People have been getting manicures for hundreds of years.  The word is derived from the Latin word for hand and the Latin word for care, which basically means that a manicure is caring for ones hands.  That sounds simple enough right?

Back in the early days of manicures only the very wealthy and pampered celebrities bothered getting a manicure. The process was expensive and time consuming.  And it was basically a waste of time for the common laborer.  Why bother to get your hands manicured it you were going to be picking cotton the next day?

Well today things are very different.  Lots of people get manicures.  Men and women included.  If they don’t get regular manicures, then they certainly get them for special occasions like weddings, prom, special dates, etc.

Read the rest of this entry »

There are many things to consider when going into business to give professional manicures, in addition to the proper licensing and insurance; there are also some products and supplies that you are going to need.  First you will need a store front.  Choose a place that will have some visual appeal.  You want a place that will be easily accessible, as well as easy to find.  You will also need to have some sort of manicure station or table.  Whether you are planning to have an entire salon devoted to manicures and pedicures, or to just have one station within an existing salon, it is imperative to have a comfortable manicure station.

The table could be anything from just a basic table, to station made specifically for giving manicures, to an attractive looking antique.  It is important that it be comfortable for not only the customer, but also the manicurist.  The station should provide adequate space for all of the products necessary to give a manicure.

Read the rest of this entry »

When passing by a nail salon, typically all you see are women at first glance. You’ll see them having their nails painted or soaking their feet in the amazing relaxation of a footbath. But sometimes if you take a second look, you’ll see a man in the middle of all the estrogen. And no, he isn’t there waiting on his wife to get her manicure. He’s getting a manicure himself!

It’s not totally uncommon anymore to see this type of thing at nail salons and spas. And contrary to popular belief, it usually has nothing to do with the man’s sexual preference. Although it’s not yet something every woman is accustomed to seeing, it certainly doesn’t make the man any “less of a man”. If women have the privilege of getting pampered through a manicure, why can’t a man have the same right of passage without being labeled or laughed at? Granted, a man having his nails painted pink might just send out a snicker or two, but this usually isn’t the case when men get professional manicures. In fact, it isn’t uncommon for men not to have the actual manicure as a top priority when visiting a nail salon.

Read the rest of this entry »

Is it really possible to get a one minute manicure?  The answer, surprisingly, is yes. I too was a skeptic until I tried a few of the products out there that promise a one minute manicure.  These products are aimed at the target market of busy women.  Well, these days, what woman isn’t busy? The suppliers of beauty products know that the busy woman is a huge target audience.  What with careers, family, and fitness, who has time to keep those hands looking gorgeous?

Well, thanks to these new at home products on the market, we all have time to pamper our digits.  There are many products ranging in price from a few dollars to well over thirty dollars. They vary in scents, as well. You can find anything from sea salt to cucumber and melon.  You can purchase these products just about anywhere.  You can check department stores, drug stores, and lastly don’t forget about the internet.  You can buy that one minute manicure product without leaving the comfort of your bedroom.  There are even huge retail chains devoted to helping us to keep our hands and bodies looking their best.  Most of these stores offer their own variation on the one minute manicure.

Read the rest of this entry »

The process of getting a manicure is something that is frequently done by women. Women of all different types get manicures.   Whether they are professional women who get regular manicures, or perhaps teenage girls who get manicures for special occasions, it is not uncommon for you to hear about a woman getting a manicure.

Surprisingly, the same is becoming true of men.  What was once considered to only be for women is now becoming a little more gender neutral.  I am not trying to say that you will walk into a nail salon in Phoenix and see more men than women in there receiving a manicure, but I am saying that it would not be uncommon to see one man in the nail salon.

Read the rest of this entry »