At Marilyn Monroe Spas, Pampering From Head to Toe Now Includes Hair and Makeup

The Marilyn Monroe Spas recently added makeup applications to its list of services. Photos courtesy of Marilyn Monroe Spas.

HEADS UP: Dilemma: The last days. YOU: bewitched, bothered and bewildered. US: elves at VEVLYN’S PEN are, of course, on the case. Practically every day through 24 Dec., we will introduce at least one or a series of products, items and brands that we believe is worthy of consideration as a holiday gift(s). Now, stop your fretting.

SO you're not taking a vacation. Instead, you're taking a staycation.

You can also take a daycation – at Marilyn Monroe Spas.

With its new addition of hair and makeup – called Glamour Room Services – the 2½-year-old, Orlando, Florida-based chain of full-service and specialty spas obviously named after a certain cultural icon, is an oasis where a lady and/or gentleman truly can make a day of it. And why not?

A body deserves some relaxation, a body deserves a Relaxation Massage. The masseuse at the New York City location of Marilyn Monroe Spas at the Hyatt Times Square administered a demo version to Yours Truly. After about 10 minutes, I could feel a higher level of Zen and a lower level of kinks. It is an experience that will be repeated in full.

A massage is not your thing because you are already Zenful. Understandable. Reflexology may be the thing, followed by – say – some heat with Steamy Wonderful, followed by a Mani and Pedi or Mani-Pedi.

The Marilyn Monroe Spas in Monterey, California is one of five full-service locations in four states.

If by now you are becoming famished, the staff may arrange for some lunch, lest you move too many muscles. You only need ask, I was given to know. Besides, you are spending the “day” at one of the five full-service Marilyn Monroe Spas in California, Florida, Hawaii and New York.

There's still hair and makeup to do. Decisions, decisions. You've settled on a blowout style, but you are toggling between Beach Waves or My Marilyn. As for the paint, your thing is Malibu Sun-kissed Star.

By the end of your daycation, the good people at Marilyn Monroe Spas will have you showered, shampooed and shining. Or leave you fun, flirty and fabulous – like Herself, of course.

The Marilyn Monroe Spas gift card is a passport to pampering.

Now don't be discouraged, the proposition at Marilyn Monroe Spas – where the mandate is affordable luxury – is not a day or nothing. You can stay as long or as little as you like (within reason, of course).

In fact, in addition to five full-service spas, there are four – at the moment all in Florida – that are distinguished as Glamour Rooms or Nail Lounges. All of the locations welcome party animals along the lines of Girls Night Out, Birthday and Client Appreciation.

Meanwhile, for the harried and hurried are some services that Marilyn Monroe Spas practically do on demand. The Express and Extras categories include such quality of life spa and glamour treatments as Puckered Lips, Polish Changes and quickie mani pedies.

At the Marilyn Monroe Spas, hair services run from simple haircuts to complicated color treatments.

Incidentally, just about all of the Marilyn Monroe Spa products are available for purchase, including the natural and organic skincare line (no animal testing involved). Not surprisingly, the company sells gift cards made charming with a peekaboo Marilyn Monroe feature ...

Your feet are killing you! Do not suffer in silence. Take yourself off to Marilyn Monroe Spas for Wingtip Relief and Stiletto Relief. Oh, yeah!

Visit http://www.marilynmonroespas.com/ to learn more about Marilyn Monroe Spas.

How to Really Treat Them, Now That Toenails Are Out and About

Toenails can be everything from whimsical to demure, but they should always be healthy. Archive photo.

FOR the next few months, toes will be front and center. Whether turned out in nude or a full riot of color, toenails should look good.

Like fingernails, which are exposed year-round and are generally less an afterthought, toenails should also look healthy and be healthy – even under four coats. A true professional – podiatrist Coleen Napolitano – discloses how this can be achieved.

An associate professor at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, CN says toenails, unlike fingernails, should be kept short for good reason. Toenail contact with the a of the shoe can cause an escalating series of problems: discoloration, blisters, infections and – yikes!, ouch! – toenail loss. (See video below).

“By following a few simple guidelines, you can keep your toenails healthy while also looking great in sandals,” says CN.

For instance, since the toenail should extend no farther than the end of the toe, cut so that only a sliver of white is left at the end of the nail. Go shorter, if you do high-impact activities such as running and Zumba classes.

Nail salon professionals always advise using a base coat to preserve the manicure / pedicure. Another reason that goes to aesthetics is to avoid discoloration. This is especially good advice to heed for those who favor bright colors like Heartbreaker red from the new company, Chrome Girl, launched last year by Melissa Ravo and Jaime Boreanaz.

Chrome Girl's Heartbreaker and other bright nail polishes should go on after the base coat. Photo from Chrome Girl Web site.

Incidentally, Heartbreaker and all Chrome Girl product are 5-free. That is, sans the harmful, harsh and dangerous Camphor, DBP, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde resin and Toluene.

Ever wonder why technicians ususally cut the nails when they are wet? Because they are softer, thus more pliable. In other words, easier to cut. For home pedicures, a cut is ideal after a bath or shower.

CN recommends cutting nails with clippers that look like wire pliers because they don't leave jagged edges or cut deeply like those old clippers that often come in nail care kits. Any beauty supply store would carry the plier type.

Now that the nails are cut use an emery board to smooth edges and be sure to file in one direction instead of back and forth. OK, clear away nail dust and get ready to coat and polish.

Keep toenails short to avoid blisters and other problems. Archive photo.

So you rely on a nail salon for the care of your toes, do you? Then you won't be doing any polishing. For salon jobs, CN offers some common-sense caveats:

* Patronise only salons that are clean. If you have doubts about cleanliness when you walk through the door, turn around and walk back out;
* Ask management what method is used to clean the salon's instruments. The best is autoclave, a high-pressure steam process. A solution is fine, too, as long as instruments are sterilized after each use;
Plier-shaped nail cutters do the best job. Archive photo.* Do not use the whirlpool footbath if you have open sores;
* Let salon management and staff know if you are a diabetic or are taking a blood thinner.

Now, it's toe and tell time.

Visit http://www.chromegirl.com/index.php?route=common/home to learn more about Chrome Girl products.