Manicure
Benefits of an Oliver’s Manicure
We use our hands more than any other part of our body, but are we giving them the appreciation they deserve? Manicures are not just for cosmetic reasons. Everyone can benefit from a healthy manicure. Those benefits include destressing, improving the health of your nails, keeping your skin soft and confidence benefits. Read more to find out how an Oliver’s manicure could benefit you!
Money Saving Mani
Life can be stressful. We all deserve a spa day! At Oliver’s, we have fair pricing, so a day of relaxation won’t break your bank. A manicure can help clean up your hands and nails while giving you some time for relaxation. I don’t know about you, but there is nothing better than a hand rub! Plus, chatting with our nail techs is always a great stress reliever.
Healthy Nails, Please!
Our hands are used every day. If you work, you’re technically being paid to use your hands, so it should be a requirement to take care of them. Your hands are probably lacking the attention they deserve. Dry cuticles can crack and bleed, causing more harm to the health of your hands. A manicure will take care of those issues and keep your hands looking and feeling amazing!
Hydrate so you don't Die-drate
Besides the stress relief, our skin is probably in need of some extra hydration. If you’re washing your hands constantly, your skin can dry out. Cold weather can also cause dry skin. A manicure can help shed that dry skin and moisturize your hands giving you baby soft skin in the middle of winter!
Nailed It!
I don’t know about you, but I feel like I have my life together when I get a manicure. If not, my nails are uneven, my cuticles are overgrown and I feel gross. Keeping your hands nice and neat somehow makes your life feel a little more organized. Every time you look at them, you’re suddenly not afraid to show your hands in public. In fact, you might be tempted to show them off a little more. There is an unspoken confidence of having your nails done. If you have ever had a manicure, you know exactly what I mean.
How We Do Things
The Oliver’s Spa Manicure includes nail shaping, cuticle service, a relaxing scrub with warm hand mitts, a massage and a polish (if you chose). If you’re someone who keeps it simple, you could do a clear coat or nothing at all! Otherwise, we have a selection of colors both gel and normal!
New Color Alert!
With each new season, OPI (a popular nail polish brand) releases a new collection. This fall, they released a Scotland themed collection with the clever names to match that we have at the salon. More recently, we have the Hello Kitty collection with an assortment of fun, poppy colors!
Check out more of our work below
Convinced?
Give us a call at (610)-366-8808 or book your appointment here.
Danger of Dip Powder & Acrylic Nails
Acrylic Nails are so yesterday. Dip Powder nails are unsanitary. Here at Oliver’s Salon & Spa, we use a different nail building system called "Polygel nails" that is less harmful for the health of your natural nails. We also stand by our sanitary guidelines no matter what is trending. Most people are uneducated on the alternative service we offer, but once you know, you will leave acrylic & dip powder nails where they belong- in the past. Trust us on this one, your nail beds will thank you.
Below are some examples of Polygel nails done by our technicians here at Oliver's Salon & Spa:
I felt the need to write a blog on Polygel nails after I had a discussion about a crappy acrylic nail job that was done on a friend of mine (not at Oliver's of course). She was showing me the imperfections and explaining how rough the nail technician and how she definitely didn't get her money's worth. I asked her if she had ever heard of Polygel nails and she had such a confused look on her face. Considering her to be pretty trendy, this surprised me. I realized that maybe a blog about Polygel nails would be helpful for those of you who get your nails done pretty often.
Polygel is technically a name under the brand "Gelish", but it is what most people refer to when talking about this type of nail enhancement. It's also the brand we carry here at Oliver's.
Acrylics? So yesterday.
Acrylic nails are long-lasting and look amazing. Unfortunately, they ruin your natural nail. The process of putting acrylic nails on is a rough one. Your nails are filed until they are rough which thins them out and leaves them brittle. Moreso, they are gluing a nail on top of that rough, damaged surface. Removal is pretty brutal as well. When removing acrylic nails, you have to soak them first, then file them off. That's a lot of trauma to the nail! Remember, your nails are a part of your body. Improper care can lead to serious issues down the line.
The Danger of Dip Powder
A lot of clients ask if we do dip powdered nails here at Oliver's. We always feel bad turning them down, however, it's for the most sanitary reason.
It's a very popular service that is considered the cousin to acrylic nails. Dip powder nails are just as strong as acrylic and Polygel nails, however, they are the most unsanitary. Most salons have one dip powder pot for all clients. Do you really want to double dip with strangers? You never know who dipped their nails in the pigment before you!
This is the reason why dip powder nails are not offered at Oliver's Salon & Spa. Taking sanitation seriously, we use an autoclave for cleaning our tools for each and every client.
How about that picture? EW.
What are Polygel nails?
Polygel nails are another form of artificial nail enhancements. They are enhancements that can be applied as an overlay or used to sculpt a whole nail with a shape of your choice. It's a soft gel that looks like a putty that is formed on top of the nail. This method is great for clients who have short nails and decide to take the plunge into long nails or if you just want to add just a touch of shape and length.
Why Polygel?
Different shapes of nails are trending right now. Instagram is the perfect place to browse all nail shapes for inspiration! Polygel nails are perfect for those of you who like stiletto, square, oval and coffin shapes. They are the best for any sort of fake nail enhancements due to how easily it can be modified and shaped.
The formula delivers a strong, flexible, light nail that is just as strong as an acrylic nail and less harsh on your natural nails. You're bound to have less breakage and brittleness between appointments, too. Removing Polygel isn't as difficult as the removal of acrylic nails. There is no soaking, only filing, and they come right off!
Did we nail it?
I hope this blog was helpful for those of you who have acrylic nails or dip powder nails. It's our responsibility to take care of our bodies, including our nails. Now that there are alternatives to dip powder and acrylic nails that are healthier, it's a no-brainer! Book your appointment online or give us a call at (610)-366-8808 if you have more questions.
Oliver’s Looks at Current Beauty Trends
The beauty world is creative, competitive and inspiring. There are trends constantly emerging. With the help of Instagram and other social media platforms, we are able to see these trends on a daily basis. In this blog, I will dig a little deeper on some current trends that are considered influential and tell you exactly what we think here at Oliver's!
DIP POWDER MANICURES - YES OR NO?
One trend I’ve been seeing in particular is the dip powder nails. They are supposed to be stronger and longer lasting than gel nails. They are being compared to acrylic nails. I researched all that is the dip powder manicure to learn more about this trendy nail. Essentially, it is what it sounds like; you dip your nail in powder. Instead of using UV rays to seal your polish, the pigmented powder does the job. They are rumored to not ruin your nails the way that other manicures do.
However, if you’re getting a dip powder manicure at a salon, chances are you will be dipping your nails in a pot of pigmented powder that other people have dipped into. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want to double dip with a stranger. Although they turn out beautiful, it doesn’t make sense for a salon to be unsanitary for beauty reasons. This is exactly why Oliver’s does not partake in the dip powder manicure. In other words this trend is considered a NO for us.
SKINCARE - YES OR NO?
Less makeup, more sunscreen. With new skincare companies emerging, they are shedding some light on the importance of the health of our skin. They are pushing products that improve the look and texture of your skin, fight aging and repel the harmful UV rays. More than ever before, people are getting more facials, dermaplaning, peels, etc. Instagram models and influencers have perfect, soft skin with no makeup thus making it trendy. YES, this is a trend we can totally get behind.
Here at Oliver’s we offer a range of services for skincare. From facials to products, we have a lot to choose from. For example, we have more than five different facials as well as add-ons to customize what is most beneficial for your skin. We have a product for every issue you have as well as educated aestheticians who can provide you with tips and information to better your skincare routine.
LASHES - YES OR NO?
People are lashing out and ditching the mascara. Lash extensions, lash lifts and lash tints are everywhere. This trend has become so in demand that we are starting to need more aestheticians trained in lash services to keep up with the clientele. Can you blame everyone? Long lashes gives a sort of confidence that is unexplainable and cuts down makeup application time. This would be perfect for busy bodies, moms on the go and well, pretty much anyone. We say YES to this trend. Here at Oliver’s, we offer lash extensions, lash lifts and lash tints.
If you have any questions on the current trendy services we offer, call us at (610)-366-8808. Remember, we offer online booking as well!
Autoclave 101
When it comes to your nail services, are you getting what you pay for? You should expect (and get) a clean manicure with no problems to follow. Little does the common client know, some salons are not so sanitary. That’s why Oliver’s goes above and beyond to make your service as sanitary as possible. In this blog, I will explain why Oliver's takes sanitation seriously and uses an autoclave.
We use Tweezerman nail clippers at Oliver's and YES, we sanitize them correctly!
What Even is an Autoclave?
What exactly is an autoclave? For those of you who have never heard of an autoclave, you’re not alone. The autoclave originates in a medical setting, being used to clean and sanitize medical equipment that has been used in surgery. It’s a sterilization unit that uses water and steam at a high temperature to kill microorganisms, or as we refer to it, bacteria.
So… why are we using this in a salon?
Well, a nail tech uses tools while performing services such as pedicures and manicures. Fun fact: the average human hand has about 150 different species of bacteria living on it. So, using these tools then transfers those bacterias from the hands and to the tools. Also, if you have sensitive cuticles like I do, you bleed during manicures. Blood-born pathogens can also be transferred to and from tools. Do you really want to deal with all of that on a spa day?
The Dangers of Poor Sanitation
Salons should be held to a much higher standard when it comes to sanitation. If the tools used on you during your service are not properly sanitized, you could be at risk for a lot of things, as could the salon. Some states are required by law to use an autoclave. These laws are updated annually and each state has a different requirement. You can read each state’s specific requirements here. Pennsylvania requires that any tools that come in contact shall be sanitized immediately after each use and maintained in a sanitary condition at all times.
I have been to a few salons where I have witnessed a nail tech pull tools from the drawer and put them back in there after using them on me and that is a huge problem, especially when there is a possibility of me bleeding due to my sensitive cuticles. I should have said something, but I assumed that all salons just followed the rules.
Why Oliver's Uses an Autoclave
Here at Oliver’s, we take sanitation very seriously and follow the rules. Although Pennsylvania does not require salons to use autoclaves, we find that it’s best to keep our clients safe and reassured that they are getting exactly what they pay for. Going the extra mile is something Oliver’s is used to, so we are always on top of any new and safe way to improve our services. Some benefits of using the autoclave are a certified clean manicure, no risk of bacterial infection and peace of mind.
Oliver’s makes sure that we give our clients the best experience possible. We are focused on quality, not quantity of our services. Any sort of beauty service should be relaxing. You shouldn’t have to worry about the cleanliness of the tools being used during your service. Going the extra mile in sanitation makes sure that you’re happy with the service you receive, and our technicians can focus on their art without having to worry about their tools. We believe that every single one of our clients deserves to be treated like a queen.
Conclusion
Besides manicures and pedicures, Oliver’s has a wide range of other services that are conducted in a safe and sanitized way. Head to our website and check them out! Also, if you have any questions about our autoclave, tools or systems, don’t hesitate to give us a call!
The information about autoclaves came from here.
Our nail technicians are trained and updated with all of the sanitary requirements to perform various nail services. If you're interested in booking an appointment or have additional questions, call us at (610) 366-8808 or book online.