Blog — Verdo Parnell

Benefits of Using Cuticle Oil

Cuticle oil is a product that helps to hydrate and strengthen your nails and cuticles. Cuticle oils are oil based formulations which is used at the end of a manicure in a salon. We often find that our nails become brittle, weak and unmanageable, particularly coming into the harsh winter weather. The main task of cuticle oil is to soften up cuticles and keep them moisturized and hydrated. 

Cuticle oil protects your skin, helps your nails to grow longer and stronger and will help to keep your manicures and pedicures looking better for a longer period of time. It is just as important to look after the cuticles on your toes, as well as the cuticles on your fingernails. 

Here at Verdo, Parnell, we stock and highly recommend CND Solar oil. It is an amazing cuticle oil that is infused with Vitamin E and Jojoba oil and should be used after both manicures and pedicures. 

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

Our Absolute Favourite Pure Fiji Products

It took me a good 2 years to find the most perfect product for my salon in salon in Parnell.  I tested a lot of products designed to be used in Manicures and Pedicures, however, I felt that they never really did the job they said they would do.

Then on a trip to Fiji one year, I stumbled across Pure Fiji, and instantly fell in love with the product, and the philosophy of the business.  They use natural ingredients, and they use the local villages to help source the products and employe over 700 Fijians to help create the product.  With the way my skin felt, I knew I was instantly hooked and needed this product in my salon, NOW.

So one of my favorite products in the Pure Fiji Range, has to be their coconut sugar scrub.  This is the main reason our Manicures and Pedicures in salon are the best in Auckland.  They are gritty, but just enough to allow for the removal of even the stubborn dry skin.  What I love even more, is that the Sugar Scrub starts to dissolve with the addition of water, this allows the enzymes in the sugar cane to help take the exfoliation to the next level. 

Little tip for those who are using it at home, to get the full benefit of using the sugar scrub, add water slowly to the scrub and let the sugar cane dissolve, this will leave an oily type substance on your skin.  If you can leave this on your skin, the longer the better, then you will see that your skin is even more soft and moisturized.

As the scrub is made out of sugar cane rather than salt, this means your skin is left hydrated, as you will find salt scrubs will leave your skin dehydrated and tight.  Once you have scrubbed, you will be left with an amazing oil on your skin.  This means you don't need to moisturize or anything after you have exfoliated.  Pat yourself dry, and you going to feel amazing and your skin will glow.

We proudly stock and use Pure Fiji products in our Manicure and Pedicure Treatments in our Salon at 245 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland.

Come and experience Auckland's best Manicures and Pedicures.

How To Get Ready For Auckland's Best Spray Tans

In summer, we can do any where from 15-40 spray tans per week.  Thats alot of bronzed bodies running around Auckland. 

Some of the feedback we get from our clients are things like:

  • "it looked so natural"
  • "it lasted so well"
  • "It faded really well and I didn't end up patchy"
  • "I was brown and not orange"
  • "It made me feel slimmer and more toned"

We love hearing comments like this, it means we are doing the best spray tans.  

So I thought, to give you some tricks and tips to making your spray tan last the distance and look its best, here are my top tips for prepping for that perfect spray tan:

Exfoliate the day before.  Make sure you focus on areas such as ankles, feet, knees, back of legs, elbows and backs of hands.  We find that if you remove the dry, dead skin from these areas, it stops the tan from sticking to these ares.

Make sure you aren't wearing deodorant or perfume, this works as a repellant for the spray tan solution.  Also make sure you aren't wearing any moisturizer on your body.

Make sure your waxing/shaving is all up to date, as you don't want to be doing this after your spray tan.

  • To make sure your tan lasts longer here are some tips:
  • Limit shaving and waxing
  • Pat dry after showering
  • Don't exfoliate or use loofa's etc, you can start this when you notice the tan starting to fade.
  • Moisturize once or twice a day to keep skin soft and hydrated.

We pride ourselves in doing Auckland's best spray tans out of our salon based in Parnell Auckland.  You can book your spray tan online at www.verdonails.co.nz

Amber xx

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All You Need to Know About Shellac Manicures

 

Shellac Manicures are one of the fastest growing nail trends, however, if you have never had a Shellac Manicure before, you may have some questions about what Shellac is and what are the benefits of having a manicure with Shellac.

What Is Shellac? Shellac is a fully-patented brand owned by Creative Nail Design and is a hybrid of normal nail polish and a gel. Shellac is owned specifically by CND and gel polish refers to all other similar products available with other brands.

Shellac is applied like a normal polish but the Shellac product is cured using UV light that gives it great flexibility, durability and leaves an incredible shine on the nails. Shellac manicures are typically more expensive than traditional manicures but it will last you for up to two weeks, unlike regular manicures which may chip much sooner.

What Is the Main Difference Between A Normal Manicure and a Shellac Manicure?Regular nail polish has a much longer drying time than shellac because it dries by evaporation which means it can take up to 3 hours for it to fully dry. Shellac is cured using a UV light which completely dries your nails and leaves it strong enough to withstand any knocks and bumps to your nails after your manicure.

How Does Shellac Differ From Other Nail Enhancements Such As Acrylic Extensions?Shellac is more gentle on the natural nail when applied correctly in comparison to the techniques used to apply extensions or overlays. It doesn't require a drill, and removal doesn't leave nails weak, dry or torn.

Can Shellac Be Removed At Home? Yes, Shellac can be removed at home, however, it does require you to have 100% Acetone and takes about 15 minutes to remove.  Do not pick at or peel off your Shellac manicure. It can be very damaging to your nails, and peeling off Shellac often takes layers of your real nail with it.You can also have the Shellac removed at the salon, which very minimally increases the time and is less of an inconvenience.

Overall, Shellac manicures are very safe and long lasting but a lot of the success of your Shellac manicure will come down to which salon you go to, the nail stylist and also how well you look after and maintain them at home. Little things such as wearing gloves while doing housework and/or gardening, using cuticle oil regularly and removing them correctly all factor into how long your manicure will last and also how well your natural nails will hold up throughout the process.

We take pride in that our Shellac Manicures last the distance. 

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The Benefits of Pure Fiji Dilo

The Dilo tree also known as the "Tree of a thousand virtues" is a native of the Fiji Islands located in the pristine waters of the Pacific Ocean.

The opulent, nutrient-filled and warm waters of the Pacific give life to the amazing Dilo tree. Dilo is known for its rare ability to soothe pain and irritation on the skin and to promote the skins repair mechanism and the growth of healthy skin.

Dilo oil is traditionally used as a healing aid in the islands and is highly respected for its healing qualities. The oil is cold pressed and is a pure oil that is easily absorbed through the skins layers. The essential fatty-acids found in the oil help to ease many skin ailments and  soothes irritation and inflammation whilst super-charging the healing and repair process.

The Dilo oil instantly calms, nourishes and repairs skin affected by: Sunburn, Windburn, Dermatitis, Dehydration Rashes, Insect bites, Acne, Eczema, Shaving irritation, Post microdermabrasion, Post Radiation and Chemotherapy.

Dilo is your SOS of skin care, for all those little emergencies over summer (and even winter). They have a range of gels, sprays, lotions, bath soaks and they even have a Pure Dilo Face oil, which is 100% dilo oil.

We stock the range of Pure Fiji Dilo (and their normal range) in our salon at 245 Parnell Road, Parnell.

We LOVE the Pure Fiji range and use their products through our Manicures and Pedicures, and we believe this is what makes our Manicures and Pedicures the Best in Auckland.

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Benefits of Regular Pedicures

Having regular pedicures isn't as vain as it sounds, apart from having beautifully pedicured toes, there are some great health benefits for regular pedicures, even in the cooler months.  They hold the same benefits for guys as well.

Think about how much you walk over a year, on average we take between 8000-10000 steps per day, that adds up to around 3 million steps over a year!.  That's a lot of time on your feet, so its important to make sure you look after them.

Decreases your chances of infections.

Tending to your feet, in the way of shortening toe nails (which can stop ingrown toenails), also, the elimination of dirt and bacteria, will keep your feet in tip top condition.

Exfoliates the feet.

Apart from your feet feeling amazing, regular exfoliation of your feet helps removes dead skin cells, and prevents them from accumulating on the feet and causing things like bunions and corns.  Also, removal of dry, dead skin (especially around the heals) helps with encourage new cell growth and in turn make your feet smoother and look more hydrated.

Promotes circulation.

When you are having a pedicure and there is usually a scrub and massage component to your pedicure.  This helps move blood around your legs and distribute is through your body.  This helps reduce swelling and painful feet.

Relaxation.

Taking some much needed "me" time is always good for you, but adding in a massage and some relax time, helps recharge your batteries and you always walk away feeling a million dollars.

Over the years we have carefully crafted our pedicures to help, not only maintain the health of your feet, but to help give you some time out from your busy life.  We pride ourselves in providing the best pedicures in Auckland.  We use Pure Fiji products through our salon, and I can promise, this will leave your skin feeling amazing.