Put Your Best Foot Forward

by Deneise Ramsey

As we approach springtime, we shed our winter coverings and prepare to put our best foot forward. In support of this notion, I invite you to consider pedicures in a new and perhaps deeper way: from a holistic perspective that includes honoring service and remembering our health and the body’s memory.

When the true nature of pedicure service is honored, the client is set at ease with attentiveness as the foot is held with care and confidence. Rather than use over-the-counter products, only professional quality products are used. In addition, because your body and sole are more deeply honored with products derived from plants, animal and mineral oils are not used. For example, almond or jojoba oil is used instead of mineral oil or lanolin. This is because the molecular weight of oils derived from plants is much lower than those derived from animals or minerals. The lower the molecular weight the easier and deeper the penetration into the skin, thus moisturizing much more effectively and luxuriously. Furthermore, a holistic pedicure calls for the use of only EPA registered, hospital-grade disinfectants to kill all germs, bacteria, viruses and their mutations found in public places because regular cleansers are not adequate.

Remembering our health requires us to take time out of our busy schedules and engage in stress management activities to enhance our well-being. A pedicure when done properly, rather than a luxury, is a stress management tool. For many, the most important and enjoyable part is the foot massage. All the nerve endings in our body come together at the bottom of our feet. We can therefore impact any and all parts of the body positively during the foot massage, which may also include some reflexology techniques. An example of reflexology is to engage certain pressure points on the feet to help stop a headache. Just imagine, headache cured, no medication! How better can we remember and serve our health than by taking our stressed-out, at wits-end, selves for a pedicure and emerging as calm, relaxed and healthier beings? You cannot experience this kind of deeper care with a quickie pedicure. It takes longer than a half-hour or forty-five minutes to achieve all I have shared. Allow about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the condition of your feet for such a phenomenal experience. Expect to pay between $65 and $80 for the exhilarating, quality pedicure explained in this article. Know that with this kind of pedicure your feet will be like a baby's behind and the polish will last from six to eight weeks. It doesn't get much better than this!

Finally, your body remembers experiences. If you experience a genuine, quality pedicure, your body will remember and be satisfied with nothing less. Remembering our health requires us to know that we are worthy of the best. And it requires that we remember that we can give no more to others than that which we feel worthy of receiving. So with the information offered here, go ahead… Put your best foot forward.

Deneise Ramsey is the nail technician extraordinaire at Palazzolo Salon in Royal Oak, Michigan. She has conducted advanced nail training seminars and judged nail competitions for licensed nail technicians throughout the United States. She can be reached at (248) 545-0060.