Although salons carry the tools to transform digits from drab to shiny, clients should proceed with caution as salons can be dangerous if technicians fail to comply with industry standards, officials said.
Nail salon tools are the most immediate safety concern because they harbor bacteria if not cleaned between appointments. They can facilitate the transmission of diseases, viruses and infections if clients' skin accidentally is cut during a manicure or pedicure.
The Ohio State Board of Cosmetology reported no health violations for Athens nail salons in 2008, although being a vigilant customer is still advised.
The power is in the hands of the consumer
said Kevin Miller, executive director of the cosmetology board, adding clients need to ask questions such as whether or not the technician is licensed and if their instruments have been properly disinfected.
If salons are in compliance with industry standards, technicians will not have a problem showing things like licenses, disinfectants and cleaning logs, he said.
Cleanliness begins with individuals washing their hands in front of clients before each service, Miller said. Nail salons should store tools between uses in a covered container with a hospital-grade disinfectant like Barbicide.
It's a pretty high concentrate solution said Sarah Clark, owner of the Standard Salon, 79 E. State St., adding it will kill all bacteria and viruses present, including HIV-1 virus.
But just because Barbicide disinfects does not mean tools can be put into the solution immediately after use on a client. It is important to remove cuticle debris from the tools and clean them with soap first, Clark said.
Although the cuticle pushers Clark uses are metal and can be disinfected, emery boards and buffer blocks that contain bacteria cannot be disinfected. Clark uses different emery boards and buffers on each client for this reason, but recognizes that some nail salons use them multiple times.
Pedicure stations are also areas of concern in nail salons.
Clark uses pipeless pedicure units at her salon, as fewer health risks are associated with them than with older units, she said.
The water doesn't circulate back so the debris doesn't get stuck in the pipes. The ones that have the pipes cause the most problems
said Clark, adding old pedicure units can have stagnant water buildup within the pipes, creating an ideal environment for bacteria growth.
Miller finds that some salons don't follow industry cleaning standards that have been established.
(Stations) should be cleaned after every client
said Miller, adding they should also be cleaned every night with bleach or hospital-grade disinfectants.
Clark said she only cleans the stations if they have been used.
The cleaners should be cycled through the system, Miller said, and not just put into
the pedicure tub. The screen should be taken out and cleaned thoroughly, and consumers should check how well the screen has been taken apart
before a pedicure.
Clients should never put their feet into a tub where the water has been already drawn, he added.
Although Clark uses the pipeless units in her salon, Miller said pipeless units should not necessarily be mandated for salon use.
If people deal with sanitation the proper way
it doesn't matter (if they are new or old)
he said.
When it comes to manicures and pedicures themselves, Clark avoids potentially harmful tools and procedures in her salon. The credo blade, a sharp tool that cuts beneath layers of dead skin on the foot, is potentially dangerous and illegal in some states; if used carelessly, this instrument can easily cut deep into the live skin.
Credo blades are not illegal in Ohio, Miller said, but consumers should go see a podiatrist if they feel they need to use such an instrument.
Another concern is the cutting of cuticles, the protective skin layer separating the nail from the fingers and toes. Clark uses a solution that weakens cuticles so she can push them back but does not cut into them, as it can leave the consumer susceptible to infection.
Miller said that there are safety guidelines in place for salons to maintain.
We want to encourage people to explore new technologies
and we want our licensees to be successful
he said.
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