Why Natural Nails
At Natural Nail Care Salon, we believe natural nail care is the right way. The health of our nails, cuticles and hands can have an affect on our over all health. Torn or ragged cuticles, damaged fingernails, and dry or chapped hands are all entrance points for bacteria or other contaminants that may negatively affect our health. Our hands are a continuous source for the transmission of germs. Artificial nail enhancements can compound the risk of harboring those germs and can create occupational safety issues. We believe that proper care of your nails, hands, and feet can play an important role in the quest for better health.
The average person washes their hands 6-9 times a day, more if they work in food service or in the medical field. Washing your hands can strip them of their natural moisture causing dried out skin. Often ,over scrubbing while washing can further damage the skin by causing redness, irritation, blisters or peeling. Then we add the over use of alcohol based hand sanitize-rs and our skin becomes even more dry and irritated. When the skin becomes overly dry, it may crack or bleed. Any of these leave our hands vulnerable to contaminants or bacteria. Getting regular manicures help keep the hands hydrated, allowing the skins moisture barrier to remain in tact. Our nail technicians assist and educate to ensure our clients use the products and home practices that will keep their hands healthy.
There is a lot of differences in professional opinions about artificial nail enhancements. Artificial nail enhancements are typically acrylic nails, gel nails and wraps. Nails are built up either on the natural nail, by gluing on a tip or by using a form.
Acrylic nails, whether done as an overlay or a tip is used, requires the nails be "roughed up" prior to application. This process thins the already fragile nail bed. The nail bed must then be dehydrated to permit proper adhesion of the acrylic nail. Dehydrating the nail bed can leave it brittle and prone to breakage. If a tip is used, it must be glued on then buffed to create an even surface. This further thins the nail bed. Gaps or air bubbles in the acrylic provide a moist, warm environment ideal for bacteria to flourish. This is sometimes referred to as a fungus, but is usually bacteria which causes unsightly discoloration and possibly complete loss of the nail.(which may or may not grow back) It is also possible to have an allergic reaction to the chemicals used in the acrylic nail application resulting in redness, pain, swelling or other permanent damage to the nail. Removal of the acrylic nails involves soaking the nails in pure acetone and then filing off debris. Acetone is a harsh solvent which is even more drying to the cuticle and the nail bed. Inhalation of acetone can cause irritation of the throat and eyes.
Another artificial enhancement would be Gel Nails. Gel nails are applied as an overlay with or without a tip. They use UV (ultraviolet) light as a catalyst to harden the nail. While the UV exposure is minimal, it can still cause photo aging to the hands as well as have the potential for causing melanoma. There has been some debate about the harmful effects of UV light. With the rise in the popularity of tanning beds, many argued that UVA bulbs were less harmful than UVB. In truth, UVA, UVB, and UVC all are capable of breaking down collagen in the skin causing premature wrinkling. UVA and UVB destroy vitamin A causing even more damage. UVA is sneaky in that it does not cause any immediate symptoms of damage. Its longer wave lengths penetrate deeply, yet do not cause sunburn. UVB bulbs are shorter wavelengths, but are more intense. This causes the skin to produce more melanin to protect itself resulting in tanned skin, freckles, and hyperpigmentation spots. Artificial enhancements may hide possible melanoma under the nails making early detection more difficult. Gel nails, depending on type, are either soaked off with pure acetone or filed off layer by layer.
Nail wraps are done using pieces of fiberglass or silk to fit the surface of the nail, then sealed with resin or glue. This form of enhancement is used by Natural Nail Care Salon only as a patch on nails that are split or broken to prevent further damage to the nail and to allow it to grow out on it's own.
At Natural Nail Care Salon, we use exclusive Mavala nail care products. We have a variety of treatments and conditioners to help your nails become healthy and beautiful. The majority of our products are formaldehyde, toluene, DBP and camphor free.
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