Best Tips for a Safe Mani-Pedi, manicure, pedicure, nail salon, pampering

I’m not here trying to scare you, but………

Millions of women and men take their hard earned money to enjoy lives little luxuries and a mani/pedi is definitely one of those luxuries.  So, before you go to your favorite salon take a look at my best tips for a safe mani/pedi!

  1. Arrive early to your appointment to make sure the salon is maintained properly. Watch how the footbaths are cleaned and disinfected between each client. Also, great indicator is the restroom, if it is kept clean chances are the rest of the salon will be too.  Make sure trash containers are not overflowing and that the shelves are dusted.  A clean salon is a great way to tell the owner and technicians value cleanliness.  If the salon is not clean, chances are the footbaths and implements aren’t either.

  2. Salon License should be posted in plain site on the wall, along with the technicians licenses.

  3. Single Use Items Emery Board, Buffing Block, Orange Sticks, Pumices and Toe Separators.  These items should never be used on more that one client.  They all can harbor bacteria and fungus with the potential to be passed from client to client if used on more that one person. Cuticle oil should be used with a dropper rather than a brush.  Brushes are not sanitary to use on more than one client.

  4. How does the technician sterilize their tools?  You want to make sure they are using a bottle of disinfectant.  The disinfectant should not appear cloudy or dirty looking.  The most effective way to make sure the implements are clean it to bring your own and clean them yourself.  Just purchase what your technician uses on you at your local drug store.  No salon should have a problem with you bring your own tools.

  5. Make sure the technician washes her hands before she gets started on your nails or feet.  Request that they wash their hands or wear gloves.  Be very careful of a technician with fake nails, it is very hard to clean the area between the real nail and the fake nail.

  6. Don’t shave your legs 24 hours prior to getting a pedicure.  Small cuts from shaving can leave small skin openings where bacteria can enter.  If you have a cut, wait until it is completely healed before getting a pedicure.

  7. Whirlpool footbaths  You should NEVER place your feet into a footbath with jets.  It is impossible for a salon to clean the jet area completely.  The jets are suppose to be cleaned by a 10 minute bleach bath in-between each and every customer (most salons do not have time for this, they try to get you in and out as quickly as possible).  This type of footbath puts your health at risk each time you put your foot in one.  In an extreme case in Texas, a woman died after contracting a staph infection from a whirlpool footbath.  The safest footpath is the basin type where the technician places a bag over the tub.  When they are done with each client they just throw out the bag with all the water.

  8. Don’t let the technician cut your cuticles! Cuticles are a barrier of protection for your nails.  When your cuticles are cut you are opening the door to infection.  Cutting your cuticles can also cause ridges on your nails, white spots, or white lines.  Push back your cuticles when you are in the shower and the cuticles are soft.

  9. Don’t let the technician scrape callused skin off of your feet!  Doing this can put you at a higher risk for infection.  This procedure needs to be done by a podiatrist only.

  10. Some salons dilute their nail polishes when they become dry or clumpy with nail polish remover.  This practice compromises the quality of the nail polish, causing the polish to chip easily.  The best way to make sure you are getting a color that will last, and to avoid any spreading of germs, bring your own polish (this way you have the correct color for touch ups)

Always practice best tips for a safe mani/pedi!

Until Next Time…

 

img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-3971″ src=”https://whatsmarydoing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Tips-for-a-safe-manipedi-P..jpg” alt=”Make sure you read these Tips for a safe Mani/Pedi before you get your nails done!” width=”4089″ height=”3127″ />