GIVE YOUR HANDS AND FEET
A LITTLE ZEN ‘RECESS’
– AT L.A.’S PREMIER
ECO-LUXURY HAND & NAIL SPA
By Stacey Kumagai
Every single day we are hardest on our hands and feet…they are part of practically everything that we do. And taking care of them is just part of a personal grooming necessity. But when you make a lifestyle change to ‘go green’ it becomes a true hands-on experience when you visit Recess, Los Angeles’ first authentic eco-luxury hand and nail spa. They are green throughout their 2,000 square foot spa location. Recess is creating a healthy and socially conscious/responsible business, while providing you peace of mind - that you are not just making yourself healthier by mindful, sanitized and green grooming, but the planet, too.
“Honestly, I doubt I could name ALL the ways I am green. I’ve been working on building and designing this place for so long, the list would be very, very long. I researched everything in detail for over a year and a half and tried to go as green as I could, states Nidhi Lal, owner of Recess. Lal’s list of ‘green’ practices as a business are pretty amazing. This includes all the furnishings and mani/pedi stools. They recycle using a one stream recycling system, and use bamboo/cotton blended towels that are manufactured at a wind-powered plant using low-impact dyes. And… these towels are used in the bathroom rather than paper towels. You’ll also find recycled toilet paper here, and know that eco-friendly cleaning supplies are used in the entire salon with Energy Star appliances. And if that doesn’t bring everything to light as to how green they are, their task lights are high efficiency LED lights which only use 9.3 watts.
Aside from being green – Recess assures that their sanitizing practices will prevent you from experiencing the unsavory kind of green – and they are safe, healthy and mindful of YOUR health while providing their eco-luxury service. “I sanitize the implements using an autoclave, which is the machine used in hospitals and dentist offices. It is the only way to guarantee the nail cutters, nippers, etc can’t spread disease. I believe my spa is one of the safest out there because I don’t reuse anything that we can’t sanitize. I don’t think people understand the risk involved in getting a service, in terms of spreading disease and infection. The dangers of acrylic, parabens, formaldehyde, DBP, and toluene are also overlooked,” states Lal. The polishes Recess uses for their manicures and pedicures are non-toxic Zoya and Spa Ritual nail polishes…. For all nail treatments (base, top coats, and polish remover). For those not familiar with Zoya and Spa Ritual polishes – both of these polishes are Vegan. They are Formaldehyde-free, Tolulene –free and Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) – free.
Why is this important? Formaldehyde is an intermediate in the oxidation (or combustion) of methane, in addition to other carbon compounds – think forest fires, automobile exhaust and tobacco smoke on your nails. Tolulene is typically equivalent to the smell of paint thinner and is like a solvent. It is part of the methyl group, think crude oil/gasoline – because it exists in these things, in a low level. Dibutyl Phythalate is part of the adhesive group – think printing ink and ether. But only as recently as 2006 was it removed from a lot of polishes.
So translation… if getting a manicure and pedicure with Vegan and chemical-free polishes from Zoya and Spa Ritual means better health for you and having polishes adorn your fingertips and toes that do NOT put these chemicals into your bloodstream/body, then you understand the benefit of having ‘green’ polishes as a means of healthful beauty! This also means it is ultra-safe for pregnant women.
Recess is all about conscious beauty. And they are also all about a true mindful retreat for your hands and feet. They have created a Recess signature custom formula of formaldehyde-free, organic, and paraben-free moisturizing lotions, soaking salts, scrubs, & essential oils which you get to blend yourself. Talk about hands-on! You get to choose from aromatic scents like Summer Guava, Key Lime, Indian Spice and Coco Beach to name a few…. From a long list almost as long as the ways Recess is green. In addition to carrying eco-conscious products for manis and pedis, Recess also carries products Lal has created on her own.
“I have my own line of organic products that I use in services, which clients get to customize according to their taste. Furthermore, since my products are strategically formulated with essential oils, they have natural therapeutic benefits as well that will gives you a full body experience, rather than just a nail treatment. I’ve added to my menu and customized a variety of treatments that will make it much easier for the average person to maximize their service treatments for each visit. I like to think that my products bring the “spa” to the name nail spa. The phrase is thrown around very loosely these days,” adds Lal.
One of Recess’ most popular treatments is the Chill Out which includes their Clay Mask and a very comforting and Warm ‘Lemon Essence’ Cream wrap. The healing massage using their ‘Lavender Frost’ moisturizer tops it all off – plus you get your choice of soak….. and choose if you want this Chill Out treatment as a manicure or a pedicure – because they offer it for both! These are called Recess Cocktails….an added indulgence service they offer. Chilling out is certainly ZEN. But if you’d rather get your ZEN other ways, they also offer TropiCali, Bloominesque and even a Musk-Try if your tastes run a little outside of the Zen box.
Oh and you can bring a kid or two… yes, you heard right. Whether they’re your rugrats, or you’re caring for someone else’s – it doesn’t mean you can’t have your Zen. Recess does manis and pedis for kids, too! What a way to get them to ‘Chill Out…’
Above all, Lal is dedicated to her craft and what she believes. “I really wanted to do something that I was really passionate about. It seemed like the perfect choice. I am committed to educating people on both the need and benefits of being green. I think a lot of people can’t identify with it, so I’d like to make it accessible to the mainstream and help make it the norm. Also, I doubt the average person realizes how harmful it is to the environment. Once again, I think education and public awareness is the only way to make a change in any of this,” states Lal.
Hands-on application of healthy and eco-practices. Walking the talk with her feet firmly planted in the conscious direction. Oh – and you can bet they are looking pretty snazzy as well, colorfully decked out in tolulene and formaldehyde-free polish. They are relaxed, the ZEN way. What a beautiful thing!
Recess is located at 8408-B Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, California 90048.
For appointments call 323.782.9919
For more information go to www.recess-la.com