Now that the cold weather and gray clouds have given way to sunny skies, it could only mean one thing: It’s sandal season! And for nail techs, that means it’s pedicure season. Clients will be baring more skin and it’s up to you to make sure it’s in tip-top shape.

A combination of warmer air outside, humidity, and dry indoor heat can wreak havoc on skin and nails, leaving your clients with rough, scaly skin.

“Due to rising temperatures and humidity, a variety of skin and nail conditions can occur.” Says Dr. David H. Herschthal, a clinical associate professor, department of dermatology, University of Miami School of Medicine. “Notably dry skin and nail fungus peak in summer.”

Now is the time to help clients prevent problems like dry skin, scaly elbows, and sunspot.

Summertime is the perfect opportunity to change your manicure and pedicure menu into creative services that’ll be sure to please your clients and attract new ones.

Promote your new service with direct mailing, flyers, and referrals (your local shoe store would be perfect).

As you can see from the services listed here, it doesn’t take a lot of hard work or know-how to tailor some tempting treatments this summer.

Spa: Just Calm Down, New York City

Service: A Rose by Any other name Pedicure

Time: 1 hour

Price: $60

Description: This spa gives new meaning tom “being treated like a queen.” That’s the philosophy behind each one of the spa’s service. Before each service, clients are given tea and cookies while they pick out homemade products to customize their service.

“Everything here is about choice,” says co-owner Tara Oolie. “Each client’s picks out what kind of scrub, lotion, and essential oil’s she’d like.” A Rose by Any Other name Pedicure is no exception. A bowl is filled with tepid water with rose petals and geranium bubbling salts. Clients’ feet soak in the relaxing concoction for 10 minutes. A regular pedicure is then performed with nail and cuticle work. Then, a scrub of the clients’ choice is applied. They can pick from sugar or salt scrub, or Heidi’s tropical Scrub – all of which are homemade. “Heidi’s Tropical Scrubs smells like Coconut and makes clients feel like they’re in Hawaii, boast Oolie.

Next, a 10-minutes massage is performed, again with the clients’ choice of massage lotion. “Clients have their choice of Soothing Sorbet Lotions in Mint, Lavender, Hibiscus, or pine scents,” explains Oolie. “They’re perfect for summer because the great thing about lotions is that when clients leave, they won’t slip out of their sandals.”

To top it off, funky nail art lady bugs and flowers can be added at the end of each service. The spa goes one step further and gives each client her own fingerprint goodie bag because as Oolie says, “No two are alike.” The bag includes a card with the technician’s name and samples of products that were used on the client

Spa: The Botanical, Hillsdale, N.J.

Service: Botanical Pedicure

Price: $50

Description: This salon and spa’s roots lie in medical massage therapy, and therefore its services require stress relief and balance restoration. “Our clients have to feel great when they walk out the door,” says spa director Carol Birchwale. “When we offer a service, it must pass the “Feels Great test”.

Clients feet are first soaked in a mixture of Dead Sea salt and eucalyptus oil along with flowers as they relax in a couch recliner. Next, feet are exfoliated with quartz crystals, natural beach sand, and marine alpha hydroxyl acid complex. They’re then massage with a sea serum and wrapped in towels after feet are rinsed, the cuticles are pushed back, nails trimmed, buffed, and filed. A soothing masque is then applied to feet and wrapped in towels for five minutes. The feet are then rinsed again and a reflexology massage is performed on each foot for 10 to 12 minutes each.

“Clients then pick their choice of summer color to complete their sandals,” says Birchwale.

Salon: Polish Nail Emporium, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Service: The Apple Cobbler

Time: 1 hour

Price: $55

Description: Polish Nail Emporium’s homemade nail recipes have gained a cult-like following and this summer client’s won’t be disappointed. Owner Erika Kirkland has whipped up The Apple Cobbler Pedicure, which is described as “a saucy solution of spiced apples and a fresh cinnamon slough.”

The service begins with an applesauce foot soak and is topped off with a pulse point massage.

Salon: Degage Spa and Salon, San Diego

Service: Peppermint Raspberry Smoothie for hands or feet

Time: 15 Minutes

Price: $15

Description: This micro-treatment is a sweet treat for summer. Clients in a hurry can get this skin smoothing treatment in as little as 15 minutes.

“It’s a simple treatment someone who’s looking for something different and is short on time,” says spa manager Keith Huber. “It’s great for clients to get during a lunch break or during anger treatment while she’s waiting for her foils to dry.”

It can be done as stand-alone treatment or as an add-on service to manicures and pedicures. While the clients’ feet are soaking the products are being mixed.

It’s a nutrient-rich mud that comes in powder form and is mixed with a peppermint essential oil and raspberry extract,” explains Huber. “When you apply the nutrients it agitates the body’s biochemistry and stimulates metabolism and the detoxification process.”

After it’s mixed it’s applied to the client’s feet and ankles. The feet are then wrapped in plastic and placed in heated booties and left for eight to 10 minutes “After it’s removed the feet feel tingly and refreshed,” notes Huber.

Spa: Allen Edwards Day Spa, Brentwood, Calif.

Service: Alpha-Hydroxy Pedicure

Time: 1 hour

Price: $60

Description: Fungus thrives off summertime humidity and Allen Edwards is there to save the day. This California spa has created an Alpha-Hydroxy Pedicure just for this season.

“It’s great because it not only kills fungus, but it gets rid of dead skin,” says spa director Rohnda Nabors.” It’s not performed on the foot, but from the knee down” Technicians starts by soaking the feet with the alpha-hydroxy treatment in the water. Then, push back cuticles and get rid of dead skin with a pumice stone. They go one step further to ensure complete eradication of built-up layers of dead skin: they apply alpha-hydroxy acid on the knees and on top of the feet and wrap hot towels around them for 10 minutes. This is followed by an acupressure massage.

“Alpha-hydroxy is an acid peel recommended by dermatologist,” notes Nabors. “It really helps to get rid of the dead layers of skin caused by sun damage.”

Another reason this pedicure is so popular for summer?

“People are wearing more open-toed shoes and it’s probably one of the better foot treatments that helps the sole of feet,” comments Nabors.

Spa: Kimberly’s , A Day Spa Latham, N.Y.

Service Lavender Hand Treatment

Time: 45 Minutes

Price: $30

Description: this spa gets its clients ready for prom and wedding season with its Lavender Hand Treatment.

“Lavender is great for the skin because it’s herb so it’s calming and soothing and a very good healer to the skin,” says spa owner Kimberley Comiskey.

The first part of the treatment entails a basic manicure with nails and cuticles getting a good soak. The twist is that after the soak, lavender is applied to the hands.

“The lavender is pre-mixed, which makes it easy to use,” says Comiskey.” “It also has a lovely scent and its purple color adds to the spa ambiance.”

After the lavender is applied, jojoba beads are placed on top of it and then massage into hands and arms. A bristle brush is used to enhance the scrubbing of the ingredients.

“It’s great for skin that’s dehydrated or has sun damage,” notes Comiskey.” It  leaves a really nice glow to the hand when it’s finished.”

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