Cheap Nail Salons: Could They Be Hurting Your Health?

 You read the colorful ads advertising low cost manicures. Eager to save money, you book an appointment at one of the skillfully advertised nail salons. Are the extra savings really worth the risks? Unfortunately, some cheap nail salons can cause more problems than they remedy. There have been reports of patrons at cheap salons contracting serious infections from nail equipment that hasn’t been properly cleaned and the reuse of equipment that’s meant to be disposed of after use. There’s no doubt about it, cheap nail salons can be risky business when it comes to your health. What are some of the hidden dangers lurking in the shadows of nail salons?

Use of unsanitary tools

 Some salons sterilize their nail equipment in a machine called an autoclave while others use chemicals to remove bacteria and germs. If proper procedure isn’t followed during the sterilization steps, the risk of a bacterial or fungal infection increases. There are also items such as emery boards that need to be discarded after a single use. Some cheap nail salons try to save money by reusing these items on more than one patron. This potentially puts you at risk for a serious bacterial or fungal infection.

Use of untrained personnel

 Many cheap nail salons hire personnel with inadequate experience and training. When a nail attendant isn’t properly trained, there’s a risk of creating small nicks along the edges of the nail beds when performing a manicure which can increase the risk for infection, particularly if instruments aren’t as sanitary as they should be.

Exposure to potential toxins

 Many people aren’t aware of the hidden dangers of exposure to nail products. They include a variety of ingredients that have been deemed probably carcinogens. These include formaldehyde and toluene. Low levels of exposure to these chemicals may not be a problem if they occur on an infrequent basis, but if you get frequent manicures at cheap salons without good ventilation, you could be increasing your risk of developing cancer or other respiratory ailments. Often very little effort is made to limit exposure to these agents by providing good air flow and ventilation.

How do you know when cheap nail salons are cutting corners and what can you do to protect yourself? Here are some suggestions:

    1. Be skeptical of nail salons that offer pricing that sounds too good to be true. It probably is.

    2. Beware of nail salons that appear unclean. Check the counters, floors, and

bathrooms for signs of uncleanliness and lack of attention to detail.

    3. Look for visible signs that the nail salon operators and workers are certified.

Certificates should be posted prominently on the walls.

    4. If a nail salon has a strong chemical smell, don’t make an appointment.

    5. Consider bringing some of your own manicure tools and request that the operator
use them.

    6 .Watch for signs of nail infection including redness and swelling. Seek medical
attention immediately if they develop.

 You can reduce your risk of a serious nail infection by avoiding the use of cheap nail salons. If you do venture beyond the doors of these establishments, be prepared to take the additional steps needed to protect your health. After all, your health is more important than perfectly manicured fingernails.

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