Hands and Feet Going Green and Staying Clean at Recess

Hands and Feet Going Green and Staying Clean at Recess

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Weekly manis and pedis aren't the guilty pleasure they once were for the men and women of WeHo. In an effort to take the guilt out of the equation, the owners of new Beverly Boulevard spa Recess have opened what they say is the first environmentally friendly nail spa around. In a three-pronged approach to beautifying local hands and feet, Recess owners' also pledge to follow industry-leading hygienic standards and offer affordability that makes pampering treats accessible to all.

"We love pampering ourselves and we've visited lots of salons over the years," says one of Recess' owners, a former real estate broker. "Slowly we came to realize that, although there are many salons out there, the concept is far from being perfected. We could see the need for a nail salon that respects environmental guidelines and ramps up its safety standards, all at a fair price."

The pair's first focus was on going green. Determined to incorporate as many environmentally friendly aspects as possible, they decided to go all the way and strive for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED-CI) top rating.

This nationally recognized benchmark established just for tenants provides builders and business owners with the information and resources they need to create healthy commercial interiors that are less costly to operate and maintain, and minimize their environmental impact.

"Following LEED guidelines is complicated and expensive, but we felt that environmental awareness was an essential part of our vision for Recess," says one owner. "Recognizing that green building is a growing trend, the builders were willing to learn LEED guidelines right along with us."

Recess builders used only wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), guaranteeing that it came from well-managed forests, defined by far-reaching standards governing everything from worker's rights to environmental impact. In the loft-style salon, low-emitting paint coats the natural tone walls and skylights let in plenty of natural light. The furniture is made of recycled materials or those made from renewable or sustainable sources.

The salon uses only organic soaps and lotions from a line Recess' owners developed just for Recess. They stock non-toxic Spa Ritual nail polish, packaged in recycled materials, as well as non-toxic Essie polishes and a select non-toxic line from OPI.

In another nod to environmental sustainability and good health, Recess stocks only anti-microbial bamboo-cotton blend towels. "Bamboo fiber is surprisingly soft and absorbent, yet it is a fast-growing plant that doesn't deplete the soil or require chemical fertilizers," the owners explain. "Most people don't know this and we'd like to play a role in educating our customers about green practices. We hope to get a lot of questions about how we built the spa and the products we're using so we can pass the information on."

Although most of the salon's equipment is Energy Star rated, meaning it uses less energy than conventional models, there is one piece of equipment that is not available with an Energy Star rating: its autoclave. Autoclaves use pressure to raise the boiling point of water to a temperature that kills bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Salon-borne infections are on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In late 1999-2000, more than 100 women developed bacterial infections after visiting the same Watsonville salon. Another outbreak occurred in late 2004. Shortly afterward, Paula Abdul appeared on American Idol with her thumb wrapped in bulky white bandages after claiming she contracted an infection from a Studio City nail salon. Partly due to her urging, Governor Schwarzenegger passed a new law in the fall of 2006 governing cleanliness practices at nail salons.

Most nail salons use U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved chemical disinfectant to sanitize reusable instruments.

"Instruments have to be submerged in chemical disinfectant for at least ten minutes for sterilization to occur, and even then it's questionable," one owner says. "An autoclave takes the guesswork out of it."

Although meeting high environmental and cleanliness standards raised costs, Recess' owners remain committed to keeping their services affordable.

"We named the salon Recess because everyone remembers how much we looked forward to recess at school," one owner says with a smile. "Everyone deserves a break and a little pampering now and then and our objective is to remove as many obstacles to that as we can."

Environmentally friendly? Check. Sanitary? Check. Affordable? Check. Sounds like it may be time for a little Recess, WeHo.

Recess' owners will host "Introducing Recess for Global Change," as "Friends of Live Earth," live from the Live Earth concert series on July 7. For more information, call 714-747-5312.

   Contact:   Nidhi Lal of Recess   714.747.5312  

Source: Recess

CONTACT: Nidhi Lal of Recess, +1-714-747-5312

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