At Newport Nails, we understand that trying a new skincare treatment can raise many questions and a bit of uncertainty, especially if it’s before a big event. Our goal is to ensure you feel well-informed and at ease, so you can enjoy every moment of your spa facial treatment. By understanding what goes into a spa facial, you can better relax and enjoy the benefits of a professional treatment. Here’s what you can expect during your first spa facial appointment at a nail salon in Newport Beach.

Cleansing

The first step in any professional facial is thorough cleansing. Your esthetician will begin by gently removing any makeup, sunscreen, or impurities from your skin’s surface. This is typically done with a soothing cleanser that’s chosen based on your specific skin type, whether it’s dry, oily, sensitive, or combination. This cleansing process preps your skin and also allows your esthetician to analyze your skin’s condition up close, so they can determine how best to proceed.

Exfoliating

Once your skin is clean, the next step is exfoliation. Exfoliation is key to maintaining a bright and clear complexion because it removes dead skin cells that dull your natural glow. Depending on your skin’s sensitivity and needs, your esthetician will either use a gentle physical exfoliant, like a scrub, or a chemical exfoliant. This step smooths the skin’s texture, unclogs pores, and helps stimulate circulation, leaving your skin looking refreshed and more radiant. It also helps your skin become better prepared to absorb the nourishing products that come next in the process.

Steaming

After exfoliation, you’ll experience one of the most relaxing parts of a spa facial: steaming. Warm steam is directed at your face, opening up pores and softening debris inside them. Steaming also boosts circulation, increasing the supply of oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells. Most people find this step incredibly calming, as the gentle heat soothes facial muscles and encourages deep relaxation.

Extraction

One of the main benefits of a professional spa facial is safe and effective extraction, which removes impurities like blackheads, whiteheads, and clogged pores. Unlike squeezing or picking at your skin at home — which can lead to redness, irritation, and even scarring — your esthetician will have specialized tools and techniques to perform extractions gently and hygienically.

Massage

A soothing facial massage is often the next step after extractions. Using gentle, rhythmic movements, your esthetician will massage your face, neck, and shoulders. This not only promotes relaxation but also boosts circulation, reduces puffiness, and helps tone facial muscles, contributing to the signature glow you can only achieve with a spa facial treatment.

Moisturize

The essential final step is moisturizing. After your skin is thoroughly cleansed, exfoliated, and prepped to receive product, your esthetician will apply nourishing creams or oils that are tailored to your skin’s needs. These moisturizing products lock in hydration and replenish the skin’s barrier, leaving your skin supple, balanced, and glowing. 

If you’re searching for a premier nail salon where you can indulge in high-quality spa facials, look no further than Newport Nails. Our estheticians will tailor every moment of your spa treatment to your unique needs and self-care goals, making sure your visit leaves you looking and feeling your best. To learn more or book your first appointment for a professional spa facial, contact us online or visit us at Westcliff Plaza or one of our other convenient locations today.

If the eyes are the window to the soul, then the eyebrows are their frame. Eyebrows are one of the most important features to enhance your look and frame your face, making eyebrow maintenance a critical step in any beauty routine. However, with a plethora of makeup and care products, including pencils, pens, gels, threading, waxing, tweezing, microblading, and more, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out what’s best for you and your lifestyle. That’s why we’ve created this ultimate brow guide to help you understand the most popular eyebrow grooming options: eyebrow waxing, eyebrow shaping, and permanent eyebrow makeup.

Eyebrow Waxing

One of the most classic and popular choices for eyebrow grooming is eyebrow waxing. This technique involves applying a gentle, warm facial wax to unwanted hair around and between the eyebrows, and then quickly removing it using a cloth strip. This leaves behind clean, crisp lines, pulling hairs out from the root. Because of its deep penetration, eyebrow waxing offers long-lasting results — you can typically go up to four weeks between appointments.

For best results at your eyebrow waxing appointment, show up with clean skin devoid of any lotions, makeup, or other products. Avoid any harsh skincare treatments or prolonged sun exposure in the days leading up to your appointment, and make sure the hair is long enough for the wax to properly grip. Let your esthetician know if you’re taking any medications, have any skin conditions, or are on your menstrual cycle, as these can all affect skin sensitivity and the waxing process.

Eyebrow Shaping

A step beyond eyebrow waxing, eyebrow shaping is an all-encompassing service that utilizes waxing, tweezing, and trimming to create the ultimate brow shape for your face. Whereas eyebrow waxing typically removes stray hairs, eyebrow shaping will create the ideal brow arch, tail, and thickness to complement your facial features and aesthetic goals.

You can opt for eyebrow shapes that soften, define, or lift your features. You can go bold or do something soft and natural. Using all the methods listed above, your esthetician will transform your eyebrows into a precise and tidy shape that highlights your preferred features and evens out your facial symmetry.

Permanent Eyebrows

If you want to add more brow hairs rather than remove them, permanent eyebrows are a great solution. This semi-permanent treatment, also known as microblading or brow tattooing, involves depositing pigment beneath the skin’s surface to create the illusion of fuller, perfectly shaped eyebrows. The results last for months or even years, giving you a low-maintenance beauty routine that will help you feel confident and put together every day without effort.

During your permanent makeup appointment, your technician will work with you to map out the color, shape, and thickness that best suits your face. Once you’re happy with the results, they’ll use a fine blade, similar to a tattoo gun, to deposit the pigment. The pigment is deposited more superficially than tattoo ink, however, leading to its semi-permanent results rather than lifelong commitment. The results are immediately fuller, perfectly-styled brows that gradually and naturally fade over time.

Whether you want to treat yourself to permanent eyebrows, eyebrow waxing, or expert shaping, your local nail salon in Newport Beach can provide spa treatment solutions that make your daily beauty routine easier and leave you feeling more confident day-to-day. To learn more or book an appointment, contact Newport Nails online or visit us at The Landing or one of our other convenient locations today, and let us know how we can service your permanent makeup and waxing needs.

If you’re looking for nail extensions that will give you a flawless, long-lasting look, acrylic nails are a popular choice. This durable manicure style is one of the most common and classic requests at any nail salon in Newport Beach, but for those who may not have tried it before, there can be a lot of questions surrounding the process. Before your next nail salon appointment, here’s everything you need to know about getting acrylic nails.

What Are Acrylic Nails?

Acrylic nails are a type of fake nail created by mixing acrylic powder with a liquid monomer. This mixture forms a durable, plastic-like coating that hardens with exposure to air. The acrylic solution is applied over your natural nails to create a strong nail extension that can be shaped, filed, and customized to your preferred length and style.

What Are the Benefits of Acrylic Nails?

Acrylic nails offer numerous benefits that have made them a nail salon staple for more than 70 years. Firstly, they provide immediate length and strength to your natural nails. If you have brittle nails that break easily, acrylics offer an easy solution. Their durability is unmatched, making them ideal for people with active lifestyles or who work with their hands. If properly looked after, acrylic nails can last up to 3 weeks before requiring a fill.

Another benefit of acrylics is that they don’t require UV light to cure. Although they offer the same strength and durability as other nail extensions like Gel X and dip powder, they achieve this durability without potentially damaging UV exposure. This makes them a preferred choice for people with sensitive or damaged skin.

What Is the Process of Getting Acrylic Nails?

A typical acrylic nail appointment takes approximately 60-90 minutes, depending on your chosen design. The appointment begins with thorough nail preparation. Our technicians will push back your cuticles, buff the nail surface, and moisturize the surrounding skin. 

Your technician will then add nail tips or nail forms to add length to your natural nail, if desired. This is by far the most popular form of acrylic nails, but you can also add acrylics onto your natural nails with no added extensions. 

Once nail tips are applied, your technician will use a sanding band to gently rough up the surface of the nail bed. This makes the nail bed more porous and ensures that the acrylic adheres properly. Then, a clear primer is applied, followed by the clear acrylic solution. Once the acrylic is fully dry and hardened, it is manually filed down to your preferred length and shape. Finally, your nail salon technician will apply your preferred polish and nail art design for a flawless finish.

How Do You Remove Acrylic Nails?

Professional removal is always the best and safest option for acrylic nails. If you’ve ever gotten any other kind of nail extension treatment, such as a gel manicure or Gel X nails, the removal process is extremely similar.

Your nail salon technician will file down the acrylic surface using the sanding band. Next, each nail is wrapped in an acetone-soaked cotton pad and covered with foil. After about 10-15 minutes of soaking, during which time the acetone gradually dissolves the acrylic, your technician will gently remove any remaining product with a wooden pusher. They’ll then apply a nourishing treatment to restore moisture to your natural nails.

Whether you’re looking to try something new or stick to your tried and true manicure style, Newport Nails has several customizable mani-pedi options that will suit anyone’s needs. We’ll help you sit back, relax, and achieve an Instagram-ready look, so contact us online or visit us at Newport Hills or one of our other convenient locations today and let us know how we can service your mani-pedi needs.

Filling in the eyebrows is a crucial step in most people’s makeup routine, whether it’s helping even out their shape or adding more dimension back to the face after applying concealing products. However, for those with sparse, uneven, or hard-to-maintain eyebrows, daily eyebrow pencil application can get tedious, and many people opt for permanent eyebrows to make their morning routines easier and their results more predictable. If you’re considering permanent eyebrows, also known as eyebrow microblading, here’s everything you need to know to feel confident before your appointment.

It’s Not the Same as Tattooing

Despite their name, permanent eyebrows are not fully permanent. Rather, they’re a semi-permanent makeup technique that lasts 1-3 years. It’s achieved by depositing pigment into the upper layers of the skin using tiny needles. While this technique is similar to tattooing, traditional tattoo needles penetrate much deeper into the skin, creating a permanent result. The tool used for permanent eyebrows creates much more superficial and precise strokes that replicate individual hairs. The pigments used are also specifically designed to match natural eyebrow hair colors.

There May Be Some Discomfort — But Not Much

We often get two types of clients during permanent eyebrow appointments: those who don’t expect any discomfort and those who are concerned about significant pain. The reality is that while the process isn’t entirely painless, most clients find the discomfort to be very minimal and easily manageable.

Before the procedure, a topical numbing cream is applied around the area to minimize discomfort. The sensation that you’ll experience is similar to a slight scratching or tingling feeling, which some people describe as similar to light papercuts. The entire process takes one to two hours, but your technician can take breaks throughout to ensure that you feel comfortable.

Your Skin Type Can Affect Results

It’s important to know beforehand that factors like skin texture, pore size, and oil production can affect the results of your permanent eyebrows. For example, oily skin tends to blur the pigment more quickly, resulting in less crisp, hair-like strokes than those with dry or normal skin. People with very oily skin may also require touch-ups more frequently. If you’re concerned about your skin’s oiliness and how that may affect results, your technician can provide personalized advice and give you an idea of what you will achieve with your unique skin type.

Proper Aftercare is Crucial

In addition to skin type, the results and longevity of your permanent eyebrows will depend on your willingness to follow proper aftercare instructions. Immediately after the process, your eyebrows will appear very dark and defined. Over the following week, they will go through a healing process where the color will soften and become more natural. Performing proper aftercare during this period is crucial for achieving optimal results.

Firstly, avoid getting the area wet for the first few days after your appointment. Stay out of direct sunlight, avoid strenuous activity that may cause sweating, and avoid applying any skincare or makeup products around your eyebrows. Your technician may recommend an ointment to assist healing; apply a thin layer as often as directed. After 4-6 weeks, you’ll likely revisit your technician so they can assess the results after healing and make any tweaks to perfect the shape and color.

Permanent eyebrows are a great option for those looking to enhance and define their natural features without the hassle of daily eyebrow pencil application. Whether you want to treat yourself to permanent eyebrows, eyeliner, lip liner, or eyelash extensions, your local nail salon in Newport Beach can provide permanent makeup solutions that make your daily beauty routine easier and leave you feeling more confident day-to-day. To learn more or book an appointment, contact Newport Nails online or visit us at Bayside or one of our other convenient locations today, and let us know how we can service your permanent makeup needs.

If you’re preparing for your first waxing appointment, you’re probably excited yet nervous. How badly will waxing hurt? Will it be awkward? How should you prepare?

Whether you’re considering leg waxing, eyebrow waxing, face waxing, or even Brazilian waxing, proper preparation can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth and less painful experience. If you’re not sure how to prepare for your first waxing appointment, here are some pointers.

Grow Your Hair Out

First and perhaps most importantly, you’ll need to grow your hair out before your waxing appointment. The length of your hair directly impacts how effective the waxing is. While some first-time clients may be embarrassed about their body hair or think they need to show up with less hair to make the job easier, the reality is that your hair should be ¼ to ½-inch long. This ensures that the wax can properly grip the hair shaft for effective removal.

Most nail salons recommend that you avoid shaving for at least two weeks prior to your appointment to give the hair time to grow out to the optimal length. If the hair is too short for the wax to properly grip, your waxing session can be less effective, longer, and more painful as it may take multiple attempts to get rid of all of the hair.

Exfoliate

In addition to letting your hair grow out for about two weeks, it’s important to exfoliate the area you plan to have waxed during that time. Gentle exfoliation removes dead skin cells, which can help prevent ingrown hairs and make the waxing more effective. It can also make the process less painful, as it prepares the skin to release hair more easily.

Exfoliate the area the day before your appointment using a mild scrub or exfoliating glove. Make sure not to overly exfoliate and potentially irritate the skin, however. Be extra gentle around sensitive areas, especially if you’re planning on Brazilian waxing. Make sure not to exfoliate on the day of your appointment, also, as this can make your skin more sensitive.

Moisturize

Moisturizing also plays an important role in pre-waxing preparation. Keeping your skin hydrated helps maintain its elasticity, which can make hair remover more gentle and less painful.

Make sure that you’re moisturizing regularly in the days or even weeks leading up to your appointment. However, avoid applying moisturizer on the day of your wax, as this can create a barrier between the wax and the hair, leading to less effective hair removal.

Shower

A shower is highly recommended right before heading to your waxing appointment. A warm shower will help soften the hair and open up the follicles, which can make the waxing process easier and less painful. Be sure to use warm water and not hot water, however, as overly hot water can make your skin more sensitive.

Clean skin also ensures that any excess oils and sweat are removed, allowing the wax to better adhere to the hair. Additionally, especially if you’re Brazilian waxing, a shower will ensure cleanliness and hygiene for your technician.

Take a Pain Reliever

Finally, if you’re particularly concerned about the pain level, consider taking a pain reliever about 30 minutes before your appointment. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can help reduce pain and decrease inflammation during and after your waxing session. While waxing pain is typically quick — and, if you follow the other steps above, minimal — a pain reliever can help ease the initial sting and ensure you have a more comfortable experience.

At Newport Nails, our estheticians are highly trained, experienced, and friendly. We always place your comfort at the forefront, ensuring you have a pleasant experience from the moment you walk in the door. Whether you’re preparing for a special occasion or simply want to look and feel your best, we’ll leave you feeling confident with our leg waxing, eyebrow waxing, face waxing, and Brazilian waxing services. To book an appointment, contact us online or visit us at Westcliff Plaza or one of our other convenient locations today, and let us know how we can service your waxing needs.