Tag Archives: best buys

Top Five Pedicure Tips

pedicure 739073 Top Five Pedicure TipsI received a call yesterday from New York 1 requesting an interview about pedicure equipment at spas and what consumers should know to make sure they are safe when receiving a pedicure. Since manicures and pedicures are the most popular beauty services at spas, this is clearly an important topic.

With the hundreds of thousands of pedicures performed yearly most are excellent experiences with great results. Some people, however, are concerned especially if they read a story in the news that questions the safety of a pedicure. So here are some tips to help you be safe:

  • Skip having a pedicure (or manicure) if you have any open wounds. This is best for your health and is considerate of other spa-goers and the person performing your pedicure.
  • When you make an appointment, be sure to let the spa know that you are concerned about safety and ask them what steps they take to assure you will receive a safe manicure or pedicure. Be familiar with sanitation regulations. For example, in many states, nail care tools that can not be sterilized, including nail files, porous buffing stones and toe separators need to be thrown away (or given to you) after being used in your pedicure. Tools that can be sterilized must be sterilized after each use.
  • Licenses of technicians must be displayed at their stations.
  • Don’t assume that just because a pedicure is expensive, you will be safer. Sometimes the fanciest pedicure stations are among the most troubling. One of the most challenging sanitary issues regarding pedicures is the unseen piping and jets in pedicure tubs that can not be cleaned 100 percent.
  • If the spa has a whirlpool unit, ask if the technology is ³pipe-free². If they say no, ask to forgo the hydrotherapy portion of the treatment.

    I would love to hear feedback about your pedicure experiences from those who read my blog! Please post a comment by clicking on the link below that reads “Comments.”

Spa at Grand Lake Returns to Spa Finder

countryside 791439 Spa at Grand Lake Returns to Spa FinderHaving just returned from my trip to Dubai, I am planning to rest over the weekend. But my husband Peter calls from the Spa at Grand Lake in Lebanon, Connecticut, where he had ridden his Harley-Davidson motorcycle for an overnight stay. He tells me the weather is so gorgeous and the scenery so beautiful that I simply must meet up with him. So I put on my jeans and Harley boots, hop on a train, and head to Hartford.

We spent several hours riding around the area, which looked and smelled like spring with its fresh, earthy scents. It reminded me very much of the area where I grew up in Illinois. Then we headed to the Spa at Grand Lake. This spa had been part of our online marketing program until last year. We had received a few consumer complaints about the facility and felt that we needed to remove it from the website, as consumer expectations were not being met. The management wanted to rejoin our partner program, so we decided that someone from the Spa Finder team needed to experience the property and program in order to ascertain their suitability.

Here is what we found out. The Spa at Grand Lake is a budget experience. The advanced age of the property is clearly reflected in its facilities, which don’t exactly scream “contemporary.” However, we were impressed with the extent of the fitness program and quite pleased with the meals – especially dinner. One night there was a very nicely done swordfish, the next night a choice of lobster or sweet and sour chicken.

The Spa at Grand Lake isn’t all that grand, but it is a good deal. It is rustic rather than luxurious, but for the budget price of under $200 per night including accommodations, three meals a day, all fitness programs, and a daily 30-minute massage, we can see how it would be a good match for some people. The one massage I had from Steve (very large guy with very large hands) was terrific, and Peter had a similar experience. Most telling of all, many of the women we spoke with had been going there for years.

So we decided to give them another try and invite them back onto our website, being sure that the writeup accurately portrays the experience so as not to create unrealistic expectations. Now, back to Manhattan and realizing that I’m not suffering from any jet lag!

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