Getting amanicureis something that helps women feel pretty.
It makes us feel good, so we expect our manicures to go off without a hitch.
However, the gel manicure is just one potential safety hazard that exists within a nail salon.
After all, a salon’s hygienic practices are crucial to the customers' health.
That’s stuff from other people’s nails," celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann toldRefinery29.
Does your manicurist wear gloves?
That’s a good thing.
And if your salon performs dip powder manicures, technicians must carefully follow sanitation procedures.
As such, salons must use new dipping powder for each client.
Foot spas, while feeling glorious on your feet, can be another source of infection.
TheUnited States Environmental Protection Agencyprovides sanitation guidelines for foot spas to avoid bacteria buildup that can lead to infections.
Ask if you’re ever unsure of a salon’s cleaning practices.
One such red flag is an uncovered trash can.
“Is the garbage overflowing in the trashcan?
Are there dirty towels lying on the floor?
Moreover, look out for messy workstations and polish stations.
Perhaps, you were a bit turned off but convinced yourself it was nothing?
As it turns out, this is also a cause for concern.
“EMA can be found in the acrylic,” nail technician Stephanie Ullrich shared withCBS8 NewsNow.
Ullrich said she finds it used more often on new customers.
Many of these harsh chemicals can easily be avoided by making better choices.
“There is no reason why salons should use lacquers that aren’t five-free.
A number of high-quality brands produce long-lasting, healthier alternatives.”
“Less than that and the figures just don’t add up.”
if you stumble on a nail salon that accepts only cash, this could be another red flag.
While some salons do this to avoid paying credit card fees, this practice could indicate shady tax practices.
If so, they’re probably also not paying their workers adequate wages.
If this is the case, listen up, because this is another red flag.
“Hands-down, never let a manicurist remove soft gel polish with a drill.
Deborah Lippmann, a celebrity manicurist, agrees.
Preventing infection is important for healthy nails.
This is why nail fungal infections are more common during the summer or in warm locales.
What should you look for?
Some nail infections, however, are due to bacteria.
Others include pitting, yellow nail syndrome, Beau lines, and clubbing.
One way to tell if a nail salon is licensed is whether their licenses are displayed on the walls.
If you’ve never noticed this, you should start looking.
If no licenses are displayed where you could see them, this does not mean they do not exist.
Whether a nail salon visibly displays its licenses depends on the state.
TheNew York Times'2015 investigative report described nail technicians working silently in salons that engage in unethical practices.
So, it’s good to keep your eyes open.
It turns out thatcutting cuticles is a big no-noin the nail world it’s actuallyillegal in some states!
so if your manicurist does this, it’s a red flag.
“If you don’t feel comfortable with the response, don’t frequent that business.”
“…How embarrassing and they’ve got bubbles in them (viaThe U.S. Sun).
That’s your gut instinct, and it’s important to listen to it.
If you don’t think a particular nail salon is for you, it’s probably not.
Customer Maya Cohen experienced this feeling firsthand.
“If it doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t right.
Go somewhere else.”
