Business Spotlight: M'Raj Nails

Staying up to date with the latest in nail technology, Mary O’Donal of Windham’s MRaj Nails goes the extra mile to ensure her customers receive the best possible service in a clean and comfortable setting and for an affordable price.

Located at 123 Varney Mill Road in Windham, M’Raj Nails is devoted to its clients with a relaxing experience each time they visit. The salon's serene ambiance invites guests to unwind and indulge in a pampering experience like no other. Step inside and discover a world of creativity and skill where your nails are transformed into works of art.

O’Donal is passionate about providing high-quality nail care services and to that end, she recently completed a STAR NT Course in October to become a Specialty Toenails and Restoration Nail Tech.

“This is an advanced pedicure course through The Meticulous Manicurist,” she said. “This course was very detailed and in-depth as it covers a large variety of specialty toenails, such as, but not limited to, thick toenails, impacted, pincer, fungal, etc. I've learned a great deal about how to get them back to healthy and comfortable again.”

According to O’Donal, this pedicure work is cosmetic, and not medical as it still lies within the beauty industry.

“This has allowed me to meet the needs of many of my clients, and, of course, to work on more challenging toenails as well,” O’Donal said. “I truly love learning different techniques that help my clients have better comfort. I pay close attention to my clients’ comfort. I keep an open conversation and enjoy building trust and rapport with all my clients.”

M’Raj Nails offers manicures, pedicures, dips, paraffin wax, hot stones, sculpting with acrylics and gels, all at an affordable cost.

Basic nail care includes cleaning and maintaining nail cuticles, shaping nails, and any necessary care for the skin and nail bed. Nails can be polished with an array of colors and different polish types. Nail tips can then be sculpted on the nail. A paraffin dip is a soothing treatment for hands or feet which are submerged in a warm mixture of paraffin, with petroleum-based wax and mineral oil, and intended to moisturize and soften them.

“I do basic manis, pedis, acrylic, dip, hard gel, paraffin, hot stones, and use vegan and cruelty-free products,” O’Donal said. “And now I do specialty toenails and restoration too. I work from my salon primarily, but sometimes my clients are unable to come to me, so in some cases, I do go to my client. I do charge a fee, depending on the distance, and I also need to meet my client before going to their home.”

Nail art offered at M’Raj Nails is all about specialization, precision, and design, she said.

“I truly enjoy doing nail art,” O’Donal said. “I use only the best products and techniques to ensure that you leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated,” O’Donal said.

She says that her clients enjoy her friendly and one-on-one attention, where they can converse freely and are comfortable and able to relax in her salon.

“I run this business by myself, and I’m constantly working to improve my skills, learn new skills and techniques, and striving to make every client feel seen, heard, and happy,” O’Donal said. “I strive to be detailed and listen to my clients’ needs. My clients that I do have usually say they come to me because it is a very calm environment, and I give them all the attention. I guarantee my gel and acrylics for two weeks. I will do free consultations, and potential clients can send me pics via my website, or text.”

Maintaining the exceptional cleanliness of her salon is a top priority with instrument sterilization and disinfectants used to eliminate harmful bacteria, O’Donal said.

Quality work and connecting with her clients is important to her, and she says she wants her clients to leave her salon happy and ready to show off their nails to the world. Communication is paramount to her business and many of her clients are so happy with her work that they refer their friends and family to M’Raj Nails.

A recent review of MRaj Nails was outstanding.

“I was having issues with my toenails and a difficult time reaching them. I started going to M'raj for treatment. I am very impressed with Mary. She did more for my toenails in one visit than the prior place I went to in five visits. Mary is very knowledgeable in what she does, makes it a fun occasion and she provides quality service. I highly recommend her. You will not be disappointed.” DB

For more details about M’Raj Nails, call 207-749-9320, visit online at http://mrajnails.com/ or send an email to mrajnails@gmail.com. A complete list of services offered and pricing are available online. <

Business Spotlight: Casco Bay Cremation and Funeral Services

A recent nationwide trend has seen private out-of-state investment companies taking over area funeral homes, including in Windham, but the owner of Casco Bay Cremation and Funeral Services is committed to providing local families with expertise and affordable exceptional care that is truly owned by a local family who understands local needs.

Local funeral professional Jeffrey Dobson 
established Casco Bay Cremation and
Funeral Services in 2024 and offers
full burial and cremation services,
green burials, church services,
graveside services, direct cremation,
direct burials, prearrangements, and
international shipping at affordable
pricing. COURTESY PHOTO   
 

Longtime funeral professional Jeffrey Dobson established Casco Bay Cremation and Funeral Services in 2024 and offers full burial and cremation services, green burials, church services, graveside services, direct cremation, direct burials, prearrangements and international shipping. It serves all Southern Maine and parts of New Hampshire with extensive experience in Windham and the Greater Portland area. It offers a large array of lasting memorial products, and its highly trained staff are highly experienced in arranging funeral services and can help families celebrate loved ones no matter what their religion, culture, or budget.

Because the company is locally owned and operated with no outside shareholders, Dobson has been able to keep costs low and highly affordable for area families.

“For the level of service that we provide and for a provider that meets families in person or remotely, and also for a provider who provides the family with an urn for no additional cost, we are currently the most affordable in the Greater Portland Area,” Dobson said. “We are also adding services such as traditional burials, casket burials, church services and services at the graveside.”

He says pricing for services offered by Casco Bay Cremation and Funeral Services will never contain hidden costs driven by out-of-state investor profit.

“We are extremely transparent and are one of only a few funeral establishments that I know of in Southern Maine that fully publish all our prices on our website,” Dobson said. “We do not hide anything, nor do we require a family to come in and see us to get the basic information they need to make informed choices.”

Dobson has been a funeral professional for more than 15 years and he started working in Portland at a funeral home assisting the funeral directors there. That led him to go back to school to obtain his mortuary science degree.

“I personally have spent over eight years working in the Portland area,” he said. “I recently noticed the cost in the Portland area increasing and wanted to use my ability to offer families an option that provides dignified and professional cremation and burial services without the high costs.”

According to Dobson, a funeral professional is essential because they help families navigate the complex process of planning a funeral or memorial service for their loved one. They provide guidance, support, and expertise in areas such as arranging for cremations, obtaining necessary permits and certificates, and coordinating with other professionals involved in the funeral process. Additionally, he said they can help families make important decisions and provide emotional support during a most challenging time.

“We are truly family owned and locally operated. We have spent our entire life growing up and attending local schools,” Dobson said. “We don’t answer to outside investors. We answer only to the families that entrust their loved ones to our care. These families are truly our investors. We offer services of a full-service funeral establishment; the only service we do not offer at this time is in-house chapel services. We choose to specialize in offsite services at a family’s church or if a family has no church. we do work with several local spaces that we can use to hold funerals and memorial services at a much more affordable cost. We do not sacrifice a high level of service for a lower cost, and we believe a family should obtain the same professional services without the higher price.”

He said that the quality of the services Casco Bay Cremation and Funeral Services offers is of the highest importance to them and they will never sacrifice quality and compassion. We also offer a 100 percent service guarantee, meaning if a family is not pleased or our services did not meet their expectations, we will adjust the overall cost for the family, which could include no cost at all. Dobson believes that the cost of services should never be a factor in the quality of the service that a family receives.

“We respond to families 24 hours a day and families see that and they know that if they call us, we are going to be there for them,” Dobson said. “We believe in fairness, ensuring that our services are reasonably priced, allowing you to focus on honoring the memory of your loved one. In times of grief, we extend our hand to help you, believing in the power of a local family to guide you through this challenging period.”

To reach Casco Bay Cremation and Funeral Services call 207-747-8240 and review its transparent pricing at www.cascobaycremation.com. <