The Five Secrets of Salon Safety

One other thing is that my husband and I love soaking our feet together while watching our favorite tv shows, and he loves it when I give him a pedicure. MyBath.info has the best foot soakers in town.

Yes, it's true, there are dangers....Check out SalonSafetyTips.com for more information and to get your own set of nail instruments. I keep them in the glove box and never have to worry about infections.

I have a good friend that is a master nail technician. She warned me about these issues years ago. Part of the problem is that states just don't have enough personnel to thoroughly inspect every salon. I am very fortunate to have a salon-spa that I go to where they actually sterilize (autoclave) the instruments between uses. Each client receives a new file, buffer, toe spreaders & slippers for each visit. They are fanatical about disinfecting/sanitizing every surface (table tops, seats, tubs, etc.) and won't start a service until both tech and client have washed up. It is a bit more expensive than the "walk-in" joints, but I figure that my health should be a higher priority than my looks.

I have a good friend that is a master nail technician. She warned me years ago about these issues. Part of the problem is that states just don't have the personnel to inspect every salon to the level that is needed. I am lucky enough to have a fantastic salon-spa that I go to that actually sterilizes all equipment between clients (autoclave). Every client is given their own files & buffers & toe spreaders. They CLEAN the stations & pedi tubs after each client, but they also give it a once over with disinfectant when the new client sits down. Hand washing is mandatory, they won't start until both tech & client have washed. Sure, it's a bit more expensive than the "walk-in" joints, but my health should be a higher priority than my looks.

I know a young lady that actually got a staff infection in her foot at her nail bed from a pedicure. If you know anything about a staff infection they never really go away, just lie dormant in your system and if your immune system becomes weak, it can become fatal. Isn't that wonderful! Be careful !!!!!

About seven years ago, I went to a nail salon for a few months. They kept your emery boards, etc. in a box with your name on it. They appeared to be following proper sanitation procedures, but I ended up with a fungus in my toenails that comes back every once in a while, despite treatment. My big toenails will never be normal again thanks to "pampering" myself for those few months. I will NEVER go to a nail salon again.

Sanitaion is the lowest level of decontamination next is disinfection and after that comes sterilization the highest level of deconatmination which is done in dentist and doctors offices. if your salon /spa is not sanitizing and disinfecting they are not following state guidelines, laws, rules, and regulations and are not providing you with the safest cleanest services. Laws and decontamination guidelines vary from state to state so check with your local or state agency to be sure that the business you choose to visit is following those rules and regulations. you cannot put all salons and spas in one category and assume they are all dirty and do not clean their tools properly. Most licensed salon professionals take client safety and decontamination guidelines very seriously. be sure you visit a business where all professionals are licensed and ask questions if thry cannot answer your questions or dont want to you may consider going elswhere.

Some salons are dirty, some clean. I am very clean.I clean everything with State & EPA approved cleaning solutions,but I work with one Nail Tech who is one of the dirtest I have ever seen! She doesen't wipe her station down,uses the wrong cleaning solution on her imlements (for brushes,not nippers)uses the SAME solution in same container on everyone! & Leaves the powder open between uses for everything to get in.I complain to the owner,but it does no good.So I just warn my clients not to go to her & educate them on sanitation. Consumer beware...if you see nail techs & they don't use seperate dishes for all people...there is a problem!! If they don't wipe down the station,SAME!!! Wash thier hands AND yours first...there IS a problem!!! We DO have laws to follow...make sure your Stylist AND Nail TECH are following them!!

While this article is accurate, please don't take that to mean that every salon/spa is dirty and will give you infections. I work in a spa where we take lots of time to properly disinfect and sanitize everything that comes into contact with clients!!! No one every gets a fungus or infection from me!!

I like to present myself nicely, paying extra for some self maintenence, but it's not worth paying for when you are paying for fungus which is what happened to me last fall. The lady put my artificial nails on so loosely that dirt, and liquids could seep in (I mean I was on my period, that is how I know)disgusting I know but can you believe it? I never had this problem with nails before. You just have to be careful where you go. Definitely make sure you go to a quality place, not one about quantity.

I pay for pedi's and artificial nails because I like to look nice, but it doesn't look very nice when I have fungus growing underneath my nails. I never had a nail fungus before, but after 1 week, it started to grow. Here I am paying to look nice, and she put the nails on so loosely that dirt, and liquids could seep in. Thank God the fungus grew out, but I'm not getting nails ever again. You really have to be careful.

I have a nail fungus which developed in oct and my last pedi was in august of last year. The podiatrist I went to see confirmend all of the above that these salons disinfect but rarely sanitize and he does not recommend them. Now I am stuck with this ugly corroded nail on my big toe and months of treatment. i love open oe sexy sandlals and now this summer I am dreading it because of this ugly toe.. Good luck girls!!
stay away from these places only on a specail occasion and polish them yourself...Milli

I got a nail fungus in oct and my last pedi was in august. I had to see a podiatrist and he confirmes that these salons may disinfect, not sanitize. He does not recommend these salons. Now I am left treating this ugly big toe for months..

YUK!!!! I have never given a second though to a lot of proceedures in this article!!! Thank you for the information. Knowledge is power.

YUK!!!! I never gave alot of this information a second thought. Thank you!