After a warning from her doctor that her health was in jeopardy, Tammy Dennis got serious and made drastic changes in her lifestyle. Find out how she used diet and supplements to lose 50 pounds and get healthier than ever.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your career. I have been in the industry since 2001 when I became partners with my best friend; we owned a salon, spa, and fitness center. When my partner and I no longer complemented each other, I moved on and eventually opened my own salon, Infinity Luxury Salon, in Bingen, Wash.
What are your health challenges? The stress of failing partnerships, buying a new salon, and starting over took a toll on me. Two months after opening my salon, I was very sick. I thought I had cancer. I couldn’t walk to my car without becoming extremely exhausted. I couldn’t stand after doing a pedicure; my arthritis in my knees would hurt so bad after sitting for an hour. My monthly cycle was kicking my butt; I would sleep for 10 days during that time. After several tests and doctor appointments, I did not have cancer, but my doctor told me I needed a hysterectomy and that I also also needed to start a weight loss program.
What was/is your plan of action? The very next day, a friend of mine, a nurse I had not seen in three years, stopped in the salon. She told me she had something I might be interested in. She had brought me a weight loss program! I took it as a godsend and didn’t ask questions; I just signed up. The first week was a detox, i.e., a low-carb, high-protein eating plan with supplements. My family and clients could not believe the transformation in me in just one week. I lost 8.5 pounds and 13 inches. I lost 5.5 inches just off my stomach. But the best part was that every single health issue I had went away with that detox. I went on to lose 30 pounds in six weeks, 50 pounds by around the 90-day mark, and I felt better than I ever had in my life. And I did it with no exercise and working full time as a nail tech.
How has/does your job as a nail tech affect your plan? I never planned a lunch or snacks before. I would just order from the local café that delivered and eat on the run. Now, I plan out my lunch and snacks and still eat on the run in between clients, but it’s healthy food from home. My protein shake is a meal replacement and super tasty. I have that on hand for when I get backed up with clients. Super easy, put in a shaker bottle with milk or water, shake, and go. It tides me over for about two hours.
What is your greatest motivation in maintaining your new healthy lifestyle? My motivation truly comes from my clients. By day three of starting the program, my clients were saying, “What are you doing? You are radiant!” I was embarrassed that I had to start a weight loss program, so I wasn’t telling anyone, but when they asked, I let them know. Many of my clients wanted to do it too.
What are your best fitness tips and advice for other nail techs who need encouragement to embark on a healthy lifestyle? Know that if you don’t take care of yourself first, you can’t take care of others later. Finding the right supplements with the eating plan and the support team was what worked for me. Just eating right is not enough anymore. The supplements are what filled the nutritional gaps I was missing and allowed my body to change medically and weight wise. No other program did that for me, so find one that works for you.
Tammy's view on her morning walks
Are you a healthy nail tech? Every month, NAILS will feature one nail tech in a monthly column devoted to shining the spotlight on your health and fitness success! If you would like to share your success story (overcoming health issues, weight loss — any health-related triumph) with NAILS readers, email tracy.rubert@bobit.com to find out more about how YOU can be featured as a NAILS Healthy Tech.
From acrylic monomers to airborne bio-dust, the air inside a nail salon carries risks most professionals never see coming. Aerovex Systems reveals the source-capture and room-purification strategies that are setting a new standard for salon safety.
Working in beauty doesn’t have to hurt. Learn how Somatic Movement helps hairstylists, lash artists, and other beauty pros release tension, improve posture, and extend their careers.
As a spa or salon professional, your clients expect more than just beauty—they expect safety, hygiene, and peace of mind. Fungal infections like Athlete’s Foot and Nail Fungus are more common than you think, especially in environments where tools and footbaths are reused without proper sanitation. This blog covers how to stop these issues before they start, using proven infection prevention strategies for salons and spas.
A federal initiative aimed at studying chemical exposure in nail salons has ended due to staffing and budget changes. Here’s what the project set out to do—and what its conclusion means for salon professionals.
For many people, a pedicure is a relaxing beauty ritual. But what most don’t realize is that this simple service, if done without proper hygiene and sanitation, can cause serious infections and long-term health issues.
Onycholysis is the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. While it may look painful, it typically isn’t—at least not at first. But without proper care, this common nail disorder can lead to infections, deformities, and long-term damage.
Mckenzie Kool, Psychologist, MC, RPsych provides us with guidance on what may or not be helpful in speaking with someone who has suffered a significant loss.
Clients come to you to feel their best—not leave with a viral souvenir. Warts and cold sores can spread fast in busy salons, but a few smart habits make all the difference. Let’s talk about what’s really lurking in your salon (and how to kick it to the curb).
As Earth Day approaches, The Green Beauty Community Foundation and the Green Spa Network invite beauty pros to step forward and embrace sustainability through the Green Pledge--a powerful initiative designed by and for beauty industry leaders.
Don’t cancel Valentine’s Day altogether, urges Jill Palmquist. Instead, think of it as a (frilly, flowery, Champagne-bubbly) wake-up call to fall deeply in love with your own life.
Life coach and Culture Ambassador of Sam Villa, Andrew Carruthers, outlines how to tell if your burnout is temporary - or if it's time to make a bigger career change.
Cancer treatment can create very specific challenges for your guest when it comes to hair, skin, and also nails. Here are some tips for working with your salon client who is going through cancer treatment to help you provide a relaxing, enjoyable, and also safe experience.
For those clients concerned about exposure from UV lamps, the Sun Patch might be a solution. Sun Patches are waterproof, reusable (up to 10 wears) block 98% of UVA/UVB rays, and maintain their UPF 50+ rating all day long.
One of the most common conditions that affects the nail is onycholysis, which is the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. Onycholysis occurs as a result of or along with a great variety of nail traumas and disorders. Probably the most common cause of onycholysis is a fungal infection of the nail.
Hairdressing is a physically taxing career integrating simple stretches into your daily routine can reduce the strain repetitive motion puts on your body, help you stay flexible and strong and eventually prolong your career.
