With so many nail salons out there – many offering extremely competitive prices – it can be hard to know which one to choose. There are many factors that may sway your decision, such as price point, the brand of polish and range of colours available, how quickly you can be in and out, or even whether or not their pedi chairs have an in-built massage function.
Whatever your reasoning, before you head to any salon it’s vital that you make sure the salon is hygienic – otherwise you’re just putting yourself at risk of contracting fungal infections and skin irritations.
Sally Hansen Manicurist, Alison Bowhill-Hayes, has these quick tips to help you check whether your nail salon is as hygienic as it should be:
Best hygiene practices to look for:
– Clean well groomed staff.
– Neat hair that’s off the face, clean uniforms.
– Towels that are clean and prepared and disposable paper mats – both should be replaced between each new client.
– Look around the salon. Does it look clean and smell clean? Does it seem organised and safe?
– Check the manicure table. Are there any residues from previous treatments left behind, such as nail clippings, dead skin or dirty cotton balls?
– Never assume that the foot bath is clean. Ask them how they practice hygiene between clients – has the bath been washed with disinfectant and antiseptic?
– Don’t allow pedi-paddles, sponges, and buffers or nail boards to be re-used. These items need to be disposable.
– When your treatment is complete watch how they dispose of the items used. Ask for files or sponges to be thrown in the bin or take them with you. The same applies for toe separators or footwear.
– If you are unsure, just observe how the salon is treating each client. Sit for a while and just watch what the manicurist/beauty therapist does.
– If you notice cuts or wounds, broken skin or warts on the manicurist/beauty therapist, insist that he/she covers them and wears gloves.
Golden Rule:
Do not let anyone use tools that can penetrate your skin and draw blood. It’s against the NSW Health Department regulations. The Act is called ‘Skin Penetrations Guidelines’ and all beauty therapists and nail technicians should be aware of this.
Have you ever developed a skin irritation or fungal infection from an unhygienic nail salon? How do you decide on which nail salon to go to?
