6 Things to Watch in a Nail Salon for Health and Safety
Be sure the nail salon you visit follows the state health and safety regulations for pedicure procedures
SACRAMENTO – Sandal season is here, and that means maximum exposure for those hardworking feet. When choosing a nail salon to get your heels smoothed and your toe nails polished, keep in mind these health and safety tips from the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.
Take a Look Around
Look for the license. Manicurists, who give pedicures as well as manicures, must have a license from the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, and it must be visible to customers. The license is your assurance that the manicurist has passed an examination and understands the techniques for each procedure, as well as how to properly clean and disinfect instruments and foot spas.
Next, look at the general cleanliness of the place. Is there hair or residue on the floors, or open food containers in the work space? If the place doesn’t look clean, leave. After all, a messy shop may indicate that critical cleaning steps are not being taken, either.
Foot Spa Cleanliness
While waiting for your turn, watch the foot spas. Are they cleaned after a customer is finished? By law, foot spas have to be cleaned and disinfected after each use. Cleaning and disinfecting basins thoroughly is a must-do, or you could run the risk of infection from Mycobacterium fortuitum, a bacterium that can grow in the warm water of a foot spa that hasn’t been properly disinfected. Mycobacterium can cause painful skin boils.
Foot Care Do’s and Don’ts
Once your feet have been soaked, it’s time to smooth them. No razor-edged tools, such as “Credo” blades, should be used to remove calluses or rough skin. Sharp instruments can cut the skin, allowing bacteria to invade the cut. For the same reason, don’t shave or wax your legs 24 hours before your pedicure. Cuts on your skin from shaving or waxing can get infected during the foot soak.
When shaping the nails, buffers or emery boards must be new, used only on you and then thrown out. If an instrument cannot be properly disinfected, it must be disposed of after the pedicure. Metal nail files and cuticle pushers must be completely immersed in disinfectant between uses. One exception to the disinfect-or-toss rule: The nail polish brush does not need to be disinfected.
Don’t Cut Corners to Save $$
If you find a shop that charges considerably less than other nail shops in the area, you should question whether all the necessary cleaning steps are being taken. The equipment used to properly clean and disinfect nail implements and foot spas are an expense, and sometimes to cut costs, a shop will add water to the disinfectants. The problem is, the disinfectant is no longer potent enough to do the job.
What are the Risks?
Does it really matter to your health if you patronize a salon that doesn’t follow all the health and safety regulations? After all it’s only a pedicure, not heart surgery. Well, yes, it can matter. If your immune system is compromised by a medical condition, like diabetes or cancer, or if you’re a senior, whose health may not be as robust as it once was, exposure to bacteria can lead to a serious, and, in rare cases, fatal infection.
However, a salon manicure or pedicure is generally very safe. Just be sure to take your business to a salon that follows the state health and safety regulations.
Released on June 2, 2009 by Kim Brown, who can be reached at 916-574-8167.
