Many clients are unaware of the wide range of pedicure treatments available for foot conditions seen every day by nail technicians—guiding them to the right options can be as much art as science. A client, who’s already decided what treatment they want, may answer consultation questions in ways that conclude those are the treatments they need. When in reality, alternative solutions may be more appropriate and offer greater benefits.
Probing deeper through casual conversation can help a nail technician discover important information a client may have left out. However, the technician must act quickly! In the first few moments of an appointment, they need to determine a client’s expectations, validate and address any concerns, make recommendations and explain the at-home maintenance required to achieve optimum results. While that’s a lot to accomplish—it can be done!
Here, we provide three examples of simple dialogue for determining the right Footlogix® treatment in three common scenarios.
SCENARIO 1: The Client wants a beautifying pedicure, but she is a diabetic with deep cracks in her heels.
CLIENT: You have your work cut out for you today! My feet are in awful shape. The skin on my heels is as hard as a rock and I have deep cracks. It hurts and looks awful. Can you make my feet pretty again?
TECHNICIAN: Don’t worry. I’m always up for a challenge. I’ve reviewed your Footlogix® Pedicure Information Form and you’ve indicated that you are a diabetic. Tell me more!
CLIENT: Well, I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes several years ago. My mother is a diabetic as well. In recent years, I’ve noticed the circulation in my lower limbs is poor. I’m also experiencing some numbness in my feet. Is this important?
TECHNICIAN: Absolutely. Diabetics should be extra cautious when getting a pedicure. The feet can be slow to heal which increases your chances of developing an infection or ulcers. This means your deep heel cracks are more than just unsightly; these cracks can be a portal for germs to enter the skin and cause infection. Diabetics also often suffer from frail skin that can be injured easily. It’s important to seek a pedicure professional, who is knowledgeable about the condition and can service your feet appropriately.
CLIENT: Wow. I had no idea there’s a real health risk associated with neglecting my feet. I was just worried about how they look. So, what can I do about it? Should I be soaking my feet at night or something?
TECHNICIAN: I know soaking seems like a good idea, but it’s not. Diabetics should be careful not to soak the feet for too long or into hot water. Soaking can swell and open up small cracks in the skin making feet even more susceptible to infection.
Getting regular professional pedicures is a great start. A good pedicurist can be the first line of prevention. I recommend clients come in every three to six weeks depending on the condition of their feet. For you, I recommend the Footlogix® Cracked Heel Formula. It contains a higher level of urea to deeply hydrate dry, cracked heels. It also contains Evening Primrose oil, which helps improve skin integrity and elasticity.
CLIENT: Is it a balm? I’ve tried balms before, and I hate that greasy, sticky feeling. Plus, it’s always a mess to apply.
TECHNICIAN: It’s not a balm – it doesn’t sit on top of the skin. It’s a unique mousse formula with Dermal Infusion Technology® that quickly penetrates into the top layers of the skin. It leaves no greasy residue—so there’s no need to wash your hands and you can immediately put on socks and shoes. Just massage a walnut-sized amount into each foot twice a day for two weeks and then once a day until the cracks are gone.
CLIENT: That sounds easy. Will it take forever to get the positive results?
TECHNICIAN: Not at all. If you use the product consistently, you’ll start to see a big improvement in your cracked heels immediately. Every single product in the Footlogix line is super effective and safe for diabetics. If you want to do something luxurious at home, apply the Footlogix® DD Cream Mousse to your feet in the evening. It has a lovely, rich texture and the proprietary ingredient is Spiraleen®, an anti-microbial that will help prevent an infection from setting in.
SCENARIO 2: Client has extremely dry feet and a discoloured toenail.
TECHNICIAN: Good morning. What brings you to the salon today?
CLIENT: Hello. I desperately need a product recommendation. My feet are extremely dry and one of my toenails is discoloured and thick. Do you have anything that can help?
TECHNICIAN: I’m sure we have the perfect Footlogix® treatment for you. But, before I recommend something, can you tell me more?
CLIENT: Well, lately my feet are really dry, rough and scratchy all the time—they feel like sandpaper and get caught on my bed sheets at night. I do my best to moisturize at home, but the dryness always returns no matter what. And then I’ve got this ugly toenail. It’s thick, rigid and dark.
TECHNICIAN: Dry skin can certainly be uncomfortable. What most people don’t realize is there can be other causes for scratchy, rough skin beyond the usual suspects like dry weather or harsh soaps…causes that can also discolour and thicken toenails or cause them to separate from the nail bed. Tell me, how often are you applying moisturizer? What products are you using?
CLIENT: I apply moisturizer to my feet every day, sometimes several times a day—usually after I shower at the gym or night before bed. I normally just grab lotion from the drug store that’s labelled for extra dry skin, but I haven’t found anything that works long term.
TECHNICIAN: I see. There may be something more going on here. Often rough, scratchy skin may be the result of a fungal infection; and until the infection is resolved, no amount of moisturizing will resolve your dry skin and the discoloured toenail won’t clear up.
CLIENT: Yuck. A fungal infection? How in the world did I get that? I’m so embarrassed.
TECHNICIAN: No need to feel embarrassed. Foot fungus is quite common. It can frequently be picked up in public spaces—like gym showers and swimming pools, hotel room carpets and anywhere others go barefoot. That’s why it’s always a good idea to keep your skin hydrated. Hydrated, intact skin acts as it should – to protect us from infection. But no worries. Footlogix® has a complete line of products that resolve the fungus and provide relief from fungus-related irritation.
CLIENT: Thank goodness! So, what products do you recommend for me? Are they easy to use at home?
TECHNICIAN: The first is the Footlogix® Rough Skin Formula. It contains anti-fungal agents to kill fungus, avocado oil and panthenol to condition the skin and urea to lock in moisture. Regular use of this treatment will eliminate the fungal infection and repair superficial cracks and dry skin, so your feet are smooth and healthy. The second is the Footlogix® Nail Tincture Spray. It’s proven to provide care for unsightly toenails that are prone to fungal infections and will repair your toenails to their optimum health. Both are super quick and easy to use at home.
CLIENT: Sounds great. I’ll take both. How do I use them?
TECHNICIAN: The Footlogix® Rough Skin Formula is so unique! It’s a mousse-based formula and so it has no greasy layer to occlude the skin. Just apply a walnut-size amount of the product to clean, dry feet twice a day for the first two weeks and then once a day thereafter. The Footlogix® Nail Tincture Spray should be sprayed on the infected toenail twice a day until the condition is resolved. You’ll begin to see a healthy toenail growing from the base of the nail. Once the discoloured portion of the nail grows out, you’ll be as good as new! I suggest you to come to see me for a pedicure in about four weeks so I can check your progress and refer you to a doctor if necessary.
CLIENT: Perfect. Let’s book that appointment now.
Scenario 3: An older client wants all her calluses removed.
CLIENT: I’ve been looking forward to this appointment. I can’t wait to leave here callus-free! What are calluses anyway?
TECHNICIAN: Calluses are formed when skin accumulates over areas of continual pressure or friction. I know they can be unsightly and sometimes uncomfortable, but calluses are there for a reason—they’re the body’s natural protective mechanism. Removing them completely is never a good idea. Calluses should be softened and reduced instead.
CLIENT: I’ve never thought of calluses as protection. That makes sense. But why do they seem to be getting worse? I haven’t changed my routine at all.
TECHNICIAN: As we mature, the skin on the bottom of our feet gets thinner and more calluses to form as a result. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, particularly for seniors, where a callus may be the only thing protecting the feet against the trauma of walking.
CLIENT: How do you know how much you can safely reduce a callus?
TECHNICIAN: I typically reduce calluses by no more than 2/3. In some cases, it may be appropriate to reduce the callus less—for instance, if the client is a runner or has diabetes or extremely thin skin. As a professional, I’m trained to determine what’s right for each client. That’s why I don’t recommend that clients do heavy exfoliation at home—leave that to me.
CLIENT: So, how will you help my calluses today?
TECHNICIAN: In the first step of your pedicure, I’ll use the Footlogix® Callus Softener. I love this formula. It instantly softens calluses but doesn’t contain aggressive ingredients that must be immediately washed off like many removers on the market. I’ll leave it on your skin because the urea in it will continue working long after we finish the pedicure.
CLIENT: Do you ever use a rasp or blade to reduce especially stubborn areas?
TECHNICIAN: Rasps, blades and other sharp implements should never be used during a pedicure—they can harm the client and are illegal to use in many areas. Fortunately, the Footlogix® Callus Softener does most of the hard work. I’ll let it soak in for 2-3 minutes, then use the Footlogix® Stainless Steel Foot File to gently reduce the dead skin.
CLIENT: Is there anything I can do at home in between appointments?
TECHNICIAN: Absolutely. Be sure to moisturize daily. I recommend the Footlogix® Daily Maintenance Formula. Just apply a walnut-size amount to your feet daily. You can also lightly exfoliate at home. The Footlogix® Exfoliating Seaweed Scrub is a great option. It contains the highest-grade organic microalgae, essential oils and polished pumice to gently exfoliate the feet.
Tailor your talk
Even after the formal pedicure consultation is complete, the discovery of client conditions and issues can (and should!) continue. While the three scenarios presented here are quite specific, casual conversation can be a valuable tool no matter the service. During every appointment, carefully watch and listen for small clues that may unveil an unreported concern or symptom and use the opportunity to dig deeper through guided questions and fill out the Footlogix® Pedicure Information Form. This will enable you to recommend the best Footlogix® treatments to meet the client’s needs—sometimes needs they weren’t even aware of!
What makes a good pedicure?