Treatment Focus: An African pedicure in the heart of Herts
By Alex Fox | 20 May 2019 | Feature, Salon & Spas, Technique
I was invited to observe an African Pedicure delivered by a beauty therapist in a village called Bassingbourn in Hertfordshire.
Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Emma Grant moved to the UK in 2014 after getting married. A trained therapist with 15 years’ experience, Emma is also qualified in hairdressing, weaving, braiding and colouring alongside lashes, facials, massage, waxing, threading, manicure and pedicure. More recently, Emma took the initiative to specialise further with her nail skills and trained in gel and L&P enhancements as well as nail art techniques.
“For me, beauty is more of a passion than an occupation,” Emma told me. “I take great pride in my work and get a real buzz from seeing satisfaction in my clients as a result of my work.”
Intrigued by what I’d heard on the grapevine, I visited Emma to observe her specialist and unique African Pedicure in progress.
Using a combination of Footlogix products, various oils and Mr Salt products, Emma began with a bubbling foot spa soak as her client eased into a state or relaxation.
The first step was to eliminate dead and dry skin with a foot file and Footlogix Callus Softener. After the foot was cleansed of the dead tissue, Emma proceeded to use a large volcanic rock from Kenya to continue the foot smoothing stage. “In Kenya we use this stone every day in the shower,” Emma explained to me. “We take time to groom ourselves and this pampering time can last up to two hours, as we carefully rub the feet and the legs with this special stone. It helps smooth and refine the skin and afterwards the feet feel and look amazing.”
After the feet and legs have been refined, they are exfoliated and then a beautiful massage with oil ensues to deliver moisture into the skin. It’s a 90-minute pedicure that leaves the feet and legs looking brand new and ready for action.
According to Emma, after she arrived in the UK, she was asked by a friend about her past and after explaining about her roots in beauty, was persuaded to get together some pedicure products as she had one client ready to sign up! This one client led to a busy mobile schedule and the rest, as they say, is history. After four years working mobile, Emma opened up a village salon and is soon to be expanding into bigger premises.
Emma has created her own specialist footcare cream for her clients’ aftercare use that blends tea tree, soya, coconut and eucalyptus oils with Vaseline and a secret ingredient…this cream is sought after and extremely popular.
