Spa Hopper: Join spa journalist, L. Brooks Baldwin, as she journeys from one spa to another throughout the city and the world beyond…!
Shellac Me…
One of the key “gateway” sevices into the world of spas is via nail treatments; you know, “manis” & “pedis.” The least expensive and the most expeditious of spa treatments, nail services are hot these days.
Typically, I treat myself to monthly pedicures, since even in the summer when my toes are exposed daily, the nail color holds up for about that long despite the obvious growout. Manicures on the other hand are something I do without, despite my desire to have lovely well-shaped and groomed nails sporting shades ranging from a subtle French manicure to rich vibrant color.
Why am I so down on manicures? Simple – chipping, smudging, and lengthy dry time all contribute to my disenchantment. It seems that no sooner has the polish been applied then noticeable imperfections and chipping show up. And I don’t know about you, but once a chip happens, I start picking and peeling the nail color – I just can’t help myself…
So, when my friend Karen, the spa director at Seattle’s Spa Nordstrom (http://i.nordstromimage.com/images/default/shop/image/boutique/spa-nordstrom/2010/1025/DowntownSeattle.pdf), told me about a revolutionary new nail treatment that would not chip, smudge, or fade – and required almost no dry time, I was equal parts hopeful and skeptical.
Shellac Nail Services (offered at Spa Nordstrom)
Karen invited me to experience Spa Nordstrom’s new Shellac Manicure ($47), and with a knowing smile promised I’d become a convert. Hmmm…
The Shellac Manicure experience began not unlike a typical manicure; first I selected my nail color (12 colors to choose from, more soon to come), and then sat down for hand-soaking, cuticle care, trimming, filing, massage, and nail color application. This is where the similarities end. Between each coat, my hands were placed under a UV-light machine to “cure” for about a minute at a time. At the conclusion of the manicure both my hands were placed under the UV-light and “cured” for two minutes. That’s it; I was free to go! The nails were completely dry – no smearing, no smudging! In fact, I could reach right into my pocketbook immediately without fear of undoing my beautiful nails!
My nails immediately following the Shellac Manicure application
Fast-forward 3 weeks + 1 day; I was still sporting my original Shellac manicure – the only difference between Day 1 and Day 22 was that my nails were longer, thus there were “growout moons” at the nail beds.
3+ weeks following the Shellac Manicure
The nail polish removal ($20 for professional removal, though it can be done at home) involved a bit more time since the nails need to be soaked in the remover for about 8 to 10 minutes each. Even afterwards, some of the nail polish clung to my nails requiring a gentle filing before my nails got a good final buffing. In the 3+ weeks of my Shellac manicure, my previously peeling nails had grown considerably. Only problem was that minus the strong shellac coating, my denuded nails began to peel and break again… leading me to personally conclude just how necessary it is to be “Shellac’ed” on an ongoing basis!
Refresh Me…
I’m always interested in helping out the environment when I can, and InSpa’s (www.inspa.com) makes it easy with their launch of the Re>Fresh Pedicure ($39), a relaxing, eco-friendly pedicure designed to conserve water by using steamed towels (instead of a tub of water) to soften and soothe your weary tootsies.
This being my first pedicure sans foot soak, I was skeptical, but in reality, having my feet enveloped in steamy warm towels was equally divine. No more lifting feet in and out of a tub, no more contrasting hot & cold between dips, just one long session of moist warm heat on my feet! In fact, the towel concept exceeded my expectations; while my feet remained snugly wrapped, my toes could be exposed and worked on simultaneously, making the process not only more expeditious, but also a more relaxing one during the vexing nail grooming activities.
The pedicure includes nail trim and shaping, callous & cuticle care, a catnap-inducing foot and lower leg massage, and concludes with a resplendent application of polish.
Eco-Friendly Re>Fresh Pedicure at InSpa
So, when you’re next considering updating your pedicure, consider this environmentally responsible fact attributed to InSpa’s Re>Fresh Pedi: by replacing the tub of water with the incorporation of moist steamy towels, 2000+ gallons of water are saved per day!
Brooks Baldwin
Brooks writes the monthly blog feature Spa Hopper . Having spent the past 12+ years authoring hundreds of spa stories and columns as a dedicated freelance spa journalist, Brooks, aka "Spa Hopper," continues her legendarily personal, oftentimes humorous, and always insightful accounts of her spa travels throughout the city and the globe for Girl Power Hour. You can also follow Brooks on her "Spa Hopper" Facebook page at http://tinyurl.com/2fph44d
* This post is from a Girl Power Hour featured blogger. It is not written, edited or endorsed by Girl Power Hour. The authors are solely responsible for content.
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