How to Avoid Infections at a Nail Salon

We all like to indulge in a manicure and pedicure every once and a while. Unfortunately, spas are also breeding grounds for bacteria and infection. A few simple precautions will keep your pampering safe and worry-free.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Use common sense. Make sure the salon and its technicians are properly licensed. If anything looks dirty or you feel at all uncomfortable, leave and report your suspicions to your local health department.
2. Ask questions. Inquire about the salon's cleansing routines and safety precautions.
3. Make sure the tools are clean and sanitized. You can bring your own toolkit, which can purchased online or in a local beauty supply store. Non-metal tools such as nail files cannot be cleaned, so make sure your technician opens a new package to use on your hands and feet.
4. Make sure the pedicure baths have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. When in doubt, ask, use a disposable bath liner or skip the bath altogether.
5. Skip the cuticle cutting. The cuticle's function is to protect the nails, and cutting leaves you vulnerable to bacteria and infection.
6. Make sure the technician washes his or her hands in between clients.

Tips & Warnings

• Skip the salon if you have any kind of open cut or wound.
• Avoid shaving the day of a salon visit.