As a Nail Specialist I have come across clients who had a fungus infection underneath the Nail Bed. Many clients don’t know what a nail fungus infection is or what causes it. There are a number of different types of fungus that can cause a fungal toenail. Nail Infections can effect the Nail Bed (Nail Plate) which is raised above the surface, greenish underneith the nails or in between the toes. This may cause discoloration & swelling. What usually causes this can be a number of different things from not disinfecting the utensils to trimming the cuticles instead of pushing back & buffing away the cuticles. One of the major causes of infections underneath the Nails is the pipe & jets water massage system Pedicure Seats which can harbour potentially harmful bacteria, oil & other debris if not properly cleaned.

Pipeless European Touch

At the spa at willow Bend we use Pipe-free Pedicure seats which will prevent our clients from getting any infections. State of the Art European Touch circulates water up through a contoured footplate in the Tub not like the typical pedicure chair that have Jets. Often Jets are more difficult to clean because of the Bacteria that may remain in the pipes. I often advice my clients of this Crystal Clean pipeless technology, also to treat the nail & prevent any infections by cleaning underneath the Nail regularly. By keeping the toe nail short, filing them straight & by using Tea Tree Oils which is a natural antifungal.

ohhhh How we Love the Pipeless Pedicure Chairs!!!!!!!!!!!

Victoria Francis – Nail specialist

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Last blog we talked about being gentle to our skin. It logically follows that learning how to be gentle to your face is one of the most important parts of any skin-care routine. There is no way you can ever hope for soft, smooth skin when your face is being irritated every time you take care of it. Irritation-free skin is the goal.

We do many things to our skin and buy an assortment of skin-care products that can cause serious irritation. Yet it is far easier than you may think to eliminate these skin-”care” culprits. With that in mind, here is a list of typical skin-care and makeup ingredients and specific cosmetics products and tools to avoid or use cautiously. The skin can react negatively to all of the following products, procedures, and ingredients.

Irritating Skin-Care Steps and Products

• Abrasive scrubs
• Astringents containing irritating ingredients
• Toners containing irritating ingredients
• Scrub mitts
• Facial masks containing irritating ingredients
• Loofahs
• Bar soaps and bar cleansers

Irritating Ingredients (These are of greater concern when they appear in the beginning of an ingredient list.)

• Acetone
• Alcohol or SD alcohol followed by a number (Exceptions: Ingredients like cetyl alcohol stearyl alcohol are standard, waxlike cosmetic thickening and are completely nonirritating and safe to use.)
• Ammonia
• Arnica
• Balm mint
• Balsam
• Bentonite
• Benzalkonium chloride
• Bergamot
• Camphor
• Cinnamon
• Citrus juices and oils
• Clove
• Clover blossom
• Coriander
• Constarch
• Eucalyptus
• Eugenol
• Fennel
• Fennel Oil
• Fir needle
• Geranium
• Grapefruit
• Horsetail
• Lavender
• Lemon
• Lemongrass
• Lime
• Linalool
• Marjoram
• Melissa (lemon balm)
• Menthol
• Mint
• Oak bark
• Orange
• Papaya
• Peppermint
• Phenol
• Sandalwood oil
• SD alcohol
• Sodium C14-16 olefin sulfate
• Sodium lauryl sulfate
• Thyme
• Wintergreen
• Witch hazel
• Ylang-ylang

These ingredients are extremely common. You would be surprised how often they show up in skin-care products for all skin types. Don’t believe us? …. Go check some of the products you have on hand and see for yourself. If these ingredients are present in skin-care products meant for everyday use, they introduce a constantly irritating insult to the skin and causing dryness, rashes, increased oil production, redness, and breakouts.

REMEMBER, skin doesn’t have to hurt, tingle, or be stimulated even a little to be clean. (If the skin tingles, it is being irritated, not cleaned. The major rule for all skin types is, if a product or procedure irritates the skin, don’t use it again.
Live with Passion!

Esthetically yours, Concetta, aka Connie FBI, and Rania

Light based technologies have revolutionized aesthetic procedures and medicine. Lasers are the pinnacle of these technologies. Because of the brightness and intensity but significant improvements in a wide variety of cosmetic conditions that are also afforded by other light sources such as IPL’s (Intense Pulse Light Systems), LED’s (Light Emiting Diodes) and other LLLT (Low Level Light Therapy Modalities), AFT (Advance Fluorescent Technology) the new generation of lasers.

Even though we will find steady evolution of lasers and delivery devices into more user-friendly and ergonomic devices, most of the latest advances in the last couple of years have come from a realization that it’s a combination of different modalities of treatments that are making the most remarkable improvements in skin conditions rather than one particular type of laser treatment alone. The combination of various laser modalities with some skin care and cosmeceuticals can produce results that surpass the sum of their individual parts. For example, skin rejuvenation in patients which sun damage and acne can be pretreated with microdermabrasion to enhance topical drug delivery and surface optics of the skin, then follow with applications of the drug Levulan activated with the light blue light and further treated with pulse dye followed by a consistent regime of the skin care and cosmeceuticals.

Next blog, LASER 201.

Connie B.

“Thou shalt always treat thy skin gently or it will complain loudly that something is wrong.”

Your skin is the protective armor that keeps the elements and other invaders from entering the body. We protect most of our anatomy with clothing, but our faces are left painfully exposed to everything. It’s no wonder the skin on our faces acts up now and then. Sensitive skin is probably the most “normal” type of skin around.

Learning to be gentle to your face is one of the most important part of any skin care routine.

The average woman uses at least 12 different skin care, makeup, and hair care products a day, with each one, on average, containing about 20 different ingredients. That means her skin is exposed to 240 different cosmetic ingredients on any given day.

Many products that are advertised as making the skin look instantly younger when placed over the lines on the face contains irritating ingredient and with repeat use, they could actively make the skin more wrinkled.

Treat your skin as gently as you possible can. Whether you think of your face as oily, dry, or mature, you will need to be gentle with your skin and avoid things that cause irritation.

Irritation takes a toll on all skin types. It can cause an assortment of problems, from redness to dry patches, blemishes, rashes, cracks along the side of the nose and corners of the mouth
and eyes, flakiness, increased skin, sensitivity, other skin disorders and a reduction in the skin’s immune/healing response.

Concetta and Rania, our fabulous aestheticians, will be happy to sit down with you for a thorough skin analysis and determine the best plan of action for your particular skin needs. Come and discover the difference at The Spa at Willow Bend!

Live with Passion!
Esthetically yours,
Concetta-aka Connie FBI- and Rania

Most spas offer a kind of Hydrotherapy, but do you know what is Hydrotherapy and its many functions?

Hydrotherapy is defined as the application of water in its three forms (solid, liquid, or vapor) to the body, either externally or internally, in the treatment of disease or trauma.

The practice of Hydrotherapy may also include the use of herbal and chemical preparations applied in conjunction with applications of water, such as with the use of plasters, poultices, masks, wraps, and baths.

The goal of hydrotherapy is to normalize the quantity of blood circulating through a given area, during a given period of time, by manipulating factors affecting circulation. The benefits of Hydrotherapy includes boost of immune system, relaxation, pain relief of sore muscles, bursitis, fibrosis, gout, congestion of respiratory tract, fever reduction, cold, flu, rheumatoid arthritis, colic, headaches, irritable bowel and many others.

Ancient Egyptians, Hebrews, Persians and Hindus all used water in the treatments of disease as do their descendants today. The Romans invented the ducts for the use of hydrotherapy. The word SPA is an acronym of “Sanitas per Aqua” which means healing through water, a Roman belief.

Unfortunately, the medieval ages slowed down the treatment of “healing through water”. However, in the 1800s Father Sebastian Kneipp revived the use of hydrotherapy. Nowadays, hydrotherapy is used extensively in Europe, especially in Germany.

Here at The Spa at Willow Bend, we believe in the use of Hydrotherapy, and I craft the baths according to the individual needs of our clients. Come and check our hydrotherapy treatments, you will see the difference!

Acrylic nails has been popular for many years. Every female desires long beautiful nails especially within our modern day culture. When I was younger I remember going with my friends in Florida to get our nails done for the Junior prom. I was so excited about getting a full set for the first time. This was suppose to be Nail Heaven, a dream for teenagers, NOT!!! I was in the nail shop when i notice the nail tech using a drill on my natural nails which i thought was normal at first. The drilling became more & more excessive removing layers off my nail bed (nail plate) this is the skin on top of which the nail grows. She drilled beyond this leaving the last layer of my nails very sore & red, this is when i realized something was just not right!!!. I was in so much pain. She continued drilling toward the cuticle area permanently damaging a finger nail – to make it worse the full set Acrylic was applied making my finger nails burn more because of the powerful chemicals. When It came time to remove the Acrylic Full Set it was so pain full, I barely had any natural nail left because of the excessive drilling & chemical powder. I was always in to beaulty but this is what motivated me more to attend Cosmetology School. This is where I found out that Acrylic is so harmful for your natural nail & high in toxins. Using the drill is not even recognised by the Board of Cosmetology on the natural nail even though many nail shops practice this. The idea that Acrylics makes your nail grow quickly is also a misconception because when it comes to removing them they will leave your nails weak, brittle with ridges. At the Spa at Willow Bend we specialize in Natural Nails, Over the years I have developed a technique to give the natural nail the same appearance as having an artificial long nail (personal preference) but more healthier. We use top brands that will leave your nails healthy & long without any damage. We also use the best brand of polish (OPI & Sparitual) that will last for weeks. Come & experience a unique way that differs from the average nail shop. The difference between the Nail Tech Vs Nail Specialist at the Spa at Willow Bend is the knowledge, Research, Practice & continued education that we take pride in.

So don’t hesitate any longer book an appointment soon!!!!!

For those with brittle damage Nails, Necessary for Nail Growth – Calcium & Magnesium, Vitamin D3, Vitamin B, E & Biotin regular manicures.

Victoria Francis