[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In an effort to provide you with different content, I began to think about the many questions I receive regarding why? “Why should I purchase and use the products you recommend for my pedicure arena?”[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_column_text]It’s a legitimate question, I think. After all, how many products are available to you, and how the heck do you choose the best one for you and your clients?[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_column_text]In 2008 when I first realized my passion for feet, was when I was first introduced to the reasons why products work. I learned that not all products are created equal, and I learned there is a definite difference between offering a Pedicure and offering a Foot Care service.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_column_text]In the years that followed, until now, I have also learned the many various reasons why being a Nail Technician becomes someones choice. It saddens me to say this however, there are many Technicians in our Industry who get into this Industry because “they like playing with nails and the bling and the blang”.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_column_text]It may be sad, but I’m not saying it’s wrong. It’s just a different avenue. This is the first thing to decide….which avenue do you want to pursue?
Choosing which avenue you wish to take, will help you decide which products you could be using. If you choose the fluff and buff avenue, you can use a variety of different products.
However, if you choose a more serious avenue, choosing the right products to perform the proper service should be your #1 priority.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_column_text]To understand a bit more of what I am attempting to explain….let’s learn a little about ingredients.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1534802218178{margin-top: 50px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”7639″ img_size=”500×500″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” css_animation=”none”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]
There are two(2) basic kinds of ingredients;
- Those that work to repair the skin
- Those that don’t repair the skin
It really is that simple.
When we talk about products which work to repair the skin, we are needing products which offer ingredients which will penetrate into the layers of the epidermis. Why? Because we heal from the inside out. Otherwise…..
When we talk about products we love because of their fragrance, their color or any other fluff-n-buff reason you can think of, these products stay on the top of the skin. They feel good, they smell good, they “appear” to give you instant results. However, they are wiped off immediately when socks are put on, shoes are slipped on, feet are washed in the shower, walked on the floor etc. etc.
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These fluff-n-buff products are nice. Please don’t get me wrong. I am not here to criticize any brand, any product. I just want to educate you on what it is you should be looking for based on which avenue you wish to take.
- If you wish to go fluff-n-buff your good old standby’s are just fine. OPI, Creative, Cuccio just to name some familiar ones.
- If you wish to go more repair oriented. LCN, PodoSafe, Footlogix are all great brands. Yes…I do represent them all because I “chose” that direction.
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The reason I choose to represent these brands boil down to one(1) basic thing. They are all Urea based. THEY WORK. Let’s talk about Urea.
It actually took me a while to understand what this ingredient is. When I was first introduced to the ingredient, it was introduced to me from more of a medical standpoint than a Beauty Industry standpoint. I had no clue.
It took my own research to understand the ingredient in such a way that I could help YOU understand it.
Urea is a natural end product, made up of protein metabolism. It is lab based.
- Protein metabolism: Protein metabolism denotes the various biochemical processes responsible for the synthesis of proteins and amino acids (anabolism), and the breakdown of proteins by catabolism. (wikipedia)
- Lab based: labs are a service business that thrives on the need to perform quality testing services. Researched, tested and made in a lab.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][vc_images_carousel images=”1505,766,765,257″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Urea is also a hygroscopic.
- Hygroscopy is the phenomenon of attracting and holding water molecules via either absorption or adsorption from the surrounding environment.
What lab based and hygroscopic simply means. There are not urine farms all over the country which protein metabolism is derived from AND because it is a hygroscopic, when the product is applied to the skin it absorbs into the layers of the skin and forms a natural moisture barrier.
This information is still a bit more then what I normally share, so let me put it to you simply.
- If you want to offer Foot Care then offer products which actually care for the feet.
- If you want to offer Pedicures, then do just that. Manicure the feet which means you concentrate more of what happens at “that” moment without the follow through education.
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_column_text]Here’s a question for you….can you do both at the same time? ABSOLUTELY!
This question is exactly why I’ve introduced this year, our class “3 Mythologies in Pedicuring”.
- Urea does not have to be medical related…although it can be
- Urea can be combined with luxury
- Urea comes in different grades….how do you know what to recommend?
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_column_text]As I begin to embark on a year long journey of introducing Oncology care into the pedicure room, I am dwelling more and more into ingredients. What are the benefits, are they safe, do they work.
I’ve realized through my most recent educational experiences we can’t solve every problem when It comes to foot care. However, we can be the adviser and the educator and we can share our knowledge with anyone who wants to listen.
In addition, if we learn these basics about ingredients and we advise properly, we constantly educate and we continue to share….we WILL change the image of our Industry. We WILL be more respected. We WILL rise to that high ground on the totem pole….where we should be and goes what? We WILL change lives.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_single_image image=”2087″ title=”CJ Murray, President”][logos][logo image_u=”100″ image_u_hover=”100″]https://www.facebook.com/centreforbeauty2013[/logo][/logos][/vc_column][/vc_row]