How to Choose a Manicurist

Have you been going sans-trowel in the garden? Using your nails to tighten screws and scratch off labels? Regain your glamour and pamper yourself with a soothing manicure or pedicure. Choose the salon wisely, though, or you may end up with sore cuticles--or worse.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Make sure the manicurist's license is current and displayed.
2. Study how the manicurists work at a prospective salon. Metal tools should go straight into disinfectant after use, and nail files and buffing blocks should be brand-new for each client. Ask how their tools are cleaned. Since dirty nail-care equipment can harbor and pass on tenacious fungal infections, consider taking your own tools and polish for your manicurist to use. They can be kept at the salon for you.
3. Observe how the foot baths are cleaned and if fresh hand towels are used for each customer. Is the salon clean in general?
4. Stop any snip-happy manicurist who tries to clip your cuticles. They tear more easily as they grow back, can look ugly and are more vulnerable to infections and fungus. A manicurist should use cuticle softening oil after a warm soak, then gently ease them back with an orangewood stick. Too many manicurists try to remove the cuticle, which only brings on infection.
5. Discuss the length and shape you like--oval, squared-off, rounded. A good manicurist has the eye and artistry to shape nails uniformly. Don't file them down at the sides because that weakens nails and can cause splitting.
6. Go glam and get acrylic nail tips for $20 to $40, but bear in mind that you'll need to return regularly for fills as the nail grows out. Or get a silk wrap to strengthen existing nails. Tips soften and weaken nails, but can cure chronic nail-biting.

What to Look For:

• Current manicurist's license
• Disinfected tools
• Excellent hygiene
• Pristine tubs, shop

Tips & Warnings

• Nail-polish remover can be drying. Moisturizing and protecting cuticles makes them less likely to split or crack; use cuticle cream, facial moisturizer, hand and body lotion--whatever's handy. Cuticles are near the nail growth center and also protect the proximal nail groove, which, if exposed, is vulnerable to bacteria, fungus and paronychia, a common nail infection.
• If your nails ever look discolored, see your doctor. Onychomycosis (nail fungus) is serious and can lead to deformed nails or even loss of nails.