As you can imagine, the money you spend on little luxuries such as nail treatment in a salon is very important to the industry, meaning they will do whatever it takes to keep you coming back for more. While sometimes “whatever it takes” is going above and beyond excellent service, cleanliness and technique, it can also mean cutting corners and deceiving the salon layman in order to keep costs down and business booming.
And not to totally scare you, but what’s supposed to be a luxurious treat, can sometimes turn into your worst nightmare — think skin eating diseases and infections. While yes, millions of women get manicures each year and don’t experience any serious or life-threatening side effects, you’d be naive to believe that it could never happen to you. Nail salons that have been insufficiently cleaned or performed bad sanitization practices, as well as ones with inadequately trained nail technicians, could be a breeding ground for bacteria and a dangerous place for you. - http://www.totalbeauty.com/content/gallery/nail-salon-secrets
1) They don’t turn customers away
Like most businesses, most nail salons won’t turn away paying costumers. Which means that people who are sick, have nail infections or foot fungus are being worked on next to you instead of being referred to an appropriate medical professional. Dr. Spalding says that the greatest danger of the nail salon is “The transmission of infection from one client to another.” And with “millions of people whose immune systems are compromised by diabetes, HIV, cancer, hepatitis and other infective organisms” booking services offered in nail salons, many are dangerously susceptible to infection, warns the doctor.
2) You are always at risk
Podiatrist Dr. Robert Spalding, author of “Death by Pedicure,” states that “at this time, an estimated one million unsuspecting clients walk out of their chosen salon with infections — bacterial, viral and fungal.” And no matter which salon you go to, there is always a risk of infection.
3) They swap and dilute bottles
In her long history as a nail technician, celebrity manicurist Jin Soon Choi, owner of Jin Soon Natural Hand and Foot Spas in New York City, says she has heard of many salons filling expensive lotion bottles with a cheap generic lotion. That way the salons can charge you more for the manicure by claiming to use prestige products, but in reality are just deceiving you.
4) Just because there is no blood, does not mean you have not been cut
“Breaks in the skin can be microscopic or highly visible,” says Dr. Spalding. They can either come in with the client via “cuts, scratches, hangnails, bitten nails, insect bites, paper cuts, split cuticles — or be created in the salon,” he says. “Nail techs using callus-cutting tools and nail nippers, files, cuticle pushers, and electric burrs and drills, can and do scratch and nick skin,” sometimes drawing blood and sometimes not. But just because no blood is visible, doesn’t mean these “portals of entry” aren’t susceptible to infective organisms, the doctor advises. If you’ve ever had your nails filed and it momentarily feels “too hot in the corner for even a second,” then you’ve had the surface layer of your skin broken — leaving it open for infection.
5) All costs are NOT included
Some salons will try to keep certain added costs a secret, says Choi. They try and up charge you for “nail strengtheners or base coats” and won’t tell you until it’s time to check out, she says. A quality nail salon will include all costs in the advertised price of the service, says Choi. So make sure to ask if all costs are included before soaking your hands or feet.
6) Some tools CAN’T be sanitized
You can only put metal tools in the autoclave, says Choi. And as we stated before, only an autoclave kills a 100 percent of all bacteria and viruses. Nail salon tools like pumice stones, emery boards, nail buffers and foam toe separators need to be swapped out after each use to prevent the spread of bacteria. That’s why you’re best off bringing your own — just in case the salon doesn’t follow this practice. If you see any white residue on a nail file, it means it’s been used on someone else.
7) Footbaths AREN’T your friend
“Whirlpool footbaths,” though seemingly safe, are filled with city water, which may or may not be free of microbes, says the doctor and are typically difficult to clean. Even though most nail salons disinfect their tubs, researchers for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention typically find bacteria that could cause boils and rashes in most according to the “New York Times.” And it’s extremely hard to bust these salons with having microbe growth, as many times salons aren’t linked to the infections because boils can take as long as four months after a pedicure to develop.
8) You DON’T need your calluses removed
Many salons will try and talk you into callous removal, as it is usually an additional service and charge. But Skyy Hadley, celebrity manicurist and owner of the As “U” Wish Nail Spa, says it is not always necessary. “If you’re an athlete then you should never remove your calluses as these actually help level your performance. If you are not an athlete, you should have your calluses removed with a deep soak and scrub once they become thick and uncomfortable,” she says. If you do opt for callous removal, always choose scrubbing or a chemical remover. Never allow your nail technician to cut or shave the skin off your feet. “Cutting is cutting,” and “not recommended,” says Choi. Not to mention, the more you cut, the thicker the calluses will grow back, she advises.
I know it was a long ass article but it was interesting to find out certain things I was not aware off and maybe you weren't either. Hopefully it has been helpful to open to eyes to certain aspects of "treating yourself" to luxurious treats ;) !
Yours truly,
MJ xx
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