Salon Dirt: Pedicure and Manicure Dangers

It's that time of year again... pedicure time! So you may be heading of to your local salon or nail shop getting ready to primp and treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure. But what you don't know, can hurt you!

Nail salons have special precautions they are supposed to take when giving pedicures, manicures and other services. But the scary truth is they might not be adhering to policy, and it could be putting you at risk! That's why it's so important to make sure you have found a good nail salon, with sanitary practices, but if you haven't found a great nail salon and are just stopping by a local shop, you should go in with eyes on the prowl. Here are some tips to keep your next nail appointment a safe one:

1) Make Sure Everything is Sterilized

If it's your first trip to a new nail salon you may want to go at a time when they are slightly busy. This is your time to observe how other clients are being treated and to take mental notes of the sanitary practices being used. If you notice the nail technician pull an instrument out of the drawer, use it, and then put it away without cleaning it when they are finished, run! If the instrument does not get sterilized immediately, then the chance of it getting forgotten about and left in the drawer for the next use is highly probable. You don't need to make a mad dash for the door if the tool is kept on the table, but keep an eye on it to be sure it's sterile immediately after the client is finished.

2) Watch the Foot Bath!

After a client in the salon is finished using the foot bath, make sure that the tub wasn't just wiped dry with a towel. you should be able to see the nail technician spray on a disinfectant cleaner after the tub has been drained, and then wiped clean. many fungal infection thrive in moist areas, and your likely to get it if your feet go in next!

3) Check Out the Client

If you are able to get a peek of the clients feet, without looking nosey of course, make sure their toe nails are not discolored, slight yellowing may be residue from nail polish but thick yellow to black nails is a signal of an infection. The nail technicians are not supposed to work on those clients, but rather tell them to see a doctor and come back after the condition is cleared up. But because this puts the nail technician in an awkward position, and potentially takes money away from the salon, they don't always speak up. It's important to remember that your nail tech is not your Doctor, they don't get rid of warts and nail fungus's; it's not their job and they were not trained to do that!

4) Watch the Clean Up

After the client gets up and is finished with their service check to make sure that the nail tech:
-disinfects all items that were used for the service
-throws away any "one time use" items like the thin cardboard emery boards and wood sticks
-washes their hands with either soap and water or a antibacterial gel
-disinfects the work station with a cleaner, and wipes it dry

If all has gone well and you feel confident your feet will come out looking pretty and pampered then stay, but if you saw anything that didn't sit well, its best to go elsewhere. many infections and even diseases can be spread by the instruments used, including the HIV virus if even a small cut in the cuticle was made. It's not worth the risk! And although the risk is minimal, the risks of contracting a wart or fungal infection from unsanitary tools is much more common!

Sources:
www.nailsmag.com/pdfs/handouts/NAGuide.pdf

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=21574