Reflexology prep and products

[horsinround2do]

I would love to know what products people use during their reflexology sessions. Do you soak the feet first in a foot spa, bowl, or just cleanse with wipes? Do you perhaps apply a foot mask or scrub to add something extra to the treatment?

I'm thinking of adding something like this to my treatments and wondered whether anyone else does and whether they find it popular with their clients.

Is this something we can do without having pedicure training? I just want to do a soak, scrub, and mask not sort out dead skin or file or anything!

At the moment, I use rose water to cleanse the feet at the beginning of the session and grapeseed oil for the treatment. When I did my training we soaked the feet in a bowl of water and on another course I went on cleaned the feet with surgical spirit (I thought this was quite harsh and haven't used it since). When I first qualified I used a foot spa but found it too noisy and not all my clients liked it.

Would be great to hear what you use.

 

[mr brightside]

I cleanse the feet using cotton wool dipped in warm water with a drop of lavender and tea tree in it.

Before cleansing I look closely at the feet as I was taught that it was important to do so when they are dry as fungal infections, areas of dry skin etc. may not be so noticeable just after the feet have been washed.

A small part of me would quite like to use a foot spa as I think it would be nice for the client and possibly less embarrassing than having your feet cleansed directly by the therapist, although no one has shown any embarrassment. However, the thought of having to faff about with larger quantities of water and cleaning the spa between treatments has put me off along with the fact that it goes against what I was originally taught.

I certainly wouldn't want to be applying masks or scrubbing the feet as I wouldn't want clients to think they were coming for a beauty treatment. Also, I've had no training in doing this.

Looking forward to reading the other responses as I think we all do this quite differently.

 

[krvdwpsu]

I was taught to use a lemongrass foot spray and gentle wipes. Enery client coments how lovley the lemongrass spray is. I like the idea of doing a footsoak using lemons and limes but the practicalities of it put me off

 

[Attadbalilt]

I do offer a soak, especially if they have comne straight from work but the offer does not often get taken up . I do have a footspa which is quite noisy but I tend to use a washing up bowl I keep for feet only, putting some Virgin Vie Day Spa or Honey and lavender powder in the water (i use these because i use them myself and i like them, opposed to buying specifically for the business). I am not an aromatherapist so not keen on putting oils in the water but I do burn them. I find the bowl better because it is quieter and easier to do initial and follow up consultations.

If a foot bath is declined I use fragrance free babywipes to cleanse the feet.

 

[Nmsbxqwtatbcj]

I never clean the feet before a treatment, or as part of it. For the actually treatment I use Tui Bee Balme. It's a massage wax made from beeswax and with vitamin E added. I don't use any oils of any kind as I often work with pregnant women. If I'm treating a vegan, I use a proprietory massage lotion, sunflower seed oil or cornstarch instead.

 

[Sawyer]

I don't clean the feet as I find most people have cleaned their feet beforehand and I'm not being paid to give a pedicure. It wasn't someting we did in our training. I do have baby wipes to hand if the feet are particularly sweaty or dirty, which is generally only in the summer.

 

[S B]

The only clients of mine which seem to clean theirs beforehand are those who are having a treatment in there own home. A lot of my clients come straight from work so have been on their feet all day and they definitly need a clean before the treatment - need to get rid of the sock fluff which always seems to appear even with old socks (one of life's mysteries!).

That's interesting Ccole that the majority of people do not take you up on the offer of a foot soak first. I love soaking my feet - I think it feels great.

Trinabeanbag, I like the idea of the footspray - I bet that feels really refreshing.

I liked the idea of using the scrubs and mask as a lot of my clients have dry, hard skin and I'd like to be able to help with that. I know they can go for a pedicure or see a chiropodist to help with this but if I can help a little I thought they would appreciate it. Obviously, I would charge extra if clients wanted to have the scrub and mask as it would add on time to the treatment and also more products being used.

 

[Dersilbhild]

I see masks and scrubs as beauty therapy and not holistic therapy. I try and steer clear of being associated with beauty as i personally feel it devalues my therapies and I would never entertain practicing from a beauty therapy shop/clinic (no offence to anyone intended). I only offer foot baths to wind them down before the treatment and as i said, very few take it up.

 

[JancoByccu]

I sometimes use a foot spa, with some essential oils in, Tea Tree or Lavender, depends on the person. I use lavender water on women, and antibac wipes for men, men do not want lavender spray hehe , and I also use the Tui Foot Balme, and to finish off I use a deep moisturising creme from that well known company with the slogan "ding dong **** calling" lol x

 

[princess like kitty]

Lavendula, the lemongrass footspray is available from www.footreflexology.com this is the website for the British School of reflexology where i trained, the foot spray is available from there.
all the clients comment what a wonderful smell it is

 

[ilovetolearnnewthings]

I don't use any oils of any kind as I often work with pregnant women.

Why is this? is it dangerous to use oils on pregnant women?

 

[mlefdulbiyaihsece]

Yes some oils aren't safe to use at all, some all throughout and some are safe to use after a certain time, but in small concentration of 1%. Some oils are emmenagogue oils, which means they can bring on a period, or abortifacient, which induces abortion.

 

[Yuya]

Hi. Just to add to the mix - when training last year we were taught to put a couple of drops of t-tree oil onto damp cotton wool pads and use one pad per foot to wipe over the feet. T-tree is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal and certainly does take away foot odours. We then used a t-tree lotion from Boots for the massage of the foot.