– Frequently Asked Spa Questions –
Manicure and Pedicures
Q: How do you disinfect/sanitize your Manicure and Pedicure implements?
I disinfect all of my Manicure and Pedicure implements in a Chemosterilant and High Level Disinfectant that is used for Medical Devices and Instruments. This disinfectant is Sporicidal, Tuberculocidal and Fungicidal. This same level of disinfectant is also used to clean the Spa Pedicure Chair.
Q: Do you use a credo blade to remove callus from the feet during Pedicure Services?
No! And while some of you might be disappointed to read this, I have good reason for this that will quickly change your mind.
As mentioned in the question, a credo blade (a lot of clients refer to it as “the cheese grater”) is designed to remove callus from the bottom of the foot during a Pedicure service.
The foot builds callus (thickened layers of skin) to protect itself from excessive friction or repeated pressure. This could be caused from the way you walk, from running or from a particular pair of shoes you wear. If this callus is removed all at once, then the foot automatically thinks the skin/callus has been damaged so it will continue to grow this skin back thicker and thicker after each time it is removed. Using a credo blade to remove excessive amounts of callus at once causes this to happen. The foot needs the callus for protection and once it’s removed, the foot thinks it’s damaged. The end result? Thicker calluses.
So, what is the solution? The idea is to smooth the callus but never fully remove it. The callus should be smoothed with a foot file and never removed with a credo blade. Proper professional products combined with a professional foot file during a Pedicure will result in smooth feet. And regular Pedicures will improve the feet over time to the point where down the road, you will be able to go longer between Pedicures and not need them more often like you will if you use the credo blade.
While the credo blade does provide instant results, it causes more problems for your feet in the long run!
Skin Care
Q: I have sensitive skin. Can I get a Spa Facial Treatment?
A Facial is designed to improve the skin by giving it a deep cleansing using high quality products. A lot of clients have sensitive skin. Sensitive skin is very common.
Having sensitive skin myself, I treat all of my clients as if they have sensitive skin. All skin care products are pure and botanical and do not contain any harmful ingredients or preservatives that would cause irritation.
A Facial helps to improve the overall look of the skin by gently removing dead surface cells and adding hydration to the skin. All skin types and conditions benefit from proper skin care treatments including even the most sensitive skin types.
Q: Do you perform extractions with every Facial?
Unless I am treating someone for severe acne break-outs, I do not perform extractions during Facials. Extractions irritate the skin. They also spread bacteria to other parts of the face. (Still every face can be different and requires different kind of care. )
Acne has to be at a specific stage for it to be considered safe to extract. Extracting it at the wrong stage can cause damage to the skin and potentially lead to scarring.
Extracting blackheads and content from other clogged pores can also damage the skin and spread bacteria to other parts of the face leading to more skin problems. Also, once these pores are empty, the do not close up and are just left open for more oils and bacteria to enter again.
The best way to treat acne, blackheads and other clogged pores is to use the proper products for your skin type that are all pure and beneficial.
Waxing
Q: How long does the hair need to be in order for me to having waxing done?
In order for the hair to be properly and successfully removed by the root when waxing, the hair must be at least 1/4 inch long.
Q: Every time I wax, I get ingrown hairs. Is there a way to prevent these?
There are two types of ingrown hairs:
1. A curly hair that grows through the skin’s surface but then turns and grows back into the skin.
2. A regular hair (curly or straight) and turns and grows under the skin before reaching the skin’s surface or grows under the skin because it is blocked by dry or dead skin cells at the surface of the skin.
To prevent ingrown hairs or slow the number of ingrown hairs that occur, you should exfoliate your skin regularly as the hairs are growing back in. This will prevent dead cells from blocking the hair follicle openings and will also help to prevent curly hairs from growing back into the skin. Exfoliating products include exfoliating mitts, loofahs or exfoliating beauty products such as sea salt scrubs.
There are also a lot of great products that naturally exfoliate the skin. You just have to be careful which product you choose as a lot of these products contain alcohol which can irritate the skin.