4 Nail Salon Best Practices to look out for- that keep you safe when getting a pedicure
Nail salon pedicures are a great way to pamper yourself and make sure your feet look their best. But there are some things you need to know before heading into the nail salon for a pedicure if you want to have a safe pedicure.
Pedicure Best Practices
1) They should only work on healthy feet (exception: medical pedicures done by a chiropodist) –Â If your nail salon is following the rules set by TDLR. This licensing body manages nail salon safety in Texas. They should follow rule 83.102, section B that states that ‘A licensee may not perform services on a client if the licensee has reason to believe the client has a contagious condition.’ This rule is meant to keep you safe if you have a contagious disease like foot fungus. If you get a pedicure with a condition like a nail fungus or athlete’s foot, it can worsen and spread to other nails. Clippings and any dead skin infected can quickly spread if it comes into contact with healthy skin. So beware of any nail salon that does pedicures on clients with nail fungus. They are putting you and anyone that gets a service done at their salon at risk.
2) They should use one-time use pedicure implements – It is essential that nail technicians use one-time implements such as nail files and buffers. Though these items are inexpensive, they are not intended for multiple uses and can lead to nail fungus or other types of infections. If you can take your implements home after your pedicure service, you know that they use one-time implements, and you can trust that you will not catch something from the implements used on your feet.
3) Find a salon that uses basin bowels, not whirlpool jets-Â TDLR, in Texas, does not prohibit the use of jet whirlpool basins for pedicures, but that does not mean that they are safe. The reason is those nail salons are not required to have any water test done. There would be no telling if they did use EPA-approved disinfectant to clean between guests. If you get a pedicure from a salon that has basins, you could be getting a pedicure in dirty water containing fungus and bacteria. If you insist on getting it done at a place with a whirlpool bath to soak your feet, keep an eye on how long they run disinfectant through their basins between guests; if they take less than 10 minutes to clean, they probably didn’t clean correctly, and you should leave to stay safe.
4) Find a salon that goes above cleanliness standards –Â Look for nail salons with nail stations separated from the pedicure basin by a wall or half-wall. A barrier or wall prevents any nail salon debris (nails clippings, dust, etc.) that may be in the air from falling into your pedicure water. The nail station should also have a sink to wash hands and equipment before working. Look for clues that they care about their guest’s safety; clean tools should be in baggies. Towels used during your service should be clean and washed with bleach and disposed of with other dirty towels when your service is done. Look for a salon with positive reviews and look for what people are saying about your salon’s cleanliness before you get a service done. A little bit of investigative work can help you stay safe.
So there you have our four easy-to-follow nail salon pedicure best practices that you should be looking out for to stay healthy when getting a pedicure. Remember that nail salon can vary drastically in the cleanliness of their pedicure stations and which nail products are used. Therefore, you need to make sure you go into a nail salon with information about how they handle their business so your pedicures can be as safe as possible.
