Manicures with Sheswai & Côte Salon
Non-Toxic Pampering
Nothing makes you feel like a lady more than simple well manicured hands and feet. Now with holiday parties arriving having festive hands and feet are called for! After a day of gardening, cooking and general activities with children and animals, my hands tend to look pretty grimy. The typical nail salons though are usually filled with toxic chemicals that can lead to hormone disruption or diseases. The toxic trio of chemicals toluene, dibutyl phthalate and formaldehyde are usually found in nail polishes, removers and gells. Now though, we are fortunate enough to be able to have access to some pampering that won’t make us sick in the process. With lovely ladies like Debbie Leavitt who has created the non-toxic brand Sheswai Lacquer, and non toxic salons popping up here and there that are more eco-concious, getting our nails done in a healthy way is becoming much more accessible. I had such a lovely afternoon when Debbie came over for some beauty pampering. She doesn’t just give a manicure, she connects on a deeper level as you can see on her blog and the questions she asks all her clients. I absolutely adore that her polishes have wood caps and contain no formaldehyde. A mini interview with her below and more on the non-toxic dream salon Cote too!
For more non-toxic beauty suggestions see The Local Rose.
1) What inspires you?
I’m inspired by the simple yet complex things like love, spirit, nature, truth…and music. I love music.
2) What is a perfect day?
My perfect day is waking up to the sun shining bright, a gathering with friends & family seaside, lots of laughs, easy good vibes, a steady flow of tasty treats to eat & drink, music, and cat-naps outside with a bit of shade.
My dog Mick is always included.
3) What or where is your favorite meal?
Something home cooked and healthy. I love a tapas style meal with lots of flavors.
Greens, grains, veggies, with tasty sauces for dipping…and really good cheese!
Whether at home with friends or at a restaurant, I love to have a few dishes that we can share.
And a great bottle of wine; white and/or rosé.
4) Do you have a beauty secret?
Happiness.
5) What is your magic power?
I have a tendency to be very optimistic. And Love; it just makes everything sweeter.
In Brentwood there is a lovely toxic free salon called so appropriately Côte which also creates it’s own beautiful polishes. The founders Mary Lennon and Leah Yari have created a safe, chic, and innovative sanctuary where we can get treated with nurturing 100% organic argan oil pedicures, and sugar scrubs. I so appreciate the fact that this is a safe place for pregnant women and children. Knowing now all the facts about how toxic chemicals can be absorbed so easily by pregnant mamas, we need to take extra care on avoiding them. Côte has such charming decor, a mix of California beach chic mixed with Southern French Cote D’Azur touches. The services are completely affordable as well, with manicures using their own beautiful brand of non-toxic polishes starting at $20. I tried the luxe manicure pedicure and I was in heaven after the sugar scrub and argan oil treatment. I only hope this becomes a chain so we can have them popping up everywhere!
