometimes you might just want to relax and unwind in peace. If you prefer a quiet appointment with minimal or no talking, that's perfectly okay. Just let us know your preference when you book, or feel free to mention it at the beginning of your appointment. We're here to create a comfortable and relaxing experience for you, exactly how you like it.

How often should you book a manicure or pedicure?

As a general rule, we recommend getting a manicure every 3-4 weeks and a pedicure every 6 weeks, depending on how fast your nails grow and how long you want your polish to last. Of course, your activity level and the type of polish you choose can also affect how often you might need a touch-up. We can chat about what works best for you.

Beyond beautiful nails

Regular manicures and pedicures are more than just beauty treats – they're investments in your overall wellbeing. From stronger nails to smoother skin, improved circulation, stress reduction, and a confidence boost, the benefits are plentiful.

Do contact us if you would like to chat about booking a regular manicure or pedicure.

Take care of your feet during National Feet Week

National Feet Week takes place each year and is the perfect opportunity to take extra care of your feet.

Did you know that our feet are one of the most complex and important parts of our bodies? There are 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 ligaments, muscles, and tendons in one adult foot!

Our feet go through a lot on a daily basis. If you think about how long you stand up each day or how many steps you take, it soon adds up and takes its toll. So taking some time to care for your feet on a regular basis makes a lot of sense.

And who doesn’t love a foot rub every once in a while?

So why is it important to take care of your feet?

As we get older, the daily wear and tear on our feet become more noticeable. Skin starts to become thinner, and it can become dry and cracked more easily. Toenails become harder and more brittle, and you may start to notice more regular aches and pains.

Some of these aches and pains may start to develop into other problems if you don’t take good care of your feet.

For instance, if you have a problem, you may start to avoid putting pressure on particular areas of your foot or feet. Whether consciously or subconsciously, you will naturally compensate, which can have knock-on effects on your posture, lead to back pain, put stress on joints, or cause muscular problems.

How can you look after your feet?

But there are lots of everyday things you can do to promote good foot health. After all, healthy feet are the foundation of a healthy body.

Check your feet

Keeping an eye on your feet and regularly checking them is one of the best ways to spot problems. Giving them a once over when you’re getting dressed in the morning or as you’re drying them after getting out of the shower will help you spot anything that’s not quite right. Ensuring you dry your feet properly will help prevent fungal infections like athletes' feet. 

Moisturise

Applying moisturiser (but not between the toes) and making this part of your daily routine can help keep your feet supple as they begin to dry out and lose their natural oils as you age. We recommend using The Body Shop Peppermint Intensive cooling foot rescue.

Keep your feet warm

Keeping your feet warm is good for your feet and the rest of your body. Warm feet help keep blood flowing freely around the body during the day, and come night time can help you drop off and enjoy a good night’s sleep.

Trim your nails

Toenails grow 2-3 times slower than fingernails, so their maintenance is a little less taxing, but keeping them trimmed and cut to a good length can prevent them from pressing against your shoes which can cause soreness and possible infection. Toenails that are poorly cut could also become ingrown, causing soreness and discomfort.

Wear comfortable shoes 

It is really important to wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes that provide adequate support. This is particularly important if you work in a job that requires you to stand and move around a lot during the day.

Exercise regularly

Keeping active and exercising can help keep your body fit and healthy while toning muscles and strengthening the arches in your feet.

...Or you can let us take care of your feet!

Pedicures

Our pedicures will leave your feet looking great and feeling completely rejuvenated. We trim and file the toenails, tidy the cuticles, remove hard and dry skin, exfoliate, and relieve tension with a soothing leg and foot massage. And during our Butterfly Deluxe Pedicure, we dip your feet into a warm, essential oil-infused paraffin wax to create a foot mask. Once the wax has set, we place your feet into heated boots so the foot mask can work into your skin, helping to ease tension, arthritis, and aching joints and muscles and leave your feet feeling nourished, relaxed and hydrated.

Reflexology

Reflexology, also known as zone therapy, has been practised for centuries. It involves massage techniques where pressure is applied to certain zone points on the feet that correspond to different organs and systems in the body. 

Like traditional massage, reflexology can be extremely relaxing and works to remove toxins from the body. This promotes self-healing, aids digestion, and relieves symptoms of stress and illness.

So if you’d like to treat your feet this national feet week, give us a call to book one of our fabulous pedicures. 

And remember, if you do have any concerns about your feet, then you can call your GP or book an appointment with a podiatrist.