Staff Highlight: Terra Johnson

A rose petal foot bath and pedicure top off a Queen for a Day Spa Day at Urban Sanctuary.

Terra Johnson does manicures and pedicures at Urban Sanctuary .   She specializes in the Asian Foot Massage Pedicure and gives an amazing foot massage. We are really happy to have her with us. Thanks to Terra, you now have many more options to choose from in the evenings and on the weekends when scheduling your manicures and pedicures at Urban Sanctuary. These additional options include Sundays from 1:00-6:00. Hooray!

Terra's favorite services are the Asian Foot Massage Pedicure, the Urban Pedicure and the Urban Manicure. She gives a great hand and foot massage and is truly a good listener. Have a service with Terra and you'll have an opportunity to talk about your day, decompress and just completely unwind....


Terra, what got you interested in studying cosmetology and doing nails?

I have been painting other peoples' nails since I was seven years old. I used to love watching my mom do her make-up and hair. I have always been a "girly" girl, myself. I just love it all. Nail polish, make up, accessories--you name it! I think it's fun!

Tell us about your family.

I've been married for seven years and have two great step kids. Elizabeth is 12 (not at all into my nail polish and make up!) and Sloan is 17. We have two very spoiled dogs.

Tell us about life in your hometown.

Elberton is where I grew up and I still live there. It's about 45 minutes outside of Athens. In Elberton, you mostly have granite companies. I have worked for two of them. Once in a granite slab house and another time working with people designing custom kitchen counters. Everybody knows everybody in Elberton.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love planting flowers and doing yard work. I take great pride in my yard and really enjoy finding rare and unusual plants to display. I get that from my father. I also like cooking, entertaining friends and family, and listening to music. Our favorite restaurant is called Moogy's. It's in Tacoa.

Any favorite movies or TV shows?

I'm completely addicted to all of the Housewives shows! Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Real Housewives of Atlanta, Orange County, New York and the list goes on. I'm a junky. I also love the Food Network. Pretty Woman is my all time favorite movie!

Terra is really fun. Whether you just love dishing about reality television or not, you'll find her company to be delightful. Book a manicure or pedicure with Terra today by calling 706-613-3947. View our entire menu of spa services online at Urban Sanctuary Spa.

Photo taken during a little girls' spa party at Urban Sanctuary.

Manicure and Pedicure Questions and Answers

                  

 Our resident nail experts Kela, Sarah and Rachel share their answers to your nail-related questions.

How long will it take for my nails to dry?
  
          Ten minutes will produce a touch-dryness necessary for driving, answering the phone, or other light activities.

How soon after can I go for a run or wash dishes?

  Give your nails at least 3 hours to dry. After this time, the nail will have hardened through like enamel, giving lasting durability to your polish.  Polishing at home? Our Andale Drying Drops from SpaRituals are a favorite to speed up touch-dryness and let you leave the house faster. If you get your nails done at Urban Sanctuary, we'll encourage you to linger as long as you'd like after your manicure or pedicure is over. We have three lovely lounges for you to relax in and drink tea while you wait for your nails to dry. Take your time...

What can I do about yellowed nails?

 Apply a base coat! Base coats protect your nails from any polish you might apply, keeping your nails from absorbing pigments that lead to yellow nails.

 

 What can I do about tight & ragged cuticles? 

    Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Help out ragged cuticles by applying a moisturizer daily. We recommend the Farmaesthetics Hand to Heel Softening Salve, which is a miracle for cracked heels and dry elbows, as well.  If you schedule a nail service with us, be sure to ask for extra moisturizer during your manicure & pedicure.

What can I do about my hands and feet looking rough?

       If you are hard on your hands and your heels, small additions to your normal routine can make a big difference. Trying pomacing or scrubbing your heels in the shower or wearing rubber gloves while you clean the house or wash dishes. If you have a summer routine of getting manicures and pedicures that dies as soon as the first leaf falls, try extending it through the fall and winter. We offer a Manicure and Pedicure Series that offers a savings for clients who want to invest in regular nail care.    

      
                     Gel nails are very popular. Do you do those at Urban Sanctuary?

So far there's not a gel formulation that fits our comfort level as far as toxins go. We are always on the lookout for the perfect long-lasting formula. There has been one company that produces a vegan gel, but unfortunately, the only way to remove it is by using strong petrochemicals so the answer is no, for now...

Sometimes I care more about the relaxation aspect than the polish.
 Can I skip the polish and just soak longer?

Definitely! Don't be shy about asking for what makes you most happy. Your nail service can have more or less scrub time, soak time, massage time according to your request. We can also arrange for extra time focused on problem cuticles or an extra special nail paint job... You are the boss! Just mention it on the phone when booking your appointment, and we will customize your manicure/pedicure to make you happy!

Lastly, a question for you: Did you know your nail bed needs to breathe?      
      

     Leave a gap around your cuticle when applying polish. Your nails are made of dead keratin, but the nail bed is a living part of your body. When applying polish, leave a gap between your polish and your nail bed to ensure it can breathe properly. It doesn’t have to be large -- a millimeter will do if you have the precision, and it’s better to err on the side of too large a gap than too small.

  Call Urban Sanctuary for advice on which one of our in-house manicures or pedicures will best take care of your personal needs... Our number is 706-613-3947.