Sanitation In The Salon
© Roseann Giannone
How
to get a safe manicure or pedicure by Roseann Giannone.
There has been much written
in newspapers, magazines and on the nightly news recently about the dangers one
can face while getting a manicure or pedicure in the salon today. Unsanitary conditions can cause serious
health complications including infections and fungus, but educated consumers
can safeguard themselves from these dangers.
Sanitation is the most
important thing to consider when making the choice on which salon or spa to
choose for your manicure or pedicure service. Of course you want to choose a
salon and service provider that will give you a wonderful service but more
importantly you want to choose a salon that will provide a safe and clean
environment. Choose a salon that has a good reputation in your community. You can always ask friends and family members
for a recommendation or call a local cosmetology school for a
recommendation. Remember a cheap service
is not always your best choice. The
reason some salons are able to charge such inexpensive prices on their services
is because they are reusing disposable implements numerous times which puts you
at risk.
You can participate in the
safe sanitation process by bringing your own implements and disposable products. You will not insult your service provider by
bringing your own tools. You can invest
in a cuticle nipper, nail clipper, disposable orangewood sticks, disposable
block buffers and disposable nail files.
The cost of bringing your own disposables is minimal and worth the
expense for peace of mind.
There are two types of block
buffers, nail files and foot files. Some are one-time use supplies and others
can be used several times only after they have been properly
sanitized. Most reputable salons and spas use sanitizible foot files. These files are scrubbed with a hospital
grade disinfectant or placed in a machine called an Autoclave which sanitizes
with heat after each use.
Unfortunately for the lay
person it would be difficult to know which are one-time use products and which
are sanitizible so it is best to use this general rule.
Sanitized tools are (metal
pusher, cuticle nippers, nail clippers some foot files.)
Disposable products are
(orangewood stick, nail file and block buffer.) Disposable block buffers, nail
files and orangewood stick should never be used more than one time on a
customer. They are a breeding
ground for bacteria and infection.
If your salon is reusing
these implements it should be a RED FLAG
for you as the consumer. It is not
recommended that these items be reused ever.
A properly sanitized reusable block buffer, foot file or nail file will
be clean and look as thought it has never been used. If your salon uses
disposable supplies they should provide you with a new nail file, block buffer
and foot file at each service. These should either be disposed of after your
service or given to the customer to take home.
Reusing these one-time disposable supplies will put you at risk for
infection.
Never allow anyone to use a
callus planer on your feet. This is the product that has a razor blade attached
to it with a handle. These are against the law in the state of NJ. They are very dangerous and can easily cause
serious harm and infection. At this
point in time no salon in the state of New
Jersey should be using a callus planer; if they are
you may want to rethink your decision to continue using their services.
Tub sanitation is as
important as tool sanitation. Your salon
and service provider should be sanitizing the pedicure tub after each service
with a hospital grade disinfecting solution.
If they are not sanitizing and disinfecting after each service you are
at risk of serious harm.
How can you tell if your
service provider or salon is adhering to the NJ state regulations regarding
sanitation and disinfecting - by asking the service provider or the salon
owner. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the salon owner or service
provider.
You should see the service
provider clean the pedicure tub after the last patron leaves and before your
service begins. If not, you have every
right to demand that it is cleaned and sanitized property. At the end of the day the salon owner or
service provider should be thoroughly sanitizing the pedicure tub with a
process we call “backwashing.” The
pedicure tub is filled with a hospital grade disinfecting solution and the hottest
water and run for at least 15 minutes (or according to the manufacturer’s
instructions.) Once the backwash is
complete they should rinse the tub with clean water and dry the tub with a
clean towel. If your salon is using
household bleach as a disinfecting solution you are not safe from
containments. Household bleach is not an
effective agent for disinfecting and sanitizing any implements or salon equipment. It will not kill the live bacteria that are
present in most pedicure tubs or spas.
I hope that these suggestions
will help you make an informed decision when you are choosing to have your next
nail service.
© Roseann Giannone
