Is Your Nail Salon Clean? Here are 5 Ways To Know: A blog around assessing a nail salon before you go
It’s clear that we all want to be clean, but are you aware of the danger lurking in your local nail salon? It’s not just the chemicals and skin infections that you need to be aware of, it’s also the cleanliness of utensils used by the manicurist that can cause serious health concerns. In fact, according to an article published by NBC News in 2018, there are approximately 150 chemicals found in nail salons that can cause long term damage to your health.
So how do you know if your local nail salon is clean? Here are five ways to make sure you’re getting a safe manicure and pedicure:
When you go to the nail salon, you may think that you are getting a fresh manicure and pedicure. You may think that your technician is using clean tools every time on you. The sad reality is that most salons do not properly clean their tools or implements. In fact, they probably don’t even do it between clients. This can lead to a myriad of problems including infections, fungus, and even hepatitis C. To protect yourself and your nails, here are five ways to know if your nail salon is clean before you go:
1. Ask them how often they change their foot bath water.
2. Ask them what kind of cleaning solution they use on their tools.
3. Ask them how long ago their last inspection was.
4. Check out their license and certificate of inspection.
5. Inspect the salon for signs of dirt or grime yourself before getting started with your service!”
Nowadays, many people like to have their nails decorated with the latest colors and trends. You can find a nail salon at every corner in your neighborhood. Nail salons are known for their cleanliness, but that’s not always the case. We know that nail salons can be extremely dirty, especially when they don’t follow proper hygiene practices.
We have all heard horror stories of people getting infections from going to the nail salon. But how do you know if your nail salon is unclean? And how do you tell if they are following the proper guidelines?
In this article, we will show you 5 ways on how to spot an unclean nail salon and what you should look out for.
Nail salons are a relatively low-cost, high-reward way to treat yourself. But before you go getting a manicure or pedicure, you want to make sure that the salon you choose is clean and safe.
To help you avoid any salon-related mishaps, we’ve come up with five tips for how to know if your nail salon is clean.
1. Look at the floors of the nail salon. If they are swept and mopped, it’s likely that the rest of the place is sanitary as well.
2. Look at the spa chairs; do they look like they were recently cleaned?
3. Ask how often they sterilize their equipment; most reputable salons will do so after every client.
4. Check out the bathroom for signs of uncleanliness there; this can be an indicator of how clean the rest of the salon is too.
5. See what their policy is on using personal tools; many salons will use your personal tools if you bring them in, but make sure to ask before assuming this is true at your salon.
We recently came across an article in the Washington Post, highlighting how some nail salons are using tools that aren’t properly sterilized. The article went on to highlight stories of people contracting hepatitis and other infections as a result of poor sterilization practices.
This is one example of many similar reports (and even a documentary) that have come out over the past few years. So what can you do to protect yourself? Here are 5 tips for choosing a safe salon:
1. Look inside! A good way for you to judge if the salon is clean is to look around and ask yourself: “Do I see empty pedicure tubs (without water) sitting out?” Make sure there are no used tools left out and if you see anything that raises an eyebrow, time to look elsewhere!
2. ASK: “What procedures do you use to sterilize your tools?” If they are using autoclaves (for metal instruments only), that’s great news! If they use Barbicide or another liquid disinfectant, make sure it’s at least 10 minutes per tool or else it’s ineffective. And don’t forget about their cleaning procedures – they should be wiping down all surfaces between clients with hospital grade disinfectant.
3. Consider what type of foot
I remember being a young girl, sitting in a salon chair as the manicurist clipped and filed my nails. She was wearing a black shirt that revealed her bra straps. I remember thinking to myself, “I hope she changed her shirt.”
The next time I went to the salon, I brought my own clippers and files along with my own nail polish. Talk about being extra. But it was worth it because I knew that she at least couldn’t touch the polish. However, the tools she was using were still questionable.
Fast forward many years later, and I still cringe when I see unkempt nail technicians work on clients. The salon is always filled with customers and there’s always a waitlist, yet they still don’t take proper care of themselves or their workspace. There are many things you can do to protect yourself from catching an infection or virus from your manicurist. Keep reading to find out how you can make sure your nail technician is clean before you go to the salon:
An estimated 80% of nail salons in the United States are owned by people of Vietnamese heritage, who operate more than 30,000 salons across the country. But many salon owners and workers do not speak English as their primary language, nor do they understand all the rules and regulations that apply to their business. Language gaps, cultural differences, and a lack of communication between government agencies and nail salon workers make it difficult to ensure worker safety.
Asian immigrant women are especially vulnerable to exploitation and abuse in the workplace because they often work in low-wage jobs with little or no benefits. They frequently work in sweatshops where they endure low pay and long hours and are subjected to verbal abuse by employers. Many women also don’t have access to health care or childcare, or legal aid services if they have been abused.
Working conditions inside these salons can put women at risk for health problems including fungal infections, chemical burns from toxic substances used on nails, respiratory issues from nail dust particles in the air, chronic headaches from inhaling fumes from acetone and other chemicals used to remove gel polish and acrylic nails.