5 Signs of an Unsanitary Nail Salon
As enjoyable as it is to have the occasional mani-pedi, nail salons can harbor some truly gnarly germs and bacteria, and if you're not careful, you could walk out with a whole lot more than just a fresh coat of Big Apple Red. The good news is that it's relatively rare to catch blood-borne diseases like HIV and hepatitis from a nail salon. The bad news is that there are still plenty of other fungal and bacterial infections-like yeast and staph-to be spread, not to mention common cold and flu bugs. Before you turn your fingers and toes over to just anyone, watch out for these signs of a not-so-sanitary salon.
No Licenses on Display
Every state except Connecticut requires nail technicians to be licensed, and most states require that licenses be prominently displayed in the salon. The licenses show that the technicians have training and know proper hygiene procedures. If licenses aren't available for you to see, there's no telling what kind of experience and/or education they have-or whether they have any at all.
The Salon Feels Dirty
Is the floor swept, or are there piles of dirt and dust bunnies? Are the bathrooms clean and tidy, or messy and out of soap? Are there dirty linens and other debris lying around customer areas? How the premises are maintained can indicate a lot about the salon's hygiene standards. It's okay to be suspicious of any salon where the staff is eating lunch in the customer area, where spills or messes are allowed to fester, or where cleanliness just doesn't seem like a priority.
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No Between-Customer Scrub-down
As you wait for your appointment, watch how the salon cleans up after previous customers. Pedicure footbaths and hand bowls should be drained and disinfected, linens should be changed, and the whole area (including the chair) should be treated with disinfectant. A technician should always wash her hands before and after working on a client. If you witness salon staff reusing water, not taking the time to sanitize the area, or handling one customer's feet or hands directly after handling another's, don't let them handle your own.
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Tools are Reused
Everything that touches your hands or feet, like drill bits, scissors, and clippers should be either brand-new or sterilized in a germicidal solution or an autoclave. Porous implements like emery boards, orange sticks, and toe separators can't be completely disinfected, so they should be discarded after a single use to avoid transmitting bacteria. Great salons will let regular customers buy a set of implements that are stored at the salon and used only on them-ask if yours offers this service.
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Cutting, Clipping, Slicing, and Shaving
Using credo blades or callus cutters is illegal in many states, including California, Texas, and Ohio. If a salon is breaking one law, what about the others? Cutting cuticles is often illegal, too, and even if it's lawful, it's still not a good idea, because cuticles defend the nail bed against bacteria. At the very least, if your salon (legally or illegally) offers these services and you consent to them, make sure that the technician uses a fresh razor blade and properly disinfected clippers each and every time.
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