Nail Salons: Good Health and Hygiene Practices Checklist

Nail salons seem to be on every corner these days. Many nail salons aren't really clean and hygienic these days. Even nail salons that look trendy or elegant on the outside may not be safe or practice good hygiene.

A nail tech at a poorly-run salon can inflict problems like inflammation and wounds to your nail or nail bed. But did you know they can also transmit viral problems--ranging from warts to fatal diseases like Hepatitis C--when the instruments are not sterilized?

How can you know your nail salon follows good health practices? Read on for helpful tips for choosing a good salon.

1. Start by choosing a nail salon where every technician has a current state license on display. These usually include the tech's home address, not that of the salon.

2. Check and confirm that all instruments are sterilized properly before they begin your treatment. The tools should be soaked in disinfectant solution for about ten minutes. Ask about their sterilization procedures.

• Bring along your own tools, if possible.
• Some salons store each client's tools in a separate container, for their use only.

3. Not just the tools, but the workstation and even the nail tech's hands, should be cleaned prior to beginning any service.

• If they don't ask you to wash YOUR hands as well, you might decide to leave the salon right away.

4. Manicure customers usually soak their hands for about 10 minutes in fresh, soapy water. If they are not using a disposable plastic bowl, ask or observe how the bowl is cleaned between customers.

5. Same thing applies with with a foot spa. Make sure that they use a plastic foot spa, as they're less likely to retain minute hair and germs.

• Disposable plastic liners are preferable for this.
• Make sure that they don't reuse these liners to cut costs.

6. Never allow your cuticles to be cut, with any tool. Cuticles maybe pushed back.

7. If you have doubts about a particular salon, or nail technician, just say "no". You do have options, from requesting a different tech (awkward), going elsewhere, or even doing your nail care at home, maybe with a girlfriend.

The savings and convenience of stopping in for a quick mani/pedi at a McNails salon can be sadly offset by potential pain and damage to your nails. Be careful in all issues concerning your health, and you will be happier!

I invite you to visit my private spa inside French Door Salon and Spa. Overlooking the fountains on the green in Duluth, Georgia, I offer the latest nail care with the highest health and hygiene practices with easy communication at Anne-Marie's Designs! Please call 678-205-2455 extension 105 for an appointment or to order a gift certificate. http://www.facebook.com/annemariesdesigns

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Health Beauty and Everyday Wellbeing With Coconut Oil

ByJason Stacey

The health benefits if the extra virgin Coconut oil are many. It is very useful in weight reduction. It helps boost the metabolism and helps reducing stress on the pancreas, burns more energy and this helps with weight control. It is highly recommended as daily cooking oil and is considered on of the healthiest oils for internal use. It is also very easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems. It helps increase immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, high blood pressure and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, which possess properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti fungal and antibacterial. This Virgin is considered one of the healthiest oil with both benefits for internal and external use.

It is one of the best conditioners for hair. Massaged into the scalp,it nourishes the scalp as well as strengthens the hair shaft helping reduce the hair breakage and improving hair growth. Used as hair oil it also encourages healthy hair growth, regenerates thinning hair and promotes a healthy scalp. Organic coconut oil is sourced from the virgin coconut oil project in Samoa, which is run by a not-for-profit woman's foundation- a unique venture aimed at rebuilding economic independence of individual villages.

It is produced from the coconut flesh and has been traditionally used for skin and hair conditioning. Pure oil should have a distinctive fragrance and taste and does not require any bleaching or refining. Many oils in the market are produced from Copra, and this process strips away the natural benefits found in it. So coconut oil produced from Copra and Virgin Coconut oil produced from the coconut flesh are two very different products. Virgin oil is the purest form you can get of any oil.

It is excellent massage oil for the skin as well. It works wonders on dry skin. Cold pressed oils, such as cold pressed Coconut oil are very anti aging for the skin. It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. This Organic oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. It therefore is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It has also been known to be helpful for skin conditions such as eczema and is a wonderful natural emollient for dry skin. It deeply nourishes the skin, is easily absorbed and can also used as massage oil for the body.

Choose from wide range of hair care products such organic virgin coconut oil for the maximum health and beauty benefits.

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The Many Health Benefits of Vitamin E

ByMaria Turner

When it comes to overall health matters, one of the most popular vitamins is vitamin E. This is because vitamin E is not only used for ensuring good health but also is one of the essential vitamins used in beauty products. This multitasking vitamin has many benefits that help you look and feel great at the same time.

Vitamin E, when described scientifically, is a fat-soluble vitamin that maintains cell membranes and is also known as tocopherol and tocotrienol. Vitamin E is well known for its great benefits for moisturizing and healing the skin. Vitamin E also acts as a regulator for vitamin A, which is also important in promoting healthy and beautiful skin.

Aside from that, vitamin E also is a good ingredient for skin anti-aging. The intake of vitamin E supplements and application of skin care products that contain vitamin E helps in obtaining younger looking skin. This is because vitamin E acts as an antioxidant that protects against free radicals which are believed to play a role in skin aging. Vitamin E can help prevent or minimize fine lines and wrinkles to help you obtain that youthful appearance you've been seeking. Topical application of this vitamin, either by breaking open a capsule of the vitamin or buying commercial beauty products that contain it as an ingredient, can have an instant plumping effect on fine lines and repeated use can help prevent new ones from forming.

Moreover, vitamin E is essential in protecting the skin against sun damage. Sun damage is a key factor when it comes to aging as well as skin cancer, so it's important to treat your skin well to avoid the sun's harsh effects.

Perhaps one of the most popular uses of vitamin E is in the treatment of skin problems like scarring, whether it be from injuries and medical procedures or leftover marks from acne. It also helps in reducing the appearance of stretch marks and maintaining balanced skin oils and reduces transepidermal water loss from the skin thus preventing the skin from drying out. Studies are ongoing but initial reports indicate that vitamin E can be a possible cure for menstrual pains, muscle cramping and many other ailments.

Aside from vitamin E supplements and beauty products like facial creams and lotions, vitamin E can be found naturally in many foods. Great sources of vitamin E include vegetable oils, raw nuts, oily fish, green leafy vegetables, tomato products, fruits like papaya, avocados and mangoes, fortified cereals, sweet potato, beets, blue crabs, asparagus, pumpkins, collard greens, turnips, and many more.

With so many great benefits, it's no wonder why vitamin E has been used in the production of many cosmetics products. Vitamin E oil for hair is also gaining popularity thanks to its ability to moisturize and boost growth. This is one vitamin that can help bring out the best in you, both inside and out.

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Are These Common Ingredients in Your Health and Beauty Products Safe?

ByKristen Anders

To keep health and beauty products, such as cosmetics, soaps, and lotions, safe for human use and effective, preservatives and other chemicals are added. However, in recent years the safety of some of these ingredients, despite decades of use, has been questioned, especially by companies selling all natural products. Here's a look at three common ingredients called into question and what scientific studies say about their safety.

Parbens

Parbens, including ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben, act as a preservative not only in cosmetics, but also in foods. This common preservative added to hundreds of cosmetic products can be absorbed into the body through the skin. There's growing concern that parabens may be linked to cancer because of a 2004 study in the "Journal of Applied Toxicology" that reported finding breast tumors with parabens. However, parabens in the body is not a new discovery, so finding it in tumors does not mean it caused the cancer. Studies following the 2004 study failed to show that parabens actually cause cancer, leading the FDA to still consider this a safe and effective preservative.

Sulfates

Sulfates are mostly found in cleaning agents such as shampoos and toothpaste. It's also found in food and water. The sulfates are the cause of the lather created by soaps, but also work as a surfactant. As a surfactant, sulfates remove dirt and grease. Some claim that sulfates can cause cancer. Concerns over sulfates have led it to be extensively studied. And like parabens, these studies have not resulted in a cancer connection. In fact, the FDA, American Cancer Society, and governmental health organizations around world have stated that although sulfates can irritate the skin and eyes, it is considered a safe cleaning agent and not a carcinogen.

Triclosan

Triclosan is another preservative added to cosmetics to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi. Its effectiveness is without question and has even shown to prevent gingivitis when used in toothpaste. However, its safety is a bit of a mix bag. Studies have shown triclosan may increase the risk of producing antibiotic resistant bacteria and in animal studies has shown to be a hormone disrupter. What this means for humans is unclear however, but it has gotten the attention of the FDA and EPA which called for more studies and a final review set for 2013. This extensive review of all the research regarding triclosan and human health will determine if changes in the regulation of triclosan will be required to protect human health.

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