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6 Signs of a Clean Nail Salon

Before you go barefoot, check for these healthy-pampering-place clues

Ji Baek, owner of Rescue Beauty in New York City, details how to get a safe, clean mani or pedi. Read on to find out when to relax and when to run:

By Jill Schuck

Wear protection 1. Wear a mask to avoid inhaling harmful chemicals if you get acrylics. (The technician should be wearing one, too.) Jets are a bad thing 2. Avoid spa chairs with jet baths. Salons are supposed to change the filters that recycle water after every use, but that rarely happens. The result? Used water gets circulated through the system. Look for porcelain or stainless steel basins without a spa chair, or ask the salon to change the filter in front of you before you soak. Check out the tools 3. Bring your own tools (file, buffer, toe separator) to be 100 percent safe. Or, make sure disposable items come fresh out of a sealed package every time. If the salon uses blue Barbicide cleaning solution, it should be clear, not cloudy. Sterilize 4. Tools sterilized in a UV light sanitizer must be laid flat and exposed to the light for 25 minutes. Check to see if the machine has a timer or is being monitored. And sterilize again 5. Look for salons that use an autoclave, which is a pressurized sterilizing system (like the ones you see in the dentist’s office). When all else fails ... 6. Trust your instincts. If anything seems off, speak up or walk out the door. Luxe vs. Less Nail Polish Funky Nail Emergencies Solved 16 Sneaky Beauty Myths Subject Subject Subject Message Message Message http://www.google.com /content/package/c_clean_nail_salons/

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Handy! Those spa whirlpools are disturbing.

by krycekov Friday, January 6, 2012 at 12:31PM Report as inappropriate

Wow! That is really great info! A friend of mine works in a salon & she warned me about those spa chairs! EEWWWW! She just uses a large basin with river stones in the bottom. Then she sanitizes it after ever client. Also, better to be safe than sorry.

by elisa_adams Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 01:42PM Report as inappropriate

thanks

by teema Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 10:43PM Report as inappropriate

Thanks for this info.

by shar_r Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 02:21PM Report as inappropriate

That is so true. They do give us a bad name. Solo jet baths a fine. It`s the ones that are connected that are not. The bacteria is in the pipeline. Look for solo foot bath tubes.

by marsee_essington Friday, November 4, 2011 at 06:11AM Report as inappropriate

Such a great article!

by vfalkow Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 02:43PM Report as inappropriate

thats y i do it on my own..

by maribel_madera Friday, August 19, 2011 at 04:27PM Report as inappropriate

I think I'm just going to do my own manicures and pedicures from now on.

by taryn.romero Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 09:54AM Report as inappropriate

thanks for this!

by Bon_Bon Monday, August 15, 2011 at 01:21AM Report as inappropriate

This is very helpful! After reading the scary article about unclean salons, this is rest assuring that clean salons do exist or that you can ask for things to be cleaner if it's not or just walk out!

by MissXu Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at 01:02AM Report as inappropriate