Be Afraid...Be Very Afraid!! The Truth about Nail Salons

The Nail salon, it's a place where most women go to treat their hands and feet to a little pampering; and rightfully so, you work hard all week long so you deserve that hour or two to focus on yourself and to look and feel your best! You walk through the salon doors, receive a warm greeting from your favorite nail technician and told to pick out your color; however, while cheerfully doing so you may not be aware of the nasty little secrets that are hidden within the shop.

When choosing the perfect nail salon to frequent you will want to keep in mind that although you may be going for a quick manicure these places are dealing with your hands and feet (which often are some of the most bacteria crammed parts of one’s body) and therefore you NEED them to practice good hygiene.
Some people just assume that because a nail salon’s door is open for service that the shop, as well as the employees are licensed, the truth is that there are many salons nation-wide that do not receive proper inspections. For some salons, even if they are submitted to inspections they may still not truly be certified as there has been a recent trend of nail salons popping up with real shop licenses, but the employees possess fraudulent nail technician certifications. It’s horrible to think that you could walk into an otherwise legitimate looking salon and be serviced by a friend or family member of the owner who has no certification what-so-ever (case in point is the Ohio nail salon scandal). Other than the idea of an unlicensed individual working on two of the most valuable parts of your anatomy, you must also consider the germs that can harbor and multiply if places like this are not kept up to sanitation standards. It is rather easy to get a nail infection, as these bacteria enjoy swimming around in warm, moist areas (i.e.: that dish of warm soapy water that you soak your nails in OR the comforting foot sauna that you dip your tootsies into). They transfer quite easily onto your hands/feet because these places are also normally warm and a bit moist, so your nails/toenails are a very suitable new home for the foul bacteria. Do we know how well those dishes or saunas are being cleaned prior to us using them? Some of the common infections known to reside in these places are: Staphylococcus/paronychia,  fungi , and skin viruses, such as warts.

Now that we all understand that an open salon does not necessarily equate to a reputable one, we can move on to how to protect ourselves from any icky situations:

1. Upon walking into the business check the wall for the shop’s state issued license. You will also want to check for any certificates earned by the shop’s employees; if you are still doubtful ,then you can check out this license look-up website:

2. Let your nose tell you the truth. Does the odor of acetone along with dust from nails being filed smack you in the face as soon as you enter the door? If so, this may mean that the shop does not have an air filtration system. Air quality is an important factor in nail salons as nail particles are constantly being blow around and chemicals are being used on a regular basis. Many higher scale salons have air filtrations systems.

3. Does the technician wear fitted latex gloves while working on the clients? If so, its important to make sure that these gloves are changed after each individual session. If not, then it is paramount that their hands be thoroughly washed after each client.

4. Lastly, but certainly not least, how is the equipment kept? Does each person have their own personal file, nail/cuticle trimmer and foot brushes? If not, are the ones that are being used for everyone being placed in an autoclave? What type of cleansing agent is being used to sterilize the foot baths? These are all things to take note of as lack of tending to these issues may result in you being a not-so-happy customer.
It is your responsibility to ensure that the places you frequent are safe.

So, now that you’re better equipped with the knowledge needed to spot a good salon vs. a bad one are you ready for your next appointment? Whether you're answer is Yes or No, here are some tips/alternatives that may help you to decide what is best for you.

1. Get a plastic zip lock bag and fill it with your own mani-pedi tools and toss it into your purse before going to the salon. Or better yet, just leave it in your car so that you never forget it. This will eliminate the worry over whether the shop is keeping their tools clean or not. *Be sure to clean your tools regularly*.

2. Do-It-Yourself (DIY). A nail kit can be purchased for a very small fee and will come equipped with most of the items needed to do beautiful manicures & pedicures at home. For a few more dollars you can even get that nail salon soft skin buy purchasing a personal foot spa. Click here for the ultimate manicure treatment!

3. If you don’t mind doing your own mani-pedi, but are concerned about the polish looking like your two year old did it, then going to the salon just for a quick polish change is not a bad thing at all. If you’re interested in ‘Three-Free’ polishes, then you have several choices. Have fun pampering yourself-You deserve it!! ;-)

Do you have inexpensive or DIY ways to treat yourself to a 'home spa'? If so, please share!