Sandal Season is finally here....yeaaaa! Summer time is when you get the chance to put away those uncomfortable winter shoes and boots in exchange for our beloved flip flops and sandals. This is also the time of year where everyone is looking to get their feet in shape and this usually means a much anticipated trip to the local nail salon. People love...love....love pedicures and rightfully so! To be honest there is not to much in this world that can match a really Goooood Pedicure :) Let's be clear, not all pedicure services are created equal and this often applies to the type of service and the skill set of the servicing professional providing the pedicure service. Most consumers don't really ask the right questions when looking for a reputable and qualified salon for their grooming and salon services. Since the topic is pedicures, this is what we will discuss. Given the title of this blog post, our focus in particular, is all about polish being applied to fungal nails. From a professional stand point, any Nail Tech or Pedicurist should always practice and provide service following proper sanitation protocols as provided by each individual state, but aside from that, a true professional service provider should also have a sense of integrity when servicing their customers and interacting with consumers. Fungus can spread from person to person and can also be spread if a Nail Tech or Pedicurist does not properly sanitize or sterilize their implements and equipment. Pedicures in particular, should be given much attention. The nail care industry is growing and with that said, Pedicures are big business and knowing how to safeguard your clients from potential infection should be a top priority. As Pedicurist and Nail Techs, we often service and care for individuals who already have health compromising situations, which makes it even more important, as professionals, to use our skill sets, awareness and proper protocol for each client on an individual basis. Back to the question on whether or not polish can be applied to fungal toenails. There are polishes on the market that tout having anti-fungal ingredients like garlic extract and tea tree oil to help manage fungus, but typically, it is not suggested that a person with toenail fungus wear toenail polish. Toenail polish can harbor moisture and further advance the growth and spread of the infected toenail. It's also not a good idea to try and "cover" up dark toenails or diagnosed fungal toenails out of embarrassment of what your feet look like. The best way to deal with toenail fungus is to accept it and put in place good practices to help get rid of the toenail fungus. Covering it up will only cause more issues. As a consumer another tid bit of advice would be to consider the quality of service versus cost. The cheapest pedicure in town may be saving you a few pennies, but, what should be the most concerning to you as a consumer is the skill set and sanitation practices of your Nail Tech or Pedicurist. Even though Nail Techs and Pedicurist can not diagnose any condition, A practicing professional should be able to recognize advanced stages of fungal toenails and from that point on refer the client to their Physician or Podiatrist. At the end of the day, it is totally at the discretion of the servicing Pedicurist to ensure that they are making the right decisions for their customers and for their business. The client’s best interest and health should always be the primary factor Have questions for The Traveling Pedicurst? Send them to: thetravelingpedicurist@gmail.com OR call: (919) 621-7027
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 Cotton Socks You've been dealing with stinky and itchy feet for a long time and you just can't seem to figure out what you can do to tame the smell and discomfort and now you're just frustrated... Does this sound familiar to those with stinky feet problems? We always recommend that anyone experiencing ongoing foot issues consult with a board certified physician or Podiatrist to get to the root cause of what is causing itchy and smelly feet. As a licensed Pedicurist we speak with client's who express these concerns regularly. Home remedies can be used to help manage characteristics related to flaky peeling skin, burning, and smelly feet. Holistic remedies should not take the place of suggested medical advice given by your Physician or Podiatrist, but there are some things that you can do immediately to hopefully help ease some of the problems mentioned. For starters, Vinegar Foot Baths feel good and is a well known holistic remedy for those seeking some comfort with peeling and itchiness on the feet. Fill up a foot basin with just enough water to touch the base of the top of your feet and then pour 2-cups of Vinegar into the water and soak your feet for up to 20-minutes. After you have soaked your feet, thoroughly dry the feet and pay close attention to drying in between the toes. Watch this 10-second YouTube video we created on how to dry in between your toes: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrwYYisaJrw If you you have been properly diagnosed with having foot fungus and wonder why you can't get rid of it after using topicals and orals; the culprit could be your shoes. Purchasing new shoes or thoroughly laundering the shoes you wear is crucial. Once you have worn a pair of shoes with active foot fungus your shoes are infected as well. In order to truly get rid of foot fungus, you must use your topicals or orals on a consistent basis and make sure your shoes are clean. You can use a Foot Powder or Anti-Fungal Spray to spray or powder the inside of your shoes as an added preventative measure. Wearing clean cotton socks each day of the week is also something that you need to do to ensure that your feet stay dry and clean. OTC (over-the-counter) topicals purchased at your local pharmacy or online is also another option that can be considered. Essential oils have been known to help fight fungal and bacteria infections and may help alleviate some of the characteristics of itchy, smelly and flaky skin on the feet. Tea Tree oil, Clove oil and Lavender oil are just a few essential oils that could greatly improve the condition of your feet with repeated and consistent use. Our Anti-Fungal Oil is a wonderful holistic option. To purchase this product visit our natural product website: www.frommetouessentials.com/product-page/anti-fungal-oil-w-dropper-top If you have questions about our products or services, please feel free to call or connect with The Traveling Pedicurist via email: thetravelingpedicurist@gmail.com OR via phone: (919) 621-7027.  Anti-Fungal Topical Oil  Foot Pain is a serious issue for many people. Most would agree that if the feet hurt the whole body hurts. Let's take it a step further and speak not only about the physical ailments of foot pain, but the manifestation of how it affects individuals mentally as well. When your feet hurt, it's difficult to truly think of anything else aside from how to alleiviate the pain in your feet!
Foot pain in particular, is something that affects the total well-being of a person, simply because our feet are the only vehicle that carries our bodies from place to place. Foot discomfort can lead to achy legs, walking imbalances, swollen legs and feet and the list could go on. Some foot conditions are chronic and require continuous ongoing treatments or therapeutic foot ware to help alleviate the chronic symptoms. There is not one particular method that works for everyone to help remedy foot pain, each individual is unique and have to find out what method of relief works best for them. Consulting with your Podiatrist or Physician is often the best way to help treat foot ailments and to discuss pain relief methods. Generally speaking, there are some holistic methods that a person can incorporate into their daily foot care routines along with any prescribed treatments suggested by a treating Physician or Podiatrist. Proper Foot and Leg Massage is a great way to help sooth achy joints and tendons and to relieve stress in the feet. Warm foot baths can also bring some level of comfort and wellness for those who suffer from foot and leg swelling. Stretching of the foot and leg muscles, when done correctly, can help with increased circulation and blood flow to the lower extremities. Lastly, always make sure to find proper fitting shoes based on your particular foot care needs. References: (Foot Exercises) https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320964.php Do you have questions for The Traveling Pedicurist? Send them to: thetravelingpedicurist@gmail.com  What happens when the Medical Community and Professional Beauty Community pair up and come together? You get a win-win for everyone involved and the client or patient that you are serving reaps the benefits.
Both the beauty industry and medical community can learn and gain quite a bit from each respective industry. The medical community brings the insight of respectable healthcare and diagnosed treatments to the patient/client and the professional beauty service provider brings the cosmetic aspect. When both of these services are combined together it allows both communities to better serve the intended patient/client and forms long lasting trusted relationships with the people being serviced. For instance, a Dermatology office provides medical skincare services and treatments to clients that may only require medical supervision by a trained and licensed physician; but what about those times where you have a client that may have just a simple case of acne that can be managed in-house by a interdependent beauty professional being that of a Licensed Esthetician. Estheticians can provide a host of services to compliment the treatment plan of a Dermatologist. In the instance of the patient having acne, it would be beneficial for this patient to receive ongoing and routine facials to target acneic skin with the discretion of the referring Dermatologist. Another example of physicians working in harmony to offer targeted treatments and services for the patient would be the Podiatrist and Nail Tech/Pedicurist relationship. Foot and Nail Care is a huge problem for people, especially for seniors and limited mobility populations. Something as simple as toenail clippings can be done by a Licensed Pedicurist or Nail Tech right in the Dr's office. For patients that cannot come physically to the physician office, having a working relationship with a sound and experienced Nail Tech/Pedicurist who is willing to provide at-home services for these types of clients is an invaluable service and offers the patient well-rounded care to their advantage. Oncology is another department in healthcare that typically deals with patients suffering from sort of cancer. Patients undergoing chemotherapy often display hair loss. The expertise of an advanced Hair Stylist would be able to provide customized aesthetic wig services to enhance the patients physical appearance and restore a sense of normalcy aesthetically for the patient. At the end of the day the focus is the client and/or patient and working together as a "winning" team will bring forth the best results for all intended. Questions? Direct them to:thetraveligpedicurist@gmail.com Every Nail Tech and Pedicurist has in their arsenal a line of products that they swear by and cannot go without. Great products combined with an efficient skill set of the service provider makes for the best service outcome for the customer. Here are a few products that we have used and can vouch for.  Blue Cross Cuticle Remover PROS:
CONS:
 Beauty Secrets Nail Files PROS:
Cons:
 Polar Bear Buffer Block PROS:
Cons:
As a Nail Tech or Pedicurist, what are some of your favorite products to use? We'd like to hear from you. Leave your comments below.
Do you have a product that you would like for us to try and review? Send your inquiries to: P.O. Box 97722 Raleigh, NC 27624  As the summer season comes to an end many will be welcoming the upcoming sporting season. Hockey, Soccer, Football and Skiing are just some of the favorite sporting pastimes that people enjoy during the fall and winter season. Athletes put their bodies and feet through long vigorous hours of training that can take its' toll without proper care. Foot Massage and Warm Foot Soaks help to bring comfort and mental clarity to performing athletes. Massage increases circulation and therefore, increases the oxygen and nutrient flow to the muscle, which encourages healing.
We collaborate our services with licensed Therapist and Pedicurist to bring athletes proper and whole wellness for the feet. In addition to warm therapeutic foot soaks and massage we also offer callus and corn reduction using approved methods. For more information on how our services can be of benefit for your athletic facility, please send inquiries to: thetravelingpedicurist@gmail.com OR call: (919) 621-7027  You are a Nail Tech and/or Pedicurist eager and ready to get to business servicing clients. You went to school completed all your mandatory hours for completion and ready for your career to start, but maybe you forgot about one important aspect to your business and that is insurance.
Men and Women who enter into the health, wellness and beauty industry enjoy helping the people that they service. Providing a service to help enhance your clients emotionally and physically is why we all went into this industry. Most states require Nail Techs, Pedicurist and Beauty Professionals to take yearly CEU classes in order to stay state licensed. CEU classes help keep the service provider relevant and up-to-date on any changes in their respective industries. Much of the focus in school is prepping the student on how to perform services efficiently and correctly. In order to truly become vested and evolve as a professional we have to consider the possibilities of what can happen. Protecting your client and business with the proper insurance coverage should be priority #1! You can be the best Nail Tech, Hairdresser, Barber or Makeup artist in town and have a huge following--but--one thing for sure is that you can experience a total loss of your peace of mind without proper coverage for your blossoming business. Keeping good records and maximizing the opportunity to find out more about new and potential clients by having them fill out consultation forms prior to servicing them is another way to help with ensuring that your business is further protected. ASCP is a great company to partner with for your insurance needs. They offer business insurance for: Nail Techs, Estheticians, Massage Therapist and Hair Stylist. To signup click here: https://www.ascpskincare.com/refer/1194835 Be proactive with your business! Protect yourself and your clients! Questions? Email: thetravelingpedicurist@gmail.com Want to be notified of our upcoming Podcast? Send us an email and we will add you to our listing.   Have you ever wondered how you can get rid of the hard and rough calluses on your feet? It's true that in some professions having a build up of callus on the soles of the feet is necessary, but for most of us, we want them gone and rightfully so! Calluses are a build up of layered skin that eventually turns into a hard, chunky patch of skin that can cause your feet to fit uncomfortably in your shoes or worse yet cause you pain when you walk. There are a few ways to maintain callus free feet or least manage the issue. Regular routine foot care is necessary. Whether you get your feet professionally done or if you are a DIY type of person; the most important step is to take action. If you decide to get your feet taken care of professionally, typically, your local Pedicurist will use a variety of methods to reduce or eliminate your calluses. Some Pedicurist prefer to use an E-file using pedicure bits designed specifically for the removal of calluses on the feet. Using an E-file is surely a lot quicker and if used correctly, can bring phenomenal results for the client. Another way to reduce calluses is to use a callus solvent which normally has acidic ingredients that will help to "breakdown" tough hardened skin that is then buffed away to reveal smoother skin on the feet. {Note}: It is very important to know how to operate an E-file to remove or reduce calluses. If a client has foot fungus or a visible condition that you are unsure of, please do not perform the service and direct the client to their physician If you are a DIY type of person and like to pamper yourself at home; there are products on the market that you can purchase. One of the first things you may want to do if you decide to do this service at home is to purchase a foot basin to soak your feet in. Soaking the feet helps to soften the hardened skin and makes it a lot easier for you to remove the callus build up. Make sure to have available a foot file and callus softener on hand--as you will need these items to complete your at-home callus removal service. After you have completed the service, lather your feet with a really good moisturizing emollient or foot crème daily to maintain soft feet and to help keep the calluses from reforming. Keeping the feet healthy should be a priority. Here's to happy and callus free feet!  Most would assume that washing and conditioning the hair is difficult for person's with limited mobility. It can be challenging to accomplish this task using traditional methods, but our North Carolina mobile stylist has a remedy for this.
Medline READYBATH - No-rinse Shampoo Cap with Conditioner is a convenient, refreshing way to keep hair clean and manageable when the use of a tub or shower is unavailable. Medline READYBATH single-use shampoo cap is pH balanced and contains a built-in conditioner to keep hair healthy. For added comfort, heat the no-rinse shampoo cap in the microwave for up to 30 seconds for a soothing, warm shampoo experience. Latex-free. Medline READYBATH - No-rinse Shampoo Cap with Conditioner Features:
 Onychogryphosis is a condition primarily seen in older adults and is commonly due to injury or infection, according to several reputable online resources, Pedicurist/Nail Techs are able to service clients with onychogryphosis but under particular conditions.
If ever in doubt of how to service a client, always refrain from providing the service. A licensed Pedicurist can service a client with Ram's Toes-(another name for Onychogryphosis). Typically someone with this condition requires shortening of the toenails or debridement to lessen the thickness. Having your client provide a written statement from their physician stating that providing services to your client with onychogryphosis is allowed; would be in your best interest and makes for good business practice. Resources: http://www.nailsmag.com/search/?q=onychogryphosis https://www.patienthelp.org/diseases-conditions/onychogryphosis.html http://www.nailsmag.com/article/113579/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-nail-expert-aging-nails |
Questions?
thetravelingpedicurist@gmail
Anti-Fungal Topical Oil: For Toenails and Fingernails.
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