Perhaps you have seen recent news reports regarding the importance of monitoring health law adherence practiced by your nail care salon. Because there are so many health law violations by salons across the United States, it may be time to take matters into your own “hands”.
The goal is to prohibit the spreading of transmittable viruses found on unclean manicure and pedicure tools and stations. Answers to questions about how and how often manicure and pedicure tubs and tools should be cleaned, what temperature water should be to maintain cleanliness and how aprons must be worn to avoid direct bodily contact with a stylist’s chair can be searched on the internet using the phrase “department of cosmetology, [State name here]”. Goodsearch.com is recommended above Google.Within this blog I would like to specifically discuss the importance of your insisting that the tools about to be used on you are sanitized. It is very simple to see if the diamond drill bit used to file and smooth your nails has been sanitized. It will look brand-spanking new. If it doesn’t you must immediately request that it be cleaned again. A nail technician at a reputable salon is happy to dip the drill bit and run it in the cleaning solution that is kept at each station.
Unfortunately there are nail technicians who will look at you and lie to your face. I’ve had nail techs try to tell me the dirty instrument whirring in their hand (full of nail dust, skin and more) had already been sanitized. When my request that they sanitize the instrument was ignored I stood up and quietly insisted the tech sanitize the equipment or lose my business. I was nervous and embarrassed at having to take such action, however I have seen what the results of transmittable virus can do. Suffering through varying levels of discomfort and pain is the least of what can occur. Severe damage to internal organs is possible. Death is possible. As a result of my persistence the tech acknowledged they had misunderstood what I was asking and immediately sanitized the equipment.The Hepatitis Virus can live on metal implements for up to one week. Microscopic blood contact is all that is necessary to transmit the virus. One drop of Hepatitis C (HCV) infected blood could have as many as 100,000 particles. In comparison HIV infected blood may only contain 1 to 5 virus particles.
Aside from virus transmission there are different fungi that can also be transmitted at your local salon. Ask about sanitizing. Do not assume, rather make it a part of the conversation you have with your salon technicians. Listen to their answers. Do they make sense? Is the tech open and knowledgeable? Honestly, “hands down” they need to be…for your sake.
FYI, Debbullan Inc. offers personal care salons the opportunity to exhibit / explain how sanitizing should be done. This offer has been in place since July 2008 and still awaits its first submission.
