Donna's mobile nail service - the perfect girls' night in!

Rushing and racing day to day with work and home, it can be hard to find the time or the money for a little treat, something we all want and certainly in my humble opinion, we deserve. Well, now from the comfort of your home, you can have fabulous nails without breaking the bank, courtesy of Donna Storey from DES Classic Beauty, who travels around Athlone, Roscommon and Moate providing mobile nail services for everyone from stay-at-home mums who can't get out to a salon, to working ladies who just can't find the time except in the evenings or weekends, or simply for anyone who doesn't want to leave the house for a bit of pampering! "It's convenience to suit you, you're getting everything you get in a salon but from the comfort of your home," Donna says and with less overheads the price is also right! Flexibility is the key for the bubbly Kiltoom resident, who comes armed with a dinky wheelie case and foldable chair, ready to transform my talons from rag order (which they certainly were) to classy and elegant. If you're anything like me, patience with nails is not my strong point so it's a real luxury to have a manicure with a professional who doesn't scuff the nail polish like I do, or file one hand perfectly and then struggle with my non-writing hand. Donna laughs that the worse the condition the better she likes it because she can see the difference in the nails at the end, something that is very satisfying for her. Made redundant from a previous purchasing manager role within the bus industry after 20 years, she actually said it was the best thing that ever happened to her because it forced her to change direction entirely, retraining in nail services, and opening her own business in April of this year. She compliments the enterprise with her role as a developer for Avon, managing and recruiting representatives in the Athlone and Roscommon areas and running Ann Summers parties, all great fun she assures me. While giving me a lovely hand and arm massage and a hot oil treatment, Donna, living in Ireland for over three and half year now after growing up in Leeds, tells me that in these recessionary times pamper parties are also extremely popular for a girl's night in with a glass of wine. Get four to six friends together and for €25 per person, she will give everyone a mini-manicure and mini-pedicure plus relaxing hand and foot massage, and if my appointment is anything to go, as a great conversationalist she'll have everyone laughing and having the craic in no time with one of her stories or anecdotes. After working away at my cuticles, Donna then sets about shaping and filing my nails with great patience, something I'm ashamed to say I don't do very often at all out of sheer laziness, simply just cutting off the nails when they get too long or start to chip, not to great success either I might add, as they can all look jaggy and untidy. Not so, when the Kiltoom resident is finished with them as they look great, all uniform and not too short - ready for the nail polish! Being a purple girl, of course, no surprises when I picked a deep violet colour nail enamel from her vast selection, with so many bottles it's hard to choose but after two deftly applied coats I'm certain I made the right decision. The top coat is next and some lovely cuticle oil finishes off the whole relaxing process. Time has really flown and Donna has done a great job, considering what was put before her at the very beginning. Now I can show off my fingers without wondering if they are presentable, plus I didn't have to leave the house to do it, it's a bit of a win, win situation if you ask me. Anyhow, this is my kind of pampering, no effort required whatsoever. A full luxury manicure is €25, a pedicure is €30 but the two treatments booked together is €40. Gel nails are also Donna's speciality and have proven extremely popular among ladies in the Midlands especially for weddings. A full set costs €40 and fills are €25, as are gel nails for the toes. She is also available for children's parties, a growing trend among pre-teens who want to look like their mum or have the most fashionable colours on their nails. Then for anyone who wants to treat their loved one to gorgeous nails at home, vouchers are also available or indeed for male readers, Donna says the service is not just for women the service is also open to the modern man out there who wants to look after his nails. * For further information call Donna from DES Classic Beauty - Mobile Nail Services in Kiltoom 086 8971912. She also works on Fridays in L2, Church Avenue in Mullingar where she has an express style nail bar with a file and paint for just €10.