Take a “Bubble Bath” for a Good Cause

This summer, each time a client purchases a bottle of OPI’s Bubble Bath lacquer, she can be glad to know she is helping women undergoing cancer treatment feel better.

 

Look Good...Feel Better, a national public service program that helps women cope with appearance-related changes from cancer treatment, has partnered with OPI Products to honor both groups’ 20th anniversaries: OPI launched its nail lacquers 20 years ago, the same year Look Good...Feel Better conducted its first workshop. To mark these milestones, during July and August, OPI will contribute a portion of the proceeds of every bottle of its Bubble Bath nail lacquer sold, with a minimum contribution of $25,000, to the Personal Care Products Council Foundation to benefit Look Good...Feel Better.

 

“We are very excited to support such a worthwhile initiative for Look Good...Feel Better and to be a part of this wonderful tradition of caring,” said Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, executive vice president and artistic director for OPI . “The partnership was a natural fit because OPI shares the common goal of helping women to look and feel beautiful.”

 

Point-of-purchase displays will provide more information about the Look Good...Feel Better program and where to find available workshops. For more information, visit www.opi.com.

 

— Judy

posted @ Wednesday, July 01, 2009 11:26 AM | Comment (0)

Salon Inspection on YouTube

I just found a professionally-done video by the Washington Department of Licensing of a nail salon inspection. You can watch the six-minute video here.
 
The video is geared toward consumers (advising them of what to look for in nail salons, including recommendations to ask to view the pedicure cleaning log and to visually inspect the spa), and includes a quick interview with the salon owner Cuc Tran (who thankfully seems to be on the up-and-up and has her salon ready to pass an inspection). Washington inspector Lloyd Wright offers some insight into what he looks for during inspections.
 
Is the video helpful? Leave me a note in Feedback.
 
—Sree

posted @ Tuesday, June 30, 2009 12:00 PM | Comment (0)

Premiere Orlando 2009

Earlier this month, I went to the Premiere Orlando International Beauty Event; this is the first time I’ve attended this show, and I felt an energy and excitement there that I haven’t felt at any of the other beauty shows I’ve been to. I’m sharing some of my pictures here.

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posted @ Monday, June 29, 2009 3:00 PM | Comment (0)

CND Launches Colour Effects

Last week I went down to Oceanside, Calif. (just north of San Diego) to attend a special launch party for CND’s new enamel line. Called Colour Effects, it’s an open stock line of 50 crème enamels and 15 shimmery “Effects” that you can layer on top of the “Colours.” CND says the line has a richer, two-coat, three-free (no toluene, formaldehyde, or DBP), faster-drying formula. The Colours come in a full spectrum palette from the whitest white (Brilliant White) to the blackest black (Blackjack), with neutrals, pinks, reds, and bolds in between. The Effects are the “accessories” and can change the tone dramatically. They come in Pearls (fine opalescence), Shimmers (a little more dramatic), and Sparkles (mica for more bling) in a variety of hues (from lavender to gold).
 
The new bottle is an interesting shape, (for improved ergonomics, it’s designed to fit perfectly between the thumb and forefinger), with a wider, flatter brush and a rubberized cap that is easy to twist.
 
The party was held at the Oceanside Museum of Art, and guests were asked to wear black and white. CND employees asked us to imagine a world without color (and served crisp clear water to accentuate how plain life would be without it). They then took us through their own exhibition where color (and colorful fruit juices) were introduced, followed by shimmery, sparkly effects (and cocktails). Finally, we were treated to a try-on bar with CND’s entire new line. I chose Inkwell, a dark aqua-black, and Gold Pearl, a subtle Effect. I also loved Putty (a great neutral for my skin tone).
 
CND’s Jan Arnold and John Heffner also took a few minutes to thank employees for their continued dedication to nail professionals. The company is celebrating its 30th anniversary this September. Look for more in the September issue of NAILS on the company’s anniversary.
 
And once the new bottles and colors hit your dealers, I’d love to hear what you guys think. Leave me a comment in Feedback.
 
After we left the world of black and white behind, we were treated to colorful fruit juices…
 
…and presented with a closer look at the new line of Colours from CND.
 
CND co-founder and artistic director Jan Arnold toasts a room full of CND employees, nail techs, dealers, and select members of the press while introducing the company’s new Colour Effects line.
 
We were then led through a room of glittery curtains and accessorized mannequins as the Effects portion of the line was introduced.
 
Finally, we were allowed to try on the Colours and Effects.
 
CND’s Roxanne Valinoti, Jan Arnold, and John Heffner were also getting an early start on celebrating the company’s 30th anniversary.
 
I enjoyed the festivities at the Oceanside Museum of Art with Elyce de Brown (in addition to a number of other things, she manages CND’s enamel line) and Jan Arnold.
--Hannah
 

posted @ Tuesday, June 23, 2009 3:43 PM | Comment (3)

CNN Lauds Manicurist as Hero

Have you heard about Washington D.C.-based manicurist Lidia Schaefer, who sold her home and her car in order to raise money to build a new school in her native village in Ethiopia? All we can say is wow — and bravo.

 

Her story begins in the 1990s when she paid a visit to Feres Mai, a large village in northern Ethiopia where she was born. According to a story on CNN, which named Schaefer a “CNN Hero,” she was troubled by what she saw: children walking three hours each way to attend classes held not in a school, but under a tree. When she learned in 1998 that one of the girls she’d met on that visit — Medhine — had been attacked and killed by a hyena after falling behind other children during the long trek home from school, it spurred her to take action.

 

Schaeffer, who works at Fusion Day Spa in Washington D.C., began by setting aside a third of her salary and all of her tips. She also lobbied the Ethiopian government to donate land in a central location so the school could serve children from several nearby villages. The decision was made to build a secondary school, since the nearest one was more than 18 miles away.

 

“I was working two days for the school, four days for me,” she told CNN. Her clients and coworkers rallied to help, holding raffles and making contributions. Several clients bought individual doors or windows for the school. But that wasn’t enough. So in 2002, she sold her home and her car.

 

Schaefer ultimately raised more than $250,000 for the school, which was completed in 2006. When she went back for the dedication, she was honored with an elaborate procession through the village. “I was so happy, I can’t even describe it,” she recalls.

 

Today, nearly 1,500 students are educated in the school, which boasts an eight-building campus with 16 classrooms, a science lab, and library. Schaefer still sets aside her tips and wages to support her school and has kept up her fundraising efforts to buy supplies. Her next goal is to equip the school with computers.

 

For more information or to make a tax-deductible contribution, go to www.lidiaschool.org.

— Judy

 

posted @ Friday, June 19, 2009 2:32 PM | Comment (1)

IBS Las Vegas 2009

I just came back from the IBS show in Las Vegas. The show was a little smaller this year but there was still a good turnout with lots of manufacturers showcasing their latest wares. Here are some photos from the show.

 

Nick La, executive of sales and marketing at Lexor, proudly talked about Lexor’s new “Smart Technology,” which automatically drains and fills basins for techs.

 

David and Raisa Ionis patented the Rada Pro to help manicurists from getting cramps throughout the day during service.

 

Nail Labo was showcasing its new Presto Gels and Colored Acrylic Powders, with executives Shinya Fujinami, Toshiaki Seki, and Yoko Ohno present to answer any questions.

 

Cynthia and Rich Wiesen were there to present RAM Products’ new E-File Portable with lightweight handpiece.

 

Gayla Burnett, owner of Gourmet Spa Essentials has a new product line that allows techs to create custom-scented scrubs and lotions. The lotions and scrubs come unscented, but with three different extracts that can be added for your own custom blends and flavors.

 

OPI competitor John Hauk brought his game face to the competition, with fellow Team OPI member Vu Nguyen focused as well in the background.

 

I learned that Lynn Lammers isn’t the only competitor in the family, her husband Bret competed in the novice category for the tip-and-overlay relay competition. Here they are with Lynn’s model Jenny Tam on the right.

 

The fantasy nail art competition had some strong entries. The theme was psychedelic ’60s with the stipulation that contestants could not use flowers — that would be too obvious. Model Melanie Murad (left) poses with Gina Silvestro of Akzentz and Tammy Warner of The High Road to Education.

 

Pattie Yankee Williams was doing demos for Dashing Diva.

 

Young Nails educator Denae Sambrano captivates the crowd with her toenail enhancement demonstration.

 

Go to our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/nailsmag) to see more photos from the show.

 

— Tim

 

 

 

 

posted @ Friday, June 19, 2009 10:34 AM | Comment (0)

Nail Art Is NOT Dead

NAILS ran an article in 2001 asking “Is Nail Art Dead?” At the time, nail art seemed to be on the wane and the percentage of salons offering nail art and airbrushing had dropped several points in our annual survey. At the time, nail art was the domain of only the seriously talented hand-painting and airbrush artists. It required a certain knack most of us aren’t born with. We asked some manufacturers and nail techs to give us their take on the state of nail art. Their responses were varied, but the general outlook was that while it might have slowed from its heyday in the 1980s, it certainly wasn’t dead.
 
Jump forward eight years, and we see that not only were the early 2000s not the waning days of nail art, but it’s become so huge that it seems nail technicians can’t get enough. And now anyone, with or without natural artistic talent, can be a true nail artist. In NAILS’ 2008 Big Book survey, 78% of you said you offer nail art, a majority that can be attributed to several factors:
 
The fashion industry has accepted nails as part of its inner circle. “Runway nails” are created weeks in advance to add effect to the overall look. Gone are the days when models sashayed down the runways sporting natural nude or red nails. Top designers like Betsey Johnson and Baby Phat work with CND, a leading fashion partner, to create extravagant “accessories.” The consumer press is also embracing the growing nail art trend. From Prada ads with bejeweled nails to Us Weekly features on celebrity nail art, nails are no longer pushed to the side.
 
Even demure clients will try nail art on their toes. The toes are the “it” place to experiment with nail art. Glitter toenails, a subtle, but undeniable form of nail art, are all the rage. And even my most conservative of friends has gotten into the nail art craze with a small flower, stripes, or polka dots on her toes.
 
New nail art products have created a nail art renaissance. With the rise in colored acrylics and colored gels, nail art has literally gone 3-D. Combine these products with the influx of new items to embellish the nails — rhinestones, Mylar, crushed seashells, dried flowers, fimo clay canes — and nail techs have a whole arsenal of supplies to entice clients with interesting designs. Minx, the heat-activated nail coating that comes in a variety of patterns, goes on in a snap. And with a growing celebrity following that includes Beyoncé, Lindsay Lohan, and Katy Perry, expect to see more clients requesting fun patterns.
 
It’s gotten really easy. Back in 1999, Tom Bachik embedded feathers for a NAILS cover. He likely bought them at a craft store. But today, as a result of nail techs searching outside the industry for inspiration, manufacturers have begun offering and packaging all these little doodads for the sole purpose of nail art. Open the package, adhere them to the nail and apply top coat or gel seal, and voila, you’re a nail artist!  
 
If you’re still wondering whether your clients will try nail art, I have one thing to ask, and that is, Are you sure? Sometimes all it takes for a client to say yes is seeing something really cool to spark her interest. Are you wearing “rock star toenails” yourself? Maybe you’re wearing a simple glitter fade on your own nails. Put free sets of your new nail art specialty on the hairstylists and receptionists in your salon. They are bound to have clients who will sit up and take notice.
 
And it’s not just your young clients who might be tempted to try it. Just ask Houston-based nail tech Athena Elliott. Her 86-year-old client Naomi Friedman is a new fan of nail art. The octogenarian told us, “Age limitations can be a figment of one’s imagination. Bling is part of the new frontier for the elderly female.” I leave you with that thought.
 
— Hannah

posted @ Wednesday, June 10, 2009 2:09 PM | Comment (1)

Let Them Eat Gluten-Free Organic Cake

While the economy is limping along — with many sectors shrinking and others just holding their own — one area is actually growing: retail health and wellness products.

 

According to the Natural Marketing Institute, retail sales of health and wellness products reached more than $112 billion in 2008, representing growth of 9% over 2007. And some sectors did better than that:

  • Organic foods/beverages: $23.6 (up 18%)
  • Vitamins, minerals, herbal and dietary supplements: $23.3 (up 7%)
  • Natural foods/beverages: $14.6 (up 4%)
  • Natural/organic personal care: $8.4 (up 7%)
  • Natural/organic general merchandise: $2.0 (up 32%)

So whether you’re selecting products for your retail section or thinking up enticing options for your service menu, keep in mind consumers’ continuing appetite for all things natural and organic.

 

— Judy

posted @ Wednesday, June 03, 2009 11:35 AM | Comment (1)

Raising a Stink (Literally)

Ah, pedicure season. Or is it AAAHHHH, pedicure season? For the most part, I’m sure all of you look forward to the summer months for the natural boost to your pedicure business, but I’m also curious about whether you ever have to deal with a stinky problem stemming from neglected feet — namely, foot odor.
 
Just in case, I’ve compiled a list of some home-remedy tips from How Stuff Works and WebMD. Most of these are ways to lessen sweat or to keep feet dry. Try to slip these into conversation the next time a client comes in with stinky feet.
  • Add a half cup of kosher salt to a quart of water and soak your feet in the solution. Don’t rinse your feet; just dry thoroughly.
  • Mix one teaspoon of peroxide (3%) to one cup (8 ounces) of water. Wipe this on the feet with a washcloth.
  • Apply antiperspirant (the same brand as what goes under your arms — though I’d recommend a separate stick) to your feet. Or try shaking on deodorizing foot powder that contains aluminum chloride hexahydrate.
  • Because they allow air to get to the feet, wear open shoes whenever possible. (This is just good advice for pedicure clients anyway!)
  • Alternate shoes on a daily basis, giving them time to air out in between wearings. (Bonus: this will probably make you more fashionable as well.)
  • Treat shoes with an over-the-counter deodorizer. Or sprinkle the inside of your shoes with cornstarch to help absorb moisture and keep feet drier.
  • Avoid strong-flavored foods such as garlic, onions, scallions, oils, curry, and peppers, because the substances that give them their powerful flavor and aroma can pass through the bloodstream and eventually concentrate in your sweat.
  • A doctor might be able to offer other alternatives. Sometimes excessive sweating (called hyperhidrosis) requires more permanent treatments.
Have you ever faced a client with foot odor? Were you able to bring up the subject? Leave me a note in Feedback.
 
—Sree

posted @ Monday, June 01, 2009 2:47 PM | Comment (2)

On My Mind: What Is Your Stimulus Package?

As we stand here not quite halfway through 2009, I think it’s safe to say that many Americans are going about their daily lives with some trepidation. With the national jobless rate reaching a quarter-century high at 8.1% in February, and economists saying it is likely to continue rising, we all have to figure out new ways to do business. Whether that means cutting back on costs or rethinking your strategy to get clients in your chair, we’d all be smart to really reevaluate how we are operating our businesses right now.
 
And I do mean right now, not last month and not next month. Things are changing at such a rapid rate that I think to stay successful we all need to be malleable and open to change as the situation arises. That might mean offering one-time deals or short-term promotions. Basically, I’m wondering what each of you, as business owners, are doing to keep clients coming through your doors. Here are three examples of salons creating “salon stimulus packages” of their own.
 
ROB|B: An OPI Concept Salon in Studio City, Calif., owner Robbie Schaeffer launched a one-month-only “pink slip” promotion catering to the recently laid off workforce. The salon offered free mini-manicures (basically a polish change) from noon-2 p.m. on Wednesdays in April. The service was extended to both new and existing clients. It’s a great way to get new people into the salon while increasing client loyalty. And clients will remember that the salon gave them something for free when they were struggling to find a new job.
 
Then there’s Faith Glionna, owner of Cuticles salon in Indialantic, Fla. She’s been talking to her clients to figure out a way to keep them coming in without putting too much stress on their wallets. “My clients have expressed to me that they will give up other things before their nails,” she says. “But I’ve also had clients tell me they can’t afford the $26 fills and want to take their nails off. I’m now charging them $15 instead. I call it the ‘family price.’ I’d rather keep them coming in, being happy and pretty then lose them all together.”
 
Industry veteran Shari Finger, who owns Fingers Nail Studio in West Dundee, Ill., is adding a new section to her service menu dedicated to “Fit Your Budget.” While it’s still in the development stage, Finger plans on adding lower cost manicures and pedicures (with fewer bells and whistles) as well as an inexpensive fiberglass wrap option. As she sees it, this will do three things. “It will offer current customers an alternative to the higher cost services, possibly saving customers that might have to stop coming in or go to a discount salon,” she says. “I also hope it will attract new customers through our website, and by starting at a lower price, we will be able to compete with lower-priced salons when customers call just for a price.”
 
You don’t have to drop service prices across the board — you’ve got bills to pay too. But I challenge you to ask yourself if there is some sort of “stimulus package” promotion you can do…be it for a month, a few months, or the rest of this year. In my eyes, business at a slightly discounted rate is better than no business at all.
 
— Hannah

posted @ Thursday, May 28, 2009 9:11 AM | Comment (2)
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