Hero Product - Jessica Fusion for Peeling Nails

I have many clients with peeling, flaky nails that chip easily. Well I have a fantastic product that will solve the problem. The most common mistake is people using the wrong basecoat which exacerbates the problem.

Image via Beauty Gossipologyst

The rule is if your nails peel/flake the only basecoat treatment you should use is one specially designed for peeling nails. Strengthening treatments will just plump out the peeling layers making the problem worse.

My nails peeled and chipped for years until I trained with Jessica at college and was introduced to one of my best buddies Fusion. I'm quite sceptical about wonder products but Fusion caught my eye, I had nothing to lose, plus joining the Beauty Industry I was seeing more and more beautiful nails and wanted mine to be part of that gang!

I was amazed with the results, the only time my nails have peeled since have been when I've peeled my gel nails off (embarrassed face!) and when I had pneumonia. I just reached for my trusty bottle and et voila... beautiful nails once more!

Many of my clients have had amazing results using Jessica's Fusion at home too. It contains rubberised resins which fuse the layers of the nail back together to prevent further peeling and chipping. It also contains Vitamin A which strengthens and conditions the nails encouraging healthy growth and layer development. You can wear it as a basecoat or as a clear varnish.

• Apply 2 layers every 2-3 days. 
• Your nails will continue to peel until the problem area grows out, so keep trimming/filing the nails with a soft file.
• File in one direction rather than sea sawing back and forth as this can make them peel more.

Jessica's GELeration can be used with a coat of 'Build' over the basecoat to help peeling nails too. Most importantly tempting as it may be, never peel off your gel nails as you will remove layers of your nail with it!! I learnt my lesson well!

Jessica's treatments never cease to impress me, many clients, friends and family have had excellent results with their different basecoats and cuticle treatments. So why not give it a go?

My nails nowadays!

Available from my salon Rituals Beauty in Newcastle upon Tyne:
Midi size 0.5 fl oz - £11.20
0.5 fl oz -£17.95.

To order yours today call 0789 4120073 or email hello@ritualsbeauty.co.uk. If you aren't local, I offer a postal service for a little extra cost.

Easter Nails Done!

Chocolatey Easter nails done, colour looks good enough to eat! They actually are a bit more of a warm brown, but can't for the life of me work out my camera!

Buck Naked by Jessica GELeration 

Beauty Treatment Consultations - A Must!

Image via http://www.balanceholistics.co.uk 

Facials are very relaxing and a lovely treat but they are actually meant to TREAT your skin not just your soul - not just a deep clean and a nice massage. It is lovely compliment when someone falls asleep on the bed as they are so relaxed, but that’s a tiny part of my job – the main part it’s about getting results for my customers. To get maximum results a consultation is a MUST!

Image via Crystal Clear Skincare

It drives me mad when I go into a salon and they don’t take the time to do a proper consultation. This applies to any beauty treatment from a simple eyebrow wax, spray tan, pedicure and right through to full body aromatherapy massage or facial.

Consultations are an important ongoing record and are there for a very good reason. Every single therapist should ask you to complete one tailored to the individual treatment. They should include any medical problems, recent medical treatment, allergies and give a picture of your lifestyle. Also any changes to these should be highlighted at future appointments.

There are certain conditions which may mean your treatment needs to be adapted or could actually prevent treatment (contraindicate) or you may need a doctor's note to give your therapist the go ahead. So it’s really important that your therapist is aware of these conditions.

Image via Tiffany Rose

For instance if you were booked in for a massage and you were trying to conceive, could be or were pregnant; I would avoid using products that contain essential oils which can stimulate the womb or regulate periods including Clary Sage and Peppermint. I would choose products which contain what we call the ‘safe oils’. I would also avoid certain trigger points that stimulate the uterus.

Image via The Peanut Institute

If you have a nut allergy – we would need to avoid products that contain nuts. If you are a diabetic, firstly I would need a note from your doctor and as your skin could be thinner than normal, I would ensure I used a lighter pressure in any massage, including manicure and pedicures.

I always ask my clients when they book, if they have any medical conditions or are on any medication – it saves disappointment and allows me to research conditions I am not familiar with in advance.

If you are on certain medications such as Acutane (for acne), you would need to be off the medication for at least a year before any waxing could be done, as your skin could be more prone to sensitivity and lifting.

Image via http://www.babybellies.ca

Your lifestyle gives me a picture on your fluid intake, diet, exercise and job. This helps me in treatments such as facials – if you only drink a couple of glasses of water a day and your skin is flaky and tight, then you need to increase your water intake as your skin is suffering from dehydration.

This is a brief picture of what Beauty Therapists can pick up from a thorough consultation – it doesn’t have to be formal, but provides us with an ongoing picture of you and helps us treat you much more effectively, professionally and gives our clients confidence that they have chosen a therapist who is professional, thorough and cares about the well being of her/his client.

Image via http://www.spas.ie

So next time you visit a salon – remember no matter how small your treatment, you should be ALWAYS asked to complete a consultation form. x

Beautiful Cupcake Gallery - Make Up

OOOO I do love a cupcake, especially super creative ones. So here's a little gallery of rather clever "Make Up" cupcakes.

"Ladies Night" cupcakes from The Canadian Living Crazy Cakes Contest - cute lil OPI nail polishes!

No make up collection is complete without some uber glam Chanel!

From Cupcakes Nouveau

Tom Ford lipsticks from Sweet Things.

The matt frosting looks so scrummy!

LOL look at those strip lashes, fab! Image found on: http://hollywoodoverdose.tumblr.com

I love anything with pearls, the eyeliner looks so real! How delicious does the the frosting look yummy! Image found on Makeup FTW

AND Saving the best till last ...

 Anna Sui collection from Lil Missy Cupcake.

WOW and double WOW! This is one lil clever lady. 

Jessica GELeration Day 15!

Oh my goodness, really can't believe how well my Sexy Siren Jessica GELeration has lasted!

I've smashed my thumb about 6 times against the end of the tap and they still haven't budged. Now I am super impressed.

I am desperate to put a new set on to see the other colours so this will be my last update. They really do feel super robust and it doesn't feel like they could lift at any moment. I'm still getting lots of compliments on them.

I just want to say well done to Jessica Nails for developing such an amazing product. I soaked a clients gels off this week and her nails were perfect underneath, the gel came off super easy and in one satisfying piece - nothing better lol!

Thanks for following my progress. No doubt I'll be posting other colours up.

Sara x

Jessica GELeration Has Arrived At Rituals Beauty

I am a very excited bunny - my first delivery of Jessica GELeration has arrived in the salon. I'm like a kid in a candy store! Shame I am still wearing a gorgeous set, otherwise I'd been doing my own right now!

To recap and for those who haven't read my previous posts on this fantastic nail system...

GELeration - is it a Polish or is it a Gel? Well it paints like polish, but performs like gel - a perfect combination. Jessica's philosophy is to develop the long term health of your natural nails and this has been carried on with GELeration hurray! The whole process is kind to your nails. Weak, broken or bitten nails can be revived and refreshed. Great as an ongoing maintenance treatment, for an occasion, or to help grow your nails.

Like all the Jessica range this product is amazing, it has really blown me away. GELeration is a new generation in soak-off nail system. It is a "hybrid" between a gel and a polish, it doesn't chip, fade or peel and it's super shiny with no need to use a top coat. It is much thinner than I expected so looks super natural. It dries in seconds so you leave the salon with dry nails - don't tell your man though - we still need a good excuse not to do the washing up!! Your nails look like new every day and super shiny. It's removed in minutes with a special soak off solution.

Here is my first go with "Buck Naked" - this is one of my favourites; a delicious nude brown with a gorgeous crème finish - it reminds me of Chanel's famous "Particuliere" in fact looks good enough to eat! It needs a little extra curing time than the other colours but I think the results are gorgeous - I really enjoyed using this system - even more than others I have used - it really does paint on like a polish and absolute pleasure!

Next to paint my toes- I probably won't expose you to them they are not a pretty sight! Have a great weekend x

Jessica GELeration Day 8

Here's an update you on how my new Sexy Siren Jessica GELeration nails are getting on, on day 8...

Still SUPER shiny, no chips, wearing or lifting and they are, as the days go on I am even more impressed!

I Just Love Chanel's New Dancing Nails Advert

Perfectly painted nails make you happy! Especially when they are Chanel!
Chanel Dancing Fingers TV Advert.. take it away girls!

Would love to see a Pulp Fiction version!