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Kim Mcintosh
Kim McIntosh, a former graduate of Xenon Int'l. School of Hair Design serves as the school’s Director and is a shareholder in the business. She holds a Cosmetology, Esthetics and Instructor's license in Kansas and Nebraska. She has worked behind the chair and managed some of the most prominent salons in the Wichita area. As an educator, her primary goal has been to provide the beauty industry with successful licensed professionals. Having served in the past as Second Vice-President on the Board of Directors for the National Cosmetology Association of Kansas, Kim is currently a Director on the national board for the American Association of Cosmetology Schools. You may contact Kim at (316) 943-5516.
Beauty & Fashion
2005-04-01 09:21:00
Will you paint my toenails?
ANSWER: Ah, spring does seem to cause women to scurry to their favorite spa for a pedicure. Treating yourself to a professional pedicure shouldn't be a guilty pleasure. There are two important reasons for a pedicure. The first is to give your feet a well-deserved, deep cleaning after hiding them all winter. The second reason is to get your toes looking their best for summer sandals. Pedicures aren't just a "girl thing" either. Men, take a look at your toes and decide if you would want to curl up with them at night! You could be doing yourself a favor, as well as the partner that has to look at them. Pretty toes are about more than just vanity.Pedicure is the cosmetic treatment of the feet and toenails. A basic pedicure will last one to two weeks, depending on your lifestyle. Regular foot and nail care is a way of warding off painful problems like ingrown toenails, calluses, foot cracks and even infections. Each foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 100 ligaments and thousands of sweat glands, but most of us don't give our feet the regular care they need. Nearly 90 million Americans complain of chronic foot pain. In a basic pedicure procedure, the first step to take place is the pedicurist will examine your feet and ask you a few relevant health questions. This should be done, before your feet are put in the whirlpool. If you have any problems with your feet, or any health conditions, this is the time to make your technician aware. Sometimes, the pedicurist will recommend that you see a podiatrist or family doctor, if they recognize a condition, and have this treated before doing a pedicure. Some common health conditions that you should be aware of: • Calluses- These hard patches of skin build up on soles and heels and are generally caused by ill-fitting shoes and irregular foot care.• Corns- Untreated calluses can turn into even more painful corns. • Bunions- These inflammations of the joint of the big toe can be painful and unsightly, looking like big lumps. Switching to shoes that fit correctly may help relieve the pain and pressure on your big toe. But if the pain doesn't subside, your podiatrist may have to remove the bunion surgically.• Heel cracks- Neglecting to regularly moisturize your feet can lead to splits in the skin called heel fissures. To treat, apply moisturizer to your feet under a pair of socks every day after you shower or before you get into bed. If your fissures are painful and bright red, they're probably inflamed or infected, and you should see a podiatrist or dermatologist.While each state's board of cosmetology has different regulations pertaining to salon sanitation procedures, it just makes good sense for a salon to do the most, not the least, when it comes to preventing the spread of contagious diseases. Technicians should practice a thorough hand sanitation regimen to prevent the spread of germs and fungus. Common viruses -- such as those that cause colds and flu -- are easily spread from hand to hand. Your technician is in direct contact with your feet for long periods of time, which makes both of you vulnerable to viruses and other contagious diseases. Any salon that doesn't follow conscientious sanitation practices is probably not a good choice for a nail service.On a final note, you can help protect your health. Consumers should not shave their legs or have any open wounds on the legs or feet before the pedicure. Shaving the legs, especially the day of a pedicure, may produce very small nicks in the skin that can allow bacteria to enter during a whirlpool, and can be a source of infection.
 
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