Manicure

Manicure

Hands age more quickly than the face and therefore need regular care. A regular manicure or pedicure keeps nails tidy and improves the appearance. It also helps the nails grow and stay strong. A luxury and effective treatment for the hands includes Hand Cleanse, Exfoliate & Masque. Hands will feel softer, smoother, firmer and will be visually more attractive.

A manicure treats each nail for its specific nail type. The cuticles are cared for with oils and creams, the nail shape is perfected and a base coat and colour are applied for the perfect finish.

The treatment is designed to meet the needs of the four nail types, dry, brittle, normal or damaged and encourages the absorption of essential vitamins and minerals. A true treat for the hands and nails.

French Manicure
Tidy up of the nails including shaping and slight cuticle work, followed by an application of hand and nail cream. Finishes with a French polish. The tips of your nails are painted white and left with a natural base.

Pedicure

A therapeutic foot bath and skin-softening pedicure is followed by a relaxing pressure point massage using creams and oils containing sage, menthol, rosemary and mint to soothe, refresh and revitalise the feet.

The deep exfoliation of your feet can renew your skin and will provide visible improvements.

Legends have 3 nail stations so why not bring along a friend and have your treatment done together.

Nail Care Guide

The nail is made of a hard protein called keratin. A protein is one of the building blocks which make up the body. The nails help protect the ends of the fingers and toes from trauma and also help us pick up small objects. Over the last hundred years, the nails have become more important for cosmetic reasons and less important for protection. Manicuring is the care of the hands and nails. Basic manicuring should be done once a week. Every 4-6 weeks it is a good idea to seek the services of a professional manicurist. A professional manicurist best knows how to keep your nails looking healthy and beautiful.

General Nail Care Tips

1. Keep your nails as dry as possible. Prolonged immersion in water, especially soapy dishwater or bathwater, increases the risk of fungal infections, which cause pain and inflammation. New antifungal drugs are extremely effective, but using gloves while washing dishes and keeping socks and shoes dry help keep infection from developing in the first place.
2. Minimize nail trauma and protect your cuticles. Try not to chew your fingernails or use them as tools - such as to scratch marks off countertops. These habits can separate the nail from the skin, allowing bacteria and chemicals into the underlying tissue. Bacteria can also get in under the cuticle, the small flap of skin around the perimeter of the nail that forms a seal between nails and skin.
3. Don't overdo nail polish. In rare cases, regular use of nail polish containing formaldehyde can lead to allergic reactions. If you experience problems, look for formaldehyde-free polishes. Nail polish remover, especially brands containing acetone, can make nails brittle and weak. It's a good idea to let nails go bare at least a few days each month.
4. Trim nails short and regularly. While ripped or damaged nails will grow back if the nail root is not injured, trimming nails short helps prevent nail damage. Regular trimming also keeps nails from thickening, especially in older adults. When trimming be careful not to round nails too much, which could damage skin at the corners.

Weekly Nail Care
15-20 minutes each week)

1. Remove any old nail polish. To remove the old polish, first moisten cotton with nail polish remover and press over the nail for a few seconds to soften the polish. Then with a firm movement, bring the cotton from the base of the nail to the tip. Repeat this process until all of the polish is gone.
2. Shape the nail, using a file or emery board. File each nail tip from corner to center; do not file in a see-saw motion with the emery board because doing so can cause ridges in the nail and nail splitting.
3. Soak the hands in warm, soapy water for a few minutes to remove dirt. Clean under free edge of nail with orangewood stick.
4. The cuticle is the skin that grows from the finger onto the base of the nail (nail root). We recommend that the cuticle not be pushed back. Leaving the cuticle intact helps to prevent infection of the nail growing tissue.
5. Now apply clear nail polish, such as Nailtiques protein formulas or OPI Nail Envy nail strengthener which both have a proven track record of nourishing and moisturising the nail plate to promote healthy growth. After the clear polish dries, apply a colour polish of your choice if you wish. Let dry. You may then reapply the clear polish as a top coat. This will help strengthen the nail and prevent chipping of the nail polish.
6. Finally, apply a moisturizing cream or lotion to the hands and cuticles. This will help prevent splitting of the nails.

Additional Nail Care Tips

1. A good time to do your manicure is after you have taken a shower, bath or after washing the dishes. This is because these activities remove the dirt from under the nail.
2. Nail polish thinner can be used to thin out nail polish that has become too thick. Keep the polish in the refrigerator to make it last longer.
3. Try not to use nail polish remover more than once a week. Nail polish remover causes the nails to dry out. Dry nails crack and split more easily than nails that are well hydrated (well-moisturised).
4. A top coat or sealer is a liquid that is applied over the nail polish. Any clear nail polish can be used as a top coat or sealer. This will minimize chipping or cracking of the nail. On natural nails, a clear coat can be used every day for seven days to give the nail protection and keep the moisture in.
5. After washing your hands, apply a cream or lotion. Hands and nails tend to get dried out from soaps and cleansers. You should try to keep your hands and cuticles well lubricated, with a moisturizer such as Aquaphor, Moisturel, Vaseline. You should use an oil or moisturizer at bedtime every night.
6. Sometimes nail polish, dirt and bacteria can stain the nails. This can be removed by using a cotton bud or an orangewood stick with a cotton tip. Soak the cotton in 10 parts water mixed with 1 part bleach, then rub the nail where the stain is. This will remove most stains from the nails. Scrub under the nails with a nail brush or toothbrush with soap or bleach solution to remove stains under the nails.
7. A vitamin called Biotin makes nails stronger in animals. Some studies suggest that it may help strengthen human nails. Biotin is available at health food stores.