Nailing It

SEELEY LAKE – After 32 years working for a newspaper agency in Salt Lake City, Utah, Basche (Bay-sha) Wahlberg realized the trend toward digital newspapers would eventually eliminate her job. Deciding it was time for a new adventure, she considered things she would like to do. High on the list was decorating fingernails and toenails, something she had enjoyed since she was a teenager. Accordingly, she trained to become a nail technician and moved to Seeley Lake. On March 9 and 10 she begins offering manicures and pedicures at Glenda's Hair Designs and Tanning Salon.

Wahlberg took her nail technician training in Salt Lake City. She said the beginning lessons were about sanitation and disinfecting. Strong emphasis was placed on those two issues before the instructor even began to talk about pedicures or manicures. Emphasis was also placed on how to handle minor accidental injuries.

After that, Wahlberg learned about gels, wraps, polishes, artificial enhancements and other aspects of nail care. She decided she preferred working with gels rather than acrylics because gels don't have an unpleasant odor and they allow her more time to work because they don't harden until put under UV light.

Wahlberg has decals for those who like designs on their nails. Although she has not done a lot of nail painting she said she will learn the skill if her customers prefer art to decals.

Wahlberg also does either fiberglass or silk nail wraps. The process entails cutting the material in the exact shape of the nail. After positioning the material correctly, an activator is applied. The activator binds the fiber to the nail, strengthening and repairing the nail where needed and adding length where desired.

Paraffin wax treatment is another service Wahlberg offers. It consists of dipping the hands or feet in melted wax and wrapping them in plastic and a towel. When the wax is removed, Wahlberg said, the hands or feet are very soft.

Wahlberg moved to Seeley Lake three years ago. Though she was born and raised in Salt Lake City, she said the city just kept expanding. Returning home from a trip to Canada she said she drove through Seeley Lake.

"I loved the town. I did not know anything about it but we drove through and I said this is where I want to live," Wahlberg said. "I liked it because it's a small town and I've always liked small towns. I've always wanted to be part of a small town community."

As Wahlberg became familiar with the community, she made friends with Glenda Sharbono owner of Glenda's Hair Designs and Tanning Salon. They talked about adding manicure and pedicure options to the services Sharbono already offered at her salon and decided it would be mutually beneficial.

For the present, Wahlberg will be open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. As her clientele builds, she will increase her work hours.