From sleek and professional to fun to funky, the possibilities with nail art are endless. And, it seems like these days America’s demand for nail technologists is dang near endless, too!

In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of manicurists and pedicurists will grow by 28 percent thanks to the continued growth in the number of nail salons and full-service day spas.

And this demand has a lot of business-savvy personal appearance workers returning to beauty school for nail technology programs. It seems like a logical career step – these programs are relatively short-term, but adding nail care to your repertoire can have long-lasting effects on your career prospects.

Whether you’re already in the beauty industry, or you’re an artistic individual looking for a fun, creative outlet with potential for career success, think about enrolling in a nail technology program. It makes sense – beauty is one of today’s fastest growing fields, but manicures and pedicures are topping the list of consumer demand. Give the people what they want and benefit from working in a growing field!

Green nails are all the rage!

I’m not talking about the color. I’m talking about eco-friendly nail salons and how they are the new trend in going green in the beauty industry.

A new salon in San Francisco, Nova Nail Spa, offers only organic and chemical-free nail products. The owners realized that not only were organic products and eco-friendly lifestyle were gaining steam, but they were uncomfortable with having employees and customers exposed to the chemicals that are found in polishes and acrylic nails.

The products in the salon are either vegan or organic, including the fingernail polish remover, which is not acetone but a vegan orange-infused product that smells like mandarins. In this salon, you won’t find products that contain formaldehyde, toluene, or dibutyl phthalate. These are the chemicals that are linked to cancer and reproductive problems. Nail technicians have also complained about the affect that those chemicals had on them, saying they can cause headaches, skin rashes and nausea.   

The salon itself is even an eco-friendly building. The interior is made up of non-toxic paint, recycled denim for the insulation, and slate and bamboo finishes. There is also a state-of-the-art ventilation system.

The salon features everything a typical salon has except for acrylic nails. Acrylic produces dizzying fumes, while filing creates plumes of dust. The salon does offer gel nails. Gel nails are used to coat a natural or fake nail. Then a UV light is used to ’set’ the nail.

Tell us what you think about organic nail salons. Is this just a new trend that will blow over, or is it here to stay?

Now that has fall has officially begun, it’s time to turn our eyes to this season’s trends.

The September issue of Glamour highlights hot nail colors this season.  It’s no surprise that rich plums and burgundies are in, but some interesting colors made the list.  Blues and blacks, but these colors are glossier, making them more chic than Goth.  For those not wanting their fingernails to make such a bold statement, you’ll be happy to know you can still be trendy with shades of pink and nude.

Rich colors are not only popping up on nails, but hair too.  According to a beauty tips website, rich browns are hot for fall.  Even blondes will want to add some subtle low lights to add some richness to their color.  As for length, anything goes.  Long or short, as long you make sure the hair has volume. This can be achieved by razoring the ends and adding chunky layers, which looks just as great on long hair as it does on short tresses.

As we say goodbye to the hot days, we welcome in the fall with its warm colors and wait to see what will be hot in fashion too.

We all have them laying around the house – in our cabinets, drawers and shoe boxes. But, what do you do with your nail polish that just sits there? Well, I found a great article about just that! You don’t want to wait for your nail polish to fall over and leak everywhere, and you don’t want to trash it. So what do you do with the colors that are past their prime?

Instead of just throwing away good polish and money – try some of these suggestions. I found that some where very helpful, like:

• Use to stop runs on your stockings. Use clear nail polish for anything that will be showing; darker colors for runs hidden under clothes.
• Dab on to the end of frayed shoelaces or string to keep from unraveling.
• Use to mark work levels on measuring cups or buckets.
• Use as a carpenter’s mark on wood or other projects.
• Give to kids for art projects.
• Use to hide chips in ceramics and pottery.
• Use to mark your desired water temperature on the thermostat.
• Dab on warts. Disclaimer: I read several instances where this is said to work - I don’t know that for sure.
• Use to touch up worn spots on leather furniture, clothing or shoes.
• Paint over screws, especially those on sinks, tubs, toilets and outside fixtures, to prevent rusting.

And that is only half the list! And just think if you are a nail technician – the amount of bottles you might have could be endless! You could even donate some to friends and family so they can enjoy the features of nail polish!