How to Have The Perfect Aroma Therapy Manicure

A GOOD IMPRESSION STARTS WITH A GOOD HANDSHAKE. WELL GROOMED NAILS HELPS THAT HANDSHAKE BE EVEN BETTER.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. 
    
   THE GOOD OLD DAYS!!

   The word manicure is derived from the Latin word manus meaning hand. Cure simply means care. Therefore, a manicure is a cosmetic beauty treatment for the fingernails and hands. Manicure treatment can be for hands and or nails but a common manicure found is the filling, shaping of the nails and the application of polish. Some manicures may also include painting of pictures on nails.
   Healthy nails do not begin with the edge of the nails that get trimmed. You must begin with the part of the nail that is continually alive.
   The nail bed and the cuticle is where you can improve the quality of the nail.
   Having a manicure is a very pleasurable experience. It is relaxing and if you are embarrassed about how your hands and nails look getting a manicure will help relieve that feeling.
   A normal manicure certainly will improve imperfections in your hands and nails and make you feel better, but why not take it one step further and try using aromatherapy and essential oils.
   There are many more benefits for your when using essential oils in your manicure procedure. Most nail and spa salons have incorporated aromatherapy into the manicure procedure.
   You can also use essential oils if you are doing your own manicures at home.

2. 
    

   WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REGULAR MANICURE AND AN AROMATHERAPY MANICURE?
   
   1. Using the essential oils can be massaged into the hands and arms will be more beneficial than just regular massage oil.
   2. The oils will bring an immediate change in the appearance of the nails and skin.
   With an aromatherapy manicure the main difference falls in the conditioning of the skin and the nail bed.
   The fragrance that essential oils are beneficial for the purpose of relaxation. In salons they use the oils to help neutralize or make the smell of the acrylic nail powders less potent.

3. 
    

   PROCEDURE FOR A BASIC MANICURE THAT YOU CAN DO AT HOME:
   
   1. Wash your hands with hand soap and warm water.
   2. Towel dry.
   3. Remove nail polish with a polish remove, avoid leaving remover on skin. Remover is very drying to the skin.
   4. File and shape the nails. When filing work from outer edge to center. Do not use file as is if you were sawing wood. To do so is more damaging to the nail.
   5. Apply cuticle cream.
   6. Place hands in a bowl of warm water and let soak for about 10 minutes. This will help to soften the cuticle.
   7. Towel dry hands.
   8. Using a cotton wrapped orange wood stick or a cuticle pusher gently push back the cuticles on each finger.
   IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE A CUTICLE NIPPER BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO CUT TO MUCH OFF, THIS CAN CAUSE SORE CUTICLES AND ALLOWS FOR INFECTION. IN SOME STATES IT IS ILLEGAL TO CUT CUTICLES IN THE SALONS.
   9. Using a nail brush, scrub hands and nails using a downward motion.
   dry hands.
   10. Clean under the nail with a cotton wrapped orange wood stick.
   DO NOT APPLY TO MUCH PRESSURE WHEN CLEANING UNDER THE NAIL, THE TISSUE IS FRAGILE AND CAN BE EASILY DAMAGED. IF YOUR THE SKIN UNDER YOUR FINGERS ARE PAINFUL ARE HURT IN ANY WAY THEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU USED TO MUCH PRESSURE WHEN CLEANING.
   11. Use massage cream or lotion to massage hands, fingers and arms.
   Massage helps to work the lotion in and will also stimulate blood flow.
   11. Remove all traces of massage creams or lotions before applying polish. Using a cotton wrapped orange wood stick soaked with nail polish remove or alcohol and swipe over surface of nail and underneath.
   12. Apply base coat and color if you choose to.

4. CHANGING A BASIC MANICURE INTO AN AROMATHERAPY MANICURE.
   
   You will still do all the steps that a basic manicure does, but you will use different products with essential oils in them. It is very simple to make cuticle softeners and massage cream-hand lotion with essential oils.
   
   FORMULAS FOR CUTICLE SOFTENER:
   
   FORMULA #1:
   In a glass bowl lightly warm 1/2 oz jojoba oil
   mix in 2 drops eucalyptus and 5 drops carrot
   stir and mix well.
   
   Gently massage mixture into the cuticles. Massage cuticles for atleast a minute. Using a cotton wrapped orange wood stick lift cuticle off surface of nail.
   
   FORMULA #2:
   In glass bowl heat 1/2 oz grapeseed oil and add 5 drops lemon and 2 drops peppermint. Stir and follow massage instructions as for formula #1.
   
   Eucalyptus: Helps increase blood circulation of the nail bed and cuticle. An excellent antiseptic.
   Carrot: Moisturizes,revitalizes and has a calming effect.
   jojoba oil: A base oil used to carry the essential oils into the body. The base oil works as a vehicle for essential oils to be massaged into the skin and nail.
   Grapefruit: Brightens yellow nails, helps to increase the oxygen flow to rid buildup of residue on the nail beds. Strengthens the cuticle.
   Lemon: Clears yellowing and refreshes the nail beds and cuticles.
   Peppermint: Helps to oxygenate nails and restore healthy coloring.
   Keep you mixtures in a dark glass bottle and keep refrigerated until next use.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep unused products refrigerated.
• Throw away used cotton and used orange wood sticks after use.
• Do not cut cuticles as far as to make wounds or cause bleeding.

[TheGlamSquad]

on 4/18/2009 Very informative article. I found your article to be very interesting. Thanks for sharing! 5*****