Nail Salons and Hygiene What You Should Know Before Getting Your Nails Done

I recently came across an interesting article on nail salon hygiene while thumbing through a magazine at my local beauty salon.

In this study, a group of 15 nail salon shadow shoppers was asked to visit professional nail salons and report on their hygiene levels. (Naturally, I imagined myself being one of these lucky shadow shoppers and told to go for it at the nail parlor and to spare no expense - can you imagine? I'll take a french manicure, no ... wait! Make that a natural nail manicure, definitely a pedicure, gimme the latest nail fashion and make sure you use the best fingernail polish money can buy. Or maybe I'll just go crazy and add Hollywood nails, no ... acrylic nails, no, wait ... how about some nail tattoos, or some airbrushed nail art ... oh I know! give me some of those fabulous Tammy Taylor nails ... my, how lovely it is to daydream!)

Anyway, over 50 nail salons were visited and, according to the study, more than a third of the salons visited were found to be unsatisfactory, with their main complaints being bad hygiene standards, poor customer service and shoddily done manicures.

Upon entering the salon, the participants were instructed to ask for a complete manicure, tell the nail technician that they had never had a professional manicure done before, then ask the salon professional to describe what the process entailed. After the session was over, each of the participants were asked to fill a questionnaire, reporting on various aspects of their experience - levels of hygiene observed, how long the manicure took and how much it cost and whether the experience was satisfactory or not.

According to the report, 92% of the technicians who attempted to use metal cuticle clippers on the shadow shoppers didn't put on gloves. Even worse, they did not use an implement that was package-sealed, even though half of the nail technicians claimed the instrument had been autoclaved (an autoclave is a pressurized device that uses steam and high water pressure to sterilize equipment). The shoppers also reported several hygiene breaches on equipment such as nail files and buffers, which should either be disposable or cleaned between clients. A few salons had surfaces that weren't cleaned between clients and were covered in dust, or even pieces of skin. In one salon, a technician kept her dirty implements in the cash drawer.

Some of the actual comments from the survey participants regarding the low hygiene levels they experienced were as follows:

The technician picked up the metal scissors ... used on someone else's feet ... she used them to cut some skin from around her own nail. She then went to use them on me.
This salon had an overpowering smell that burnt my throat and made me feel ill.
The technicians washed the handtowels in the foot spas.
Counters and floors were dirty, instruments reused and technicians did not wash their hands at all.
The technician had open wounds on her hands. I asked her to put gloves on.

If a salon has overpowering fumes, it may be a sign of poor ventilation, especially where a salon engages in a lot of acrylic nail work. The preferred substance for making acrylic nails, ethyl methacrylate, can be hazardous if used in a salon without proper ventilation. A strong, unpleasant odour could also mean they're using dangerous substances, such as Methyl Methacrylate (MMA).

What To Look For In A Nail Salon

Here are some of the things you look for when visiting a nail salon:

- Use only accredited salons and technicians and look for certifications of competency, which should be displayed prominently in the salon.
- The salon should be clean and tidy, with linen and towels changed between clients.
- All chemicals should be in clearly marked containers.
- Metal tools that could penetrate the skin should be sterilized in an autoclave.
- Non-disposable nail implements should be rinsed, scrubbed in tepid water and detergent and dried, or wiped with 70% alcohol between clients.
- Some nail salons keep implements especially set aside for each regular client. You should ask your nail technician to do this for you, if you are a regular client of a nail salon.
- Nail implements need to be clean and dry. Don't let anyone use an implement on you that's been left sitting in water, even if the water contains disinfectant.
- Don't use a foot spa if you've shaved your legs the night before or on the day of the pedicure, of if you have any cuts on your legs, as this makes you more vulnerable to infection.
- If you are having acrylic nails put on, ask your nail artist to explain the procedure, what products they're going to use and how to care for the nails at home.
- Don't be shy to ask questions about the manicure, the chemicals being used and how the implements have been cleaned.

The salon I normally go to is very professional and clean, the technicians are highly competent and certified and all procedures are explained in great detail when asked. So, I went ahead and pampered myself for almost an hour and got myself some beautiful nails (included in the manicure was a nail bath, filing and buffing and cuticle work) and a massage. Maybe next time I'll go for nail tattoos or those Tammy Taylor nails!

Read the full article at: http://www.beauty-info-resources.com/nail-salon-hygiene.html

About the Author:

Lisa Curiel is the editor of Beauty-Info-Resources.com, a site that provides articles, resources, news and information about beauty, skin care, hair care, nail care, weight loss and more. Visit her site for more nail salon articles.

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Camping with DogsTen Commandments

CAMPING WITH DOGS -
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

In the U.S. alone, more than 30 million people each year take their pets with them while camping. Yet, when we first started RVing with our dogs, we were unable to find much written on the subject. Sure, there were the occasional articles in magazines that reminded us to use pet ID tags, bring plenty of water, and take their favorite toy. But in terms of providing genuine support or bottom-line information, there was nothing out there. Since it was something that we felt was badly needed, we decided to write this article.
While there are numerous issues to consider while camping with dogs, these are some of the most important.

1. Make Sure that Your Dog Can't Get Lost
It's one thing if your dog gets free in your neighborhood. It's another when you're at a rest stop, nine hundred miles from home. Either train your dog to come when called or make absolutely sure that they're on a leash at all times.

2. Get All of their Vaccinations Up to Date
If your dog gets into an altercation with another animal (or a person), the central issue will become their rabies shots. If you stay at a campground that has a demanding pet policy, you'll need to verify your dog's vaccination records. If you cross into Canada, you'll have to confirm that your dogs have had their shots. You get the idea.

3. Make Your Dogs Easy to Identify
If your dog does get lost (unfortunately, it happens all the time), the ability to easily identify them will become critical. For permanent identification purposes, consider tattoos or microchips. At a minimum, make sure they wear tags that show their name, your current phone number, and the date of their last rabies vaccination.

4. Clean Up After Your Dog
The biggest complaint about dogs has nothing to do with their bark, their bite, or their behavior. If you pick up after your dog, you'll be helping dog owners everywhere.

5. Learn How to Provide First Aid to Your Dog
If a medical crisis occurs while at home, you drive to your local veterinarian. But if you're heading down a dark highway in a strange town, it will seem like a bad dream. Although there are ways to get help while on the road, it always takes more time. In the meantime, your ability to provide competent first aid could save your dog's life.

6. Involve Your Dog in Everything You Do
If you really want your dogs to have a good time, include them in your activities. Take them with you on long walks. Buy a cheap plastic wading pool and let them play in the water. Throw a ball. Cook them up a hamburger. If you do stuff like that, they'll do cartwheels the next time you decide to take them camping.

7. Call the Campgrounds Before You Go
Even if a park claims they're pet-friendly, always call ahead to confirm their policy regarding your dogs. We've arrived at parks (with our two German Shepard dogs) after a long day on the road only to discover that pet-friendly meant dogs weighing under 20 pounds.

8. Plan Ahead for the Unexpected
Have a plan (for your dogs) in case of a flat tire, a serious accident, or a fire in your RV. Start with a few extra leashes, a pet carrier, and an extra fire extinguisher. Then have a fire drill to identify potential problems.

9. Learn About Your Camping Environment
The U.S. is a huge country with a vast assortment of dangerous wildlife, treacherous plants, unpredictable weather conditions, and demanding environmental challenges. If you don't know what you're doing, you might inadvertently be putting yourself and your dog in danger.

10. Recognize and Respect the Views of Others
While some of us can't imagine traveling without dogs, others can't image traveling with them. If you keep your dog under control and clean up after them, you won't give others much to grumble about.

Happy Camping with Rover!

About the Author

About The Author: The authors of Camping & RVing with your pets are avid pet lovers and campers. They are full-time RVers, who RV in a Class A with 2 large dogs and 3 cats, at last count! Jack and Julee Meltzer have traveled over 100,000 miles with 5 cats and 2 dogs in a Class B and Class A RV. They have stayed in campgrounds, public lands, state and Federal Parks, and the occasional Walmart parking lot. Subscribe at http://www.petsrv.com

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It's Your Logo: Make It Large!

Your company logo may be fantastic, but if it is not able to establish recognition in general, it can be of little help. When such is the case, it's time to allow your logo take a giant stride- towards promotion! Logo promotion is one of the most effective methods to improve your brand image in the market. All you need is to adopt some unique techniques to make your presence felt throughout the world.

Prior to adopting the steps for logo promotion, you should remember to take certain things into consideration. Firstly, your logo has to compete with thousands of other logos that are equally vying to capture the attention of the people, especially the urban youth. Secondly, the onlookers' eyes are exposed to almost over 3,000 logos or advertising messages everyday. As such, your logo should have the capacity to fight out all the stiff competitors off its way. Thirdly, the urban youth can recognize less than ten garden plants but can easily identify over 1,000 corporate logos. Fourthly, it is the urban youth that sets the trends for clothing, soft drinks, music or anything else. Keeping these points in mind, your logo promotion scheme should set its goal towards creating an urge among the people to buy your product. All successful advertising programs are targeted to make people want your product and so, your brand enhancement techniques should be directed to this very goal!

Different companies employ different methods to create universal brand awareness. The methods of distributing ink pens or key chains with imprinted company name or logo has become outdated. Instead, go for some enterprising or extraordinary feat! For instance, a giant advertising inflatable can hardly fail to capture attention. Their immense size makes them recognizable across busy roads, highways, parking lots, and hundreds of other public places. Reproduce a giant logo in exact detail as an individual blow-up advertising balloon. You can also choose from a variety of shapes and images, provided they complement your logo clarity as well as quality. Of late, we can observe another trend for advertising company logos. Many business firms are making use of the human body to grab a hold over the market. Cunning Stunts Communications, a marketing firm in the United Kingdom, hires students to display temporary tattoos of logos on their foreheads for at least three hours a day in public. Cleveland-based ad firm Marcus Thomas recently hired young Bostonians to shave tire tread into their hair to promote Dunlop Tires. Such gimmicks often work for new companies that are trying to carve a niche for themselves.

Once a company logo design gains popular recognition, it will consequently generate a greater demand for its goods and services. It is not possible to register sky-high popularity without adopting some really big tactics. So give free rein to your dreams and take a giant leap towards making your logo eally large!

Suzanne is an Internet marketing professional with expertise in content development and technical writing in a variety of industries. Company Logo Design-Business Logo Design

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All About The Cross Tattoos

History of Crosses

It is not known when the first cross image was made. However, after circles, crosses are on of the first symbols drawn by children of all cultures. As a basic design motif, the cross has appeared in pottery, weaving, carving and painting artifact of many ancient cultures. Cross symbols were used in the older, pagan religions.

The cross was used in the ancient world as a symbol of execution by crucifixion. And it became an important part of the Christian liturgy and art as a symbol of Jesus Christ's death. This Christian symbol is a long vertical bar intersected at right angles, usually about 2/3rds up by a shorter horizontal bar.

The Christians made a sign of the cross with the right hand both to profess their faith and to bestow a blessing. The early Christian clergy used small hand-held crosses to bestow blessings. Crosses were carried in holy processions. Later on, crosses were placed on altars in churches and erected outdoors in markets and along roads.

In spite of the fact that many folks associate tattoos with the disreputable sort of folks, Christian tattoos are immensely popular. These tattoos are a very unique and personal way for the bearer to identify with their Christian faith.

Christian Cross Tattoos

Also known as the Latin cross. It is the most common symbol of Christianity that represents the redeeming martyrdom of Jesus when he was crucified. An enormous variety of Christian symbols have been turned into tattoo images ? but the cross is the most popular tattoo chosen. The Latin pattern is a safe choice for first timers who are not sure just how much of the needle they will be able to stand.

Celtic Cross Tattoos - High Cross

The Celtic cross is definitely one of the most attractive types of tattoo out there today. A border of Celtic knots that have no beginning or end surrounds the basic cross formation. Or the knot work/spiral might adorn the inside of the cross. The graceful and timeless beauty of these cross designs lends themselves particularly well to tattoo art. This tattoo is usually black and green.

Celtic tattoos of all kinds are an insanely popular design to get done today. Because of their detailed appearance, meaningful symbolism, and rich history - people are opting to go ?Celtic.? The ancient history of the Celtic designs comes from Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales. This is a part of the world where so many people with similar backgrounds like to show pride in their heritage by getting a Celtic tattoo. The Celtic cross tattoo designs are easily the most widespread of all the Celtic images around. Bring the knot and the cross together, and you get some very heavy symbolism!

The Gothic Cross Tattoos

The Gothic style mimics the German design of heavily adorned pieces fabricated from wrought iron. The Goth culture is marked with a fascination of Medieval, Victorian and Edwardian history. Gothic crosses also symbolize the feelings of depression, pain and anger. Today's Gothic cross tattoos usually incorporate dark and disturbing imagery. Crosses wrapped in barbed wire are common. Also crosses that are actually daggers with a single drop of crimson at the tip.

Conclusion:

Crosses represent so much symbolism and are extremely versatile. Is it any wonder that the cross tattoos are one of the most popular tattoo designs people ask for when they walk into a tattoo shop?

Becky McClure believes that the most important word after you make the decision to get inked is ?Patience!? Pick the right tattoo design. Pick the right location on you. And pick the best artist you can find for your new body art.

http://www.dream-tattoo-design.com

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The Timeless Elegance of Celtic Jewelry

In my opinion, an outfit that lacks several pieces of jewelry is not complete. I have also never found a look that suited me, although I have tried many different styles of necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings over the years. However, everything changed when I discovered Celtic jewelry. I was immediately hooked on Celtic jewelry because of its beauty. It also helps me to stand out from the crowd by allowing me to express my singular personality.

I used to buy mass-produced Celtic jewelry that I found at accessory stores at the mall. These items are cheap enough for my budget but they still looked good enough to get noticed by other people. I can also buy a lot of Celtic jewelry without having to worry about the pieces getting lost, damaged or stolen because they are replaceable and inexpensive. However, my tastes in Celtic jewelry have changed quite a bit in recent years. I'm not anymore satisfied with the mass-produced items that I used to buy. In the last few years, I have developed an affinity for handmade jewelry, and I feel that nothing less will suffice.

IO welcome the idea of wearing a truly unique ring or anklet because I know that there's no exact copy of my jewelry out there. I found an outdoor market that sell handmade jewelry and I was very impressed by both the design and quality of the jewelry they offer. However, the market was just a temporary setup, so I have to start looking for other places that sell similar handmade pieces. I know that the mall would not sell these unique pieces so I didn't even bother going back there.

I also realized that the Internet would be the best place to find handmade Celtic jewelry at reasonable prices. Fortunately, I was able to discover plenty of websites and auction sites that carried exactly what I was looking for. This means that I would be able to keep adding to my collection. The only thing left for me to do was settle on a couple of specific jewelers whose craftsmanship and artistry appealed to me. For the moment, I cannot see myself wearing anything other than handmade Celtic jewelry. The beautiful crosses, watches, and rings in my collection are my most valuable possessions.
About the Author

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Celtic Jewelry. Visit our site for more helpful information about Celtic Design Tattoos and other similar topics.

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Outward Show Going For Interview?

Another name of Outward show is manifestation or Appearance. As soon as we hear the word appearance, bells of physical look ring in our minds. As we all know that today?s world is a world of appearance. Appearance plays a big role in achieving success. Not only human being but in another prospects, like products (food, clothing, electronics etc). If they are in attractive packaging they sell. People get attracted towards the appearance very easily & quickly which leaves a huge impact on their mind.

Did you know that the people that you meet are creating observations and making judgments about you and your character from the first moment they lay eyes on you? They are checking out your dress, your jewelry, your facial expression, your hair, hands, body language, and your overall demeanor. Studies have shown that within the first 10 seconds a person has already formulated 11 or more judgments about you. This is something to consider as you analyze what type of image you wish to project each day.

Your 'Appearance' is one of the most important assets you own. At the very onset of meeting someone, your image is being observed and evaluated. It is very easy to detect high or low self-esteem in a person. If you present yourself with confidence and poise, you will have a much better chance of achieving success in life. Being unsure of yourself or of your appearance can be very harmful to your image.

Your personal appearance is the finished product of how you look when you walk out the door - to a job interview, social function, business luncheon, a golf outing or a weekend get-away. The rule of appearance also applies to the corporate world. Most of the organizations pay lot of attention towards the appearance of their employees. Even there is a dress code in various organizations

GOING for interview?

is another word of caution. Don't go for a professional interview or to attend a function where you are expected to show some glimmer of conservatism and wear more than one ring on each hand, glitter nail polish, dirt under your unpolished fingernails or clothes that are completely inappropriate for the position you are hoping to obtain or the impression you would like to make. Actually, depending on how your overall appearance comes across, you may find you have high, or low self esteem when you meet someone, because you feel and sense whether you ?fit in? or are a ?sore thumb.? Bearing that in mind, people will judge you on the way you look and carry yourself. The time old saying of never judge a book by it's cover has never been as out of place. People and perspective employers especially will be doing just that! More often than not, your appearance will play a huge part in the way you are perceived and treated.

Make an effort to wear what you feel good in and something that you feel looks good on you. When you feel good about your appearance, it will show in the way you carry yourself and your overall performance. Choose colors and styles that accent your personality, but never wear clothing that is too flashy. After you ready yourself for an interview, take a long look in the mirror. Employers are very good at making connections: sloppy appearance often equals sloppy job performance. Basically, common sense is required. Ask yourself: Is there a slim possibility that what I'm wearing might make a negative impression on someone? Take into consideration the time needed to affect the perfect appearance. Once accomplished (before the interview), you will be better equipped to handle the other intricacies of the process without worrying about the physical judgments being made about you.

DON'T TAKE THE CHANCE

At a job interview, even one of the following items can negatively affect that first impression:

1.Chewing gum or smoking

2.Physical habits such as tapping fingers or clicking pens, bouncing legs or shuffling feet

3.Messy or unclean hair

4.Negative body odors or strong cologne/perfume

5.Visible tattoos

6.Torn or patched clothing

7.Unusual hair, such as lettering cut into it, spikes, bleached, odd colors

8.Too much jewelry or jewelry attached to odd places visible on the body (such as nose

piercing)

9.Worn or unpolished shoes; gym shoes

10.Any form of poor grooming

Should be?s

1. Smell Good (soft)

2. Keep up the soft Smile

3. Wear comfortable clothes (Formal)

4. Were soothing clothes

5. Minimal makeup

6. Basic manners (Knocking the door, permission to sit etc)

7. Carry at least two copies of resume

8. Keep your mobile on Silent

9. Properly managed hairs.

10. be confident.

Love

Anshu goyal

ansh.goyal@gmail.com

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