Ladies and some Gentlemen: I do believe we have all had that moment where you were thinking about blessing yourself with a mani/pedi. You passed by the strip mall and you just so happen to see the neon signs that said NAILS and the beautiful poster that said Open. And as you stop at the stop sign, and looked both ways as we do before passing (because some forget). You knew you wanted to go but you just didn’t know if they were going to possibly cut a cuticle too deep and have you walk out seeping blood or if you were actually going to walk out completely satisfied.
There is no GO TO Nail spot. You know, the
place where everyone goes to be blessed by the nail gods. It is unknown unless
you have a friend that found one or you stumbled upon one yourself.
I mean Yelp does help weed out the truly
bad ones but what are the warning signs, the red flags of a nail shop?
What are the first things to look for, to walk
out and try again, or stay?
Well you have asked and I do believe I
have the answer.
First thing to look for as
soon as you walk in are licenses and certificates. One for a business, the
other from the health department, and each nail tech MUST display their professional license at work. That means the
manicurist/pedicurist has received formal state approved training for a
specific number of hours and has passed the state mandated test in order to be
licensed. AKA: They are nail experts. So if you don’t see it, walk away slowly
and then run for hills, or yelp, or
you could always ask to see them. Whichever is easiest for you.
The first thing to smell for is…
You know the smell you walk in and have to hold your breath from that strong
acrylic solution. Once again RUN FOR THE HILLS OR YELP if you smell harsh
chemicals! They probably have inadequate ventilation and common chemicals such
as Formaldehyde and Toluene found in nail salons can cause respiratory
illnesses and cancer. I don’t know about you, but I definitely don't think a
cute nail bed is worth dying over. I’m just saying no matter how rough they might
get.
Once those two very key things have
been identified. The next thing to look for once you sit down are labels. I know some salons take
their cleaning supplies and put them in cute containers if placed out in the
open. If you see them grand (what does this mean?), if you don’t feel free to
ask for the labeled bottle, if the nail tech or owner gets upset you know what
to do my dear.
Run for the hills!
They should have no problem showing what
is required of them as licensed professionals. That’s like getting pulled over
and getting mad at the officer for asking for your driver’s license, if you
don’t have it, don’t drive. If the salon doesn't have the right cleaning
supplies they could be doing more damage than good and if they were licensed
then they would know that.
Now, Make sure you WATCH your nail tech as she/he may bounce from foot to foot with a
large influx of customers. If they are wearing gloves make sure they change
them with each customer and if not wearing gloves (although preferable) make
sure they are cleaning their hands. If not … you already know where to go.
The
techs not washing or changing gloves are just transferring whatever germs from once
foot to another, while their hands may be protected, yours are not.
A quick guidebook of the mani/pedi do and
don’ts of the customer:
Do
not shave before going to get a pedicure.
You don't want to go there with your
pores open and ready to suck in any possible toxins in the pedicure tub or the
products they use on your legs may cause a reaction if you have sensitive skin.
Watch
for the emery boards they
should be brand new when used. They are not a cleanable item, if you will.
Check
the bathroom, it is a
great way to check out the cleanliness. Just as if you went to a potential significant
others’ house and you checked their fridge and all you smelled was rotten food and
the sight of spoiled leftovers and greasy ketchup packages. You can go ehhh, get
an all around picture of how concerned they are about cleanliness. Same with
the salons. If the bathroom is dirty then that means they aren't concerned,
which they should be, being that they are a business that thrives on the cleanliness of their supplies.
Just
a heads up:
If you chose to go
and bring your own nail supplies, make sure you are cleaning it right. It is
more likely to catch bacteria from your own supplies than from the salon. Catch
22, I know. Just make sure you clean
them properly before sealing them up somewhere, otherwise it is a breeding
ground for bacteria.
PS: If you are diabetic and are terribly frightened of what may
happen if the nail salon is still not up to par, you can always try a medical
spa. The med spa overseen by a physician can make sure environment, tools, and
equipment are cleaned and sterilized properly.
Sources
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