Top Tips For Keeping Your Feet Looking Great In Between Pedicures

Exfoliation is key to keeping feet looking good at all times. The best time to remove dead skin from feet is during a shower or bath. The warm water will soften the skin enough for it to be removed easily using a foot buffer or pumice stone.If you have deep cracks on the skin of your feet, it is a good idea to see a podiatrist. They are trained to use tools to remove the bulk of the deep cracks. Using a scrub such as the Pure Fiji Sugar Rub in the shower is also a great way to exfoliate the skin, not only on feet but as an all-over body scrub.

Once you have exfoliated and removed as much of the dead skin as possible, the next step is to moisturize. Choosing a thick,luxurious body butter such as the Pure Fiji Body Butter and lathering it all over the feet is a great way of hydrating feet and locking in moisture. Once you have coated the body butter on your feet, put some spa socks or regular socks on your feet and leave everything to soak in. This will allow your feet to feel the maximum benefits of the cream and will leave your feet smooth and silky. 

Keep your toenails trim and keep the shape straight and not too short to prevent in-grown toenails. Use a fail to keep the shape tidy and to take off any sharp edges. Pushing back the cuticles with a cuticle stick will keep the cuticle area and nail clean and looking good. Lastly, apply some cuticle oil to the nail to keep it hydrated and healthy. 

Summer Nail Trends 2015/2016

With Autumn on the way and the last of Summer about to end, now is a good time to take a look back on the nail trends we have seen in the salon in the past six months.

The polish trends for Summer 2015/16 include every shade of pink ranging from neon pink to a pale blush pink. Bright colors such as coral and orange have also been really popular and brighter red shades have also been on trend. We have also seen a multitude of nude colors ranging from pale grey to soft beige being chosen.

Classic Reds like Wildfire  by CND are always going to be a staple nail color, no matter what season we are in and it looks great on all nail lengths and shapes. 

Neon pinks such as Beach cruiser by Orly looks great in summer as it is a fun and bright color and it also looks great on toes for those long days on the beach.

Nudes such as Satin Pyjamas and Bare Chemise were also popular this past Spring/Summer season. There is a nude color that will suit every skin tone and will leave your nails look on trend and perfectly manicured. We also saw a lot of sparkle in the more neutral golds and rose golds. 

Things To Look For When Choosing A Nail Salon

1. Communication with a Nail Technician: There is more to a great service than choosing a pretty nail colour. Good communication with the person doing your manicure is very important. If you can't communicate and let them know exactly what you want and what you expect from the service, it is likely that you may not be entirely happy with the overall service. Miscommunication is also one of the many causes that may lead to nail infections.
2. Do some research online: Look up the salon you are planning on going to for your manicure or pedicure online. Reading reviews will give a good indication of the quality of their work and reputation of the salon. If they have a good online presence and update their social media regularly, then chances are they are a reputable salon.
3. Ask about how they clean and disinfect their tools: When visiting a salon, learn more about how the salon disinfects their tools. Do not be afraid to ask them questions like "do you disinfect and sterilize your tools?, do you cut cuticles?, do you use single-use files?" etc.
4. Does the salon appear to be clean? : Check the floors and see if there are any nail clippings etc. and check the desks that the technicians are working at. If they do not appear to be in a reasonably clean state, then you may want to consider another salon for your services.
5. Check the products and chemicals used by the salon: Every product that is used should be clearly labelled and should be genuine product. Any product or chemical that is not as it was labelled may be damaging to the nails.
6. Did the nail technician explain the service to you, ask questions about your needs and inform you of proper home care?There have been so many advancements in artificial nail products that nail technicians can make the most natural looking nails in the world, but artificial nails aren’t for everyone. Your nail technician should ask you about your needs and explain the at-home maintenance you should perform to care for your nails between salon visits. You should also share pertinent medical information with her/him (certain medications, for example, can hinder the application of certain nail products).
7. Does the Technician use a drill or electric file? :Drills (or electric files) are commonly used in the industry and, when used properly, are perfectly safe. You should not feel any pain or burning when the drill is being used; if you experience any discomfort, tell your technician immediately. The only time a drill should be used on the natural nail is with a buffer (no grit).

Hopefully this helps you choose a decent nail salon.  We at Verdo Parnell pride ourselves in taking hygiene and your safety first.

We are based at 245 Parnell Road.  

Tips For Keeping Your Feet In Tip Top Condition In between Your Pedicures

Summer is here, and that means, Jandals, beach time, running around in bare feet and dry feet with potentially some horrible cracks in your souls.

So here are a couple of my favorite things to do, to keep my feet in good condition in between the best pedicures.

1. Have a piece of pumice or a foot buffer in the shower, use this once or twice a week towards the end of your shower.  This will help keep the dry skin off your heals and those pressure points.
2. Get a really good gritty scrub, like Pure Fiji Sugar Scrub.  You can use this after you buff your feet, or twice a week in between your buffing.  Give your feet a really good scrub, focusing on heals and those areas where dry skin accumulates.
3. If you like to sit and relax, fill a bucket with warm water and epsom salts.  This helps keep your feet clean and kills any bugs, but as epsom salts are high in magnesium, this gets absorbed in through your skin and makes you relax and feel amazing.
4. Find yourself a thick, delicious body butter, like Pure Fiji Body Butter.  Lather this on your feet, and put socks on.  Leave it for about an hour, and relax.  You will find the body butter will absorb into your feet and hydrate them.
5. Keep your toenails tidy.  Summer means your hair and nails can grow super quick.  So keeping your toe nails short and tidy, will save them from breaking or from hurting your other toes. 

We have been providing Auckland's best pedicures since 2010.  We believe that our pedicures should be a real treat, as well as providing you with an amazing pedicure.

Amber xx