According to MedicinePlus, Paronychia is fairly common. This infection can happen for a number of reasons, but the most common is from biting or picking the skin around the cuticle, or sides of the nail, especially with hang nails. The picture to the left was taken by a colleague of mine Athena Elliot. She is a medical nail technician, and this was one of her clients.  

• Bacterial paronychia is caused by bacteria.
• Candidal paronychia is caused by a specific type of yeast.
• Fungal paronychia is caused by a fungus.

As Athena said, the bacteria in the saliva causes this when you bite or chew your cuticles! 

"Bacteria causes the condition to occur suddenly. If all or part of the infection is due to a fungus, it tends to occur more slowly. Complications are rare, but may include:

• Abscess
• Permanent changes in the shape of the nail
• Spread of infection to tendons, bones, or bloodstream " - MedicinePlus 

"Update: Client went back to the Dr because her finger continued to swell. The pressure was unbearable. She received 3 shots to the base of the thumb before they made 2 incisions. She is no longer in pain and on her way to recovery. Tough lesson to learn from biting of a little bit of skin around your cuticle." - Athena

Think twice the next time your fingers end up in your mouth! This could happen to you.

To prevent dry cuticles, and annoying hang nails, use a good quality cuticle oil DAILY. I recommend Famous Names Dadi Oil. If you want some, shoot me an email, and I can get it sent out for you. Another really good thing for your hands is getting manicures regularly (weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly.) This will help your hands and cuticles stay hydrated, and your nails in tip top shape. Call or text me for your appointment today! You can also book online. Click here for my contact info.

Have you ever wondered if my blingged out YN Nail lamp is giving you cancer while your product is curing? You're not alone. You asked, and the three leading nail chemists in the nail industry Doug Schoon, Paul Bryson and Jim McConnell, have answered! They released the first scientific study on the safety of UV nail lamps.

The entire study is available here. (It's 4 pages)

If you don't want to read it, I have pulled some key points below.

They tested two different UV nail lights that represented 90% of the lights on the market.

"Test results show that UV-A exposure for client skin is equivalent to spending an extra 1.5 to 2.7 minutes in sunlight each day between salon visits..."

" Client hands are likely to be exposed to more UV light while driving their cars than they will receive from UV gel nail services." 

There you have it! UV nail lamps, when used correctly, do not cause cancer!

Your artificial enhancements should never hurt during application. Some techs use the wrong bits on natural nails. This causes rings of fire, and thinning of the nail plate. (The picture below shows rings of fire near the cuticle.)

The application of the product shouldn't hurt. Stinging or burning during application is a sign that they aren't using the proper product. Some salons will buy a knock off product, and put it in a different container so you are under the impression they are using a good product. Be careful which salon you choose and make sure your technician isn't causing you any pain. 

If you go into a salon and it seems shady, leave. If they are doing something to you you don't approve of, and they insist they continue, leave. If the salon is dirty, or the technician is rude, leave. You shouldn't have to put up with being mis-treated and then have to pay them too!

The bottom line is if you're going to a salon where the technicians use products that aren't good, and they aren't licensed, you could leave with all sorts of problems! Choose your salon carefully, and ask to see a copy of their license. Don't be afraid to ask them questions. Any licensed nail technician shouldn't have a problem explaining what they are doing and why.

We have relocated to a new house, so our address is different! The new address is:

1422 S. 2340 E.
Spanish Fork
Ut 84660

Please be patient while I get everything set up.  We are trying to iron out the kinks of where to put everything and get everything put together. Thank you all!

“Across the country, unsuspecting consumers are having their nails done by unlicensed manicurists working in unsafe nail salons. What many consumers don’t know is that they are putting themselves at risk of serious infection and disease whenever they go to these salons.” -Tammy Taylor Nails

Unfortunately unlicensed “nail technicians” working with dirty implements, in unsanitary conditions, no disinfectant, using blades and needles, and other serious violations happens all the time. If you have ever been to a salon like this, I am here to tell you, they are not all like that!

Without proper sanitation, clients are at risk to develop infections, and spread diseases. I would like to educate you on the rules and regulations, so you can steer clear of these salons, and know what to look for in a good clean salon.

First and foremost, why should you worry about sanitation?
When salons don’t follow the rules and regulations, clients can be exposed to harmful bacteria, and can cause serious infections, such as staph, hepatitis, or even AIDS. I’m not telling you guys this to scare you away from nail salons altogether, but to inform you about these hazards, and help you stay away from places that spread these infections.

What should I look out for?
Your tech should be washing their hands between each client, and have a clean work station. Their license should be posted where you can see it, if it isn’t displayed, you should ask to see it. You should also be able to locate their disinfectant. (Which they should put metal implements in after being washed with soap and water.) A needle or blade should never EVER be used on you, and all containers should be labeled with the manufactures name. A good nail tech cares about the quality of service you receive as well as your health and safety. Feel free to ask questions about disinfectants and procedures taking place in their salon. Quality salons will be more than happy to answer your questions.

More questions? Comment, or email me. 

Let your tech do her job!

Now that my nails are done, how should I care for them?

Something that I think a lot of us don’t really take into consideration is what we need to do to maintain our nails.  I have broken down the steps to care for artificial nails, and a lot of these steps are necessary for other forms of enhancements as well.

Repairs
If you break a nail or it’s lifting, don’t glue it back down or use a band-aid. This can cause moisture to become trapped between your natural nail and the enhancement and cause infection.  Keep the nails clean, and make a repair appointment asap.


Protect Your Nails
Wearing gloves when gardening, cleaning, or any other heavy work will help your enhancements stay in tip-top shape.  You don’t want your enhancements to be wet for long periods of time.  This causes lifting, which can lead to further problems. If you are hard on your enhancements, shorter nails may be your best option.

Your nails don’t like to be “under pressure.”
Don’t put pressure on your nails! They are not tools.  Use something else to open your soda, and whatever else it is you do.  Pressure can cause problems with your natural nail, lifting, and bruising of the natural nail.  Accidents happen, but treat your nails like they are “jewels not tools.”

Cuticle Oil
Quality cuticle oil is necessary.  It keeps your cuticles in their best shape—Imagine that! and also helps the acrylic stay adhered to the nail by keeping it flexible.  I love Young Nails Rose Oil. Young Nails Rose Oil nourishes and protects the cuticle from breaking and peeling. This is great for your natural nails, and will keep your nail enhancements from lifting, cracking, and separating. It is specially formulated for optimum preparation and is fortified with vitamins A, D, and E for anti-aging and conditioning. (And if you email me, I can get you some.) *This is not a paid advertisement.*

Proper Removal
Do not remove them at home.  I repeat, do not take them off yourself!  If you’re done with the whole enhancement thing, please make an appointment to have them removed.  Biting, chipping, picking, and pulling will cause major damage to your natural nail.  We’re talking about layers of your natural nail ripping right off with the enhancement.  This makes them very tender, and waiting for them to grow back to their natural state is unpleasant.  Do yourself a favor and have them removed by a professional.

Cleanliness
Keep your enhancements clean! Use a manicure brush to scrub underneath your nails.  Dirty nails are just gross, and they are a perfect place for bacteria to grow. Wash your hands often.

Keep your appointment for a fill!
Your nails lose their strength when they grow out too far.  You will notice they will have more problems if you go past your 2-3 week fill.  They need to be maintained.

Keep up with these things and have beautiful enhancements!

(Did I miss something? Oops. Add it to the comments, and I will edit the post. Thank you so much in advance!)

Gel polish is huge in the nail industry right now.  Gelish, Shellac, Axxium, Gel Color, ManiQ, and many more.  And they all offer chip free manicures that last up to 4 weeks. (Depending on the growth rate of your nails.) But what does this mean?  This is a soft gel that is applied to the natural nail, or even over an enhancement.  Meaning it can either add length to your nails, or keep them your natural length.  This gel “polish” has many advantages.

• You don’t have to worry about free-edge chipping.  Yes, its true, these wont chip, lift, or peel if applied correctly.  They last for up to 4 weeks.
• No dry time. Since gel cures in a light, you don’t have to sit around and wait for them to dry, or worry about them smudging!
• It’s odorless!
• Adds strength to the natural nail. (reduces breakage)
• Great for growing out bitten nails.

The advantages outweigh the disadvantages; but here are a few of the disadvantages.

• Removal is required.
• The price.

These won’t come off like polish. Removing them requires a second visit.  Often times when damage is done by removal it is because the gel nail has been ripped or peeled off at home.  Without proper removal from a professional, there will be damage to the natural nail. And while it’s true that this service can be a bit pricey it does last at least twice as long as a natural manicure. Questions? Click “Email Me” in the bottom right corner, and I will respond as soon as I can.