Bromhidrosis and other stinky problems

     It's time to talk about pedicures and taking care of the feet. As a licensed manicurist I've been waiting on women hand and foot for a little over thirty-six years but I can honestly say there isn't any aspect of the nail business that I don't like doing and pedicures are one of those duties which I enjoy every bit as much as doing nail art. I really mean what I just said. As a nail technician and particularly for the beauty business in general, there is no greater feeling, as far as I'm concerned, than to help someone feel better about themselves and promote their health in the bargain. Getting a good pedicure is right up there with the best aids to getting rid of stress that you can name- every bit as stress relieving as doing yoga.

     Many people are very touchy about their feet, however. One out of every ten people will get a pedicure at least once in their lifetime. I don't think that's a healthy number. Honestly, if you have never had one you're missing out on relaxation and pampering that is unsurpassed. When I have to do my own feet it's still better than not being able to get a pedicure at all. I can feel totally fatigued but after a good foot massage I'll feel re-energized enough to run a marathon. There is no better experience in the world and I guarantee those words. 

     One reason a person may not want to do a pedicure is because they're embarrassed about foot odor. Here's a Catch-22 that needs to come out in the open, once and for all. Some of my best cures are dealing with foot odor. Once you get to the reason for it and get therapy for the cause then it's one issue that will make you glad you got over the embarrassment and dealt with it. The reason can vary from having foot fungus to merely needing to throw away a pair of shoes. The actual odor is telling so don't hesitate to get out there and get some help. Make sure you seek someone who has been doing pedicures as long as I have and that they seem as knowledgeable when you bring up the subject. I've probably performed about a thousand pedicures through the years so I know my stuff and I think I've seen just about everything including missing toes and fallen arches, which of course, is not reparable. My point, however, is that nothing bothers or embarrasses me and I like helping people solve their hand, foot and nail problems.

     Let me give you an idea of what you can expect when you arrive for a pedicure service in a licensed salon. You will either be seated, on arrival, in a special pedicure spa unit complete with a comfortable massaging recliner or seated in regular seating and your feet placed in a separate foot bath. Either way, you'll see the same implements as is used for a manicure, soaking in a disinfectant preparation and your footbath will be pre-sanitized and ready with a warm to hot foaming foot soak. After you have soaked for at least fifteen minutes, each foot is drawn out of the water, separately, for work on trimming the nails, the cuticles and then the foot overall with callous removal, cleanup and massage. The finish, if you choose it, will be polishing the toes. That's optional, of course, but done as a regular practice for most technicians. Other steps may be added such as special foot scrubs, special applications for cleansing, drawing out impurities and products applied for refined exfoliation. Many products can make the difference between a good pedicure and a great one. The more knowledgeable the technician, chances are you'll see a plethora of products being used. Don't be too shy to ask what is being used and why- I have always felt that an informed customer is generally a happier customer overall.

     As usual, I welcome any questions you may have and will be glad to reply in an e-mail or in the comments.

Overcoming Flagrant Habits

     One of the most difficult bad habits to break is the biting of nails and cuticles. For those who are not nail biters, understanding this habit and solving the problem often remains a mystery. In the official textbooks of cosmetology concerning this insidious problem it is referred to under conditions as onychophagy (pronounced: awna-koffa-gee). In truth, it's a nervous habit which can be dealt with in two ways. The first is to make it impossible and undesirable to continue with the habit. This is the most difficult aspect of onychophagy. In the past, people have resorted to using manufactured solutions applied which have a bad taste and works for many people to break the physical aspect of the condition. The underlying cause goes without being addressed or dealt with effectively. Nervous habits can have deep-seated psychological reasons and getting to a complete solution  requires much personal insight of the person who suffers this malady.

     A sector of people believe that nail biting is not that different a habit than cigarette smoking. I have a suspicion this started to gain credibility when they were both classified as a dirty habit. I know that the unsanitary aspect can make someone truly believe this but in fact there is no true equation between the two habits. Cigarette smoking is a chemical addiction whereas nail biting definitely is developed through mild psychosis or neurosis. It may be easier to quit smoking than to stop biting your nails from a psychological standpoint. 

     When I first started working after I received my license to do nails, I was busy applying artificial nails when I noticed that a lot of the clients for this service were nail biters who simply couldn't stop by any other means. They had tried the bad-tasting preparations but found this Pavlovian cure to be ineffective and hoped that a barrier between their mouth and the nails would finally stop the problem. These were always the hardcore nail biters and it only stopped them for awhile. Many would continue to bite their cuticles to almost disgusting proportions or in one instance that I know of- with a technician I worked with- her client cracked a tooth in half trying to chew on her artificial nails! This was the worst case scenario I ever witnessed and still astounds me to this day. What the client said about herself and the incident, however, gave me an insight that most of the technicians probably ignored or were too grossed out to pay attention to the fact.

     Stress or depression which goes unheeded is most likely the underlying cause of any habit which involves actually biting or cutting oneself. As a matter of fact, you may be surprised to discover that cutters are not treated any different by psychologists and psychiatrists than a nail biter would be and they are quite often nail biters as well as cutters. Cutters insist that they feel calmer after they cut and do this in the same way that addicts smoke or shoot up because the body releases a specific hormone when they cut. It's to relieve the mental or physical stress they can't handle. So nail biting can technically be viewed as an addiction with psychological implications rather than chemical. The cure by artificial nail application is a highly effective solution because of the barrier factor but don't forget that it's important to use insight as to what the source of the stress may be and eliminate or learn how to deal with that source more effectively. Each time your hand flies to your mouth back up mentally and ask yourself a series of questions.

     What was I doing just now and how did that make me feel ?

     Who was I talking to on the phone and how do they make me feel ?

     Did something just happen which triggered my reaction to bite my nails ?

    

     This will give you some idea of how to cope better while you're consciously taking some action on the issue. Don't give up and think of this as an investment in your self-esteem and future confidence. Your feelings are important and you deserve to be heard and recognized.

Empowering every potential customer with sage advice,

The Castle Lady 
(and still going... lol)