Going to the spa can be one of the most rewarding experiences you allow for yourself, but it can also be a little intimidating. Receiving a pedicure is a wonderful first step in showing your body the love it deserves. A visit might also introduce you to new services you have not heard of previously. There has been an explosion of medical spa opening in recent years, some offer traditional spa services and some traditional spa have begun offer medical spa services. To eliminate as much anxiety from your life as we can, so we have answered a few questions and compiled a brief list of what you can expect from your first visit.
What Is a Pedicure?
Receiving a pedicure means that you have had your feet buffed, massaged, and managed. With foot management also comes trimming, maintaining, and the painting of your toenails. Typically, most spas will also add a foot and calf massage to add relaxation to the experience.
The entire process can take anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour, depending on the package you select. We can also add specific embellishments to your experience. These embellishments come at an array of prices but can add the perfect finishing touch to a hard day at the office.
Why Get a Pedicure?
The brief answer is bliss. This is your opportunity to turn off your phone, escape stress, and feel beautiful. Confidence is rare, and if Life Stiles can bring you any amount of confidence by the end of your visit, we have succeeded.
Feet Health
Feet are often neglected and abused by the daily pressures to stand at work, use old running shoes, or attend a formal event with unsupportive heels. Receiving a pedicure is more than a day at the spa: it is a show of love and caring for these parts of our body that we often forget about.
Have you ever had a foot ache and found your normal activities to be almost unbearable? When our feet are happy, we are happy. If 30 minutes at the spa can make your daily tasks easier, shouldn't you try it out?
A Massage Experience Without the Massage Price
Getting a pedicure is a perfect introduction to spa life because you can stay fully clothed and pay significantly lower prices. Full body massages can be wonderful, but they can also be overwhelming. Before jumping in and paying hundreds of dollars for an experience you find intimidating, try a nail treatment.
The Full Experience
There is never a good reason to feel ashamed of your feet or nervous about going to the spa. Whether you want a gentle touch-up or a deep cleaning, we customize your session to bring joy and confidence.
First Steps
Customization
When you look through the spa menu when preparing for your first pedicure, remember that though some are special services, all can still be customized for your experience. If you don't want a tool used, have a conversation with your technician so they can make you feel comfortable during your visit.
After clarifying with your technician, you should begin to feel better, but if you still have some questions, it is normal to ask for a step-by-step breakdown. We will be more than happy to explain what we are doing as we do it so you will have an easier time trusting the methods.
No Need to Worry
If you look down at your feet and are not confident with what you see, allow us to help you. Do not allow your idea of beautiful feet to be what stops you from giving them the love they need! We want you to feel more confident walking out of our spa than you felt walking in, so come as you are and we will cherish your feet however they are.
It is important to remember that our technicians are professionals and have formed their lives around accentuating the most beautiful qualities of the human body. We are not here to judge skin types or talk to the other staff about your feet; we focus only on making you feel beautiful and confident.
Spa-Ready Attire
The first step our staff will ask you to take when you sit down in their chair will be to dip your feet into a warm jacuzzi bath. This water typically hits right below your knee, so it is a good idea to wear loose clothing that you can fold up to allow your calf to sit in the water without your clothes getting wet.
Be prepared to leave Life Stiles wearing open-toe shoes. When your session is complete, we will leave you with wet nail polish. Placing your feet back inside closed-toe shoes will likely smudge the paint and alter your beautiful feet.
Upon Arrival
When you first enter the spa, you will check in with the reception desk attendant who will ask you to choose a nail polish color. If you are getting a manicure as well, use the same color for both or mix it up! The choice is yours.
Once you have chosen a polish color, they will direct you to sit and wait for your beautician to assist you further. This may be a good time to look over and select a service package if not previously decided. You will then be led to a large relaxing massage chair and asked to dip your feet into a bath of warm water. If the water is too hot, speak up! The temperature of the water is meant to be relaxing, not painful.
Getting Started With Your Treatment
At this point, you have chosen your color, relaxed into a comfy massage chair, and dipped your toes into a warm jacuzzi. Now is your time to sit back and let your technician do all the hard work. They will calmly ask for you to remove one foot out of the water at a time and then leave you to your massage.
It is completely up to you if you would like to converse with your beautician. Our Life Stiles staff is filled with friendly voices who love their clients; however, we understand the need for silence and relaxation. We encourage our guests to engage only as much as they feel comfortable.
Cuticle Treatment
If you have never had your nails done, you may not know the process that goes into your cleaning your cuticles. After softening the skin around your nails, the cuticles are managed using a small cutting tool. Do not be alarmed by this. There is nothing wrong with your skin and it should not be painful. This is intended to rid only dead skin cells that have accumulated.
Callus Treatment
It is not a secret that the bottom of the foot is more sensitive to touch than many other places on the body. There will be a moment in your experience where your guide will treat the calluses on the bottom of your foot. This scrubbing of your feet may tickle, and it is completely normal. Feel free to laugh or smile: we know the drill.
We do not want to embarrass you or make you uncomfortable. If at any point in your pedicure you feel unsettled, please let us know and we will be happy to pull back. However, the pumice stone used to scrub your feet makes them silky smooth, so we encourage you to power through and let out a giggle or two!
Nail Trimming
Do not worry about cutting or trimming your nails before your appointment. If it has been a while and you feel slightly shy about your nail length, worry not! It is much easier for us to cut all of your nails equally if we have more nail to work with versus less. If not already specified, also be sure to tell your technician if you want them cut square or round. Once cut, we cannot uncut, so mention it at the start of your appointment.
Massage
The heavenly reason most people select this routine is the massage. At this point, your nails have been trimmed and your calluses scrubbed. It is now time to close your eyes and allow your beautician to lather you in warm and creamy moisture while massaging your lower leg.
If you are sensitive to pressure or have any prior injury that your pedicurist should know about, please speak to them at any moment in the session. Remember, this should be a relaxing day at the spa, not a painful trip to the hospital.
You will also sit in a massage chair. You will be able to choose a massage type from a controller; however, remember that painting takes precision, so once the nail polish comes out, it may be best to pause the vibration.
Coming to a Close
When your technician puts your sandals on your feet and releases you from their care, know that the tops of your feet are going to be wet. If you feel there is a risk of messing up your polish by sliding into the car or walking through the rain, hang out inside the spa for a few minutes. If there are no appointments lined up for your chair, your beautician may even allow you to stay in your massage chair a while longer.
Tips From the Experts
Bring a Book
Some use their time in the chair to sit back and be with their thoughts; however, this is not the only way to relax. If you enjoy reading, bring the book with you and escape into its pages during your visit. This may also be an excellent chance to write in a journal. Download everything from your mind onto paper and clear your brain of life's clutter.
Remember Your Technicians Name
If you enjoyed your experience, write down your technician's name to make your next appointment. Our staff loves to build relationships with their clients. The more they treat you, the more they will come to learn exactly how you like to be treated. You will be happy to see their faces during your next pedicure because you can be confident in their work.
Tipping
Estheticians, cosmetologists, beauticians, and all other self-wellness professionals love what they do and dedicate a huge portion of our lives to bring beauty back into the lives of all their guests. If you feel your technician delivered what they promised what you, or even exceeded expectations, be sure to give them a cash tip.
If you do not have cash with you ask the reception desk about your options. However, if you're planning for the appointment well enough in advance, just select the cashback option at your next checkout and grab a little extra for your hard-working professional esthetician.
