Going down my list of questions from our December survey “again”, the questions of knowing what products to use in our Foot Care room came up more then once, in many different faces;
- Getting the right products
- Effective products
- Removing rough, extensive dry skin build up
- How to make feet soft again
- Getting dry heels to look great
- Easiest way to manage dry peeling skin
- What are the best products to use
- What is the best product to reduce calluses
- How to get super smooth feet
- Etc. etc.
What connected with me about these questions is the obvious need for us as Technicians to first realize this is not something you and only you can fix. This is a team effort between you as the Professional and your client. In addition, these concerns are not able to be completely fixed in just one Foot Care service. There is a process.
Last week I went to the Salon to get my nails done. I do this religiously every two weeks.
My Technician, whom I trust explicitly kindly said to me…..”I need you to
make a conscious effort to apply cuticle oil daily, “please”
I was first embarrassed. I knew how badly my cuticles have gotten. It’s winter time. They always get dry in the Winter. Why? Because I do nothing all year long to take care of them, during the cold Winter months they tend to look a whole lot worse.
But then, I thought how brilliant of her. Just the way she made the comment was so real, so genuine with a hint of “do this for me”. The one thing she didn’t do though, is follow through with making a sale. And, BTW……I have no cuticle oil at my house.
I opened with this story because we have to realize, we are not magicians. The simple answer to all the above questions certainly does have to do with products we use in our Foot Care room. But, it also has to do with the follow up of home care.
I personally would love to know the products behind these questions. Our industry is so fixated with scents and oils and all that glitters and gold. We honestly don’t think much about what the products we are using are doing for “us”. If they smell good, if they “look” like they are providing a pretty Foot Care service and in many cases if it’s a well known brand…..it will be used. Well, i’m here to tell you…….if that’s what you are using, you will never be able to resolve the problems associated with the above questions. Why??????????
The majority of these products which we all know i’m talking about, sit on top of our skin. When applied, they smell good, they look pretty and they feel pretty. That’s all they do. They make us all smell, look and feel pretty. But, they don’t take care of the dry skin on our feet, they may make our feet feel soft but for a very short period of time, they can not reduce callouses “naturally” and they certainly can not aid in the care of rough, calloused skin build up.
The products used mostly in our Foot Care arena will wipe off on a towel, in the shower, on the floor, in your shoes….the very first thing your feet touch.
So….what do we do?
- First, we need to understand that healing comes from the inside out.
- Second, we need to understand we need to be using products which have hygroscopic properties. Meaning, products which will process into the layers of the epidermis to allow the skin to heal “from the inside out”.
- Third, we need to understand this healing process does not happen over night, nor can it happen just once every 4 weeks and be expected to be “repaired”.
Healing is a process. Consider this; You have an infection in your eye. The Dr. tells you take take a Tylenol. The Tylenol will help you feel better, but it won’t rid the infection.
The same is true for products used in our Salons. They make us feel better, make your client feel better, but they aren’t really solving a problem.
Think about that! Reach out to me if you want information on product recommendations!
In closing, not all products are created equal AND we don’t make money by being a “me too” Salon using “me too” brands. Our feet have changed over the past 50 years, our industry has changed drastically over the past 15 years and our responsibilities as “first responders” are greater.
CJ Murray, CMP, CPod, LNT
Centre for Beauty