STYLE

Look for that license

The first step to making sure you have a safe mani-pedi is finding your salon’s license. The license should be in the front where customers can immediately spot it. If you can’t find it, you may want to try another salon. Your manicurists absolutely need to be legally qualified – after all, you’re trusting them with your precious fingers and toes.

Check out the tools

Do you see a box that resembles a toaster oven cleaning all of the manicure tools? Well, that’s actually not a good sign. This box is a UV sterilizer – and it does not kill bacteria. Instead you should be able to spot a bottle of disinfectant that is changed regularly and really gets rid of those nasty bacteria.

Happy feet

If your pedicurist is not cleaning and disinfecting the footbath after every use, you should rethink your pedi. You don’t want to wind up with pretty toes and tons of bacteria – yuck! Make sure the footbath is washed out with hot, soapy water, filled again, running for 10 minutes, and then emptied out and dried before you dip your toes in it again.

Clean stations

Cleaning down the manicure station after each mani is an absolute must. If your manicurist isn’t taking the time to disinfect the table, replace the used napkins and grab new towels, you may want to paint your nails yourself. Your manicurist’s table should be clean and well-kept with plenty of fresh cotton balls and nail files for each customer.

Keep your cuticles

Make sure you walk out of that nail salon with your cuticles intact! Cutting down cuticles is an absolute no-no. Your cuticles protect your nails from infection, so make sure your manicurist only pushes them back a smidge or doesn’t touch them at all. Once you start to cut your cuticles, you may tear the skin, and those nice and neat nails won’t look so pretty anymore. If you see her reaching for the cuticle cutters, politely let her know she can skip that step. She’ll understand and you’ll keep your cuticles safe.

Do you prefer home mani-pedis or pro salon appointments? Let us know in the comments.

nail care

by Lindsay Hurwitz | 2/1/2016