Find Good Nail Salon Cleanliness?

I’m a sucker for a good mani and pedi — and I’ve got the book smarts to prove it.

But even the best professional beauty treatments can be compromised if the place you visit isn’t squeaky clean. On occasion, past customers have reported receiving a filthy cuticle or minor injury at nail salon, and sometimes, they even want to run in the other direction. But for the most part, isn’t there an easy way to spot bad place your best foot forward? Well, there’s not, as doormen and receptionists are a lot harder to spot than your fingernails.

The experts at Best Nail Salon Locations, the country’s largest franchise franchise network, shared with us, “It’s hard to know if a manicure or pedicure place was clean, clean, or dirty in advance. You can check that they have appropriately labeled trash containers and trash bins near the front desk, so that no one is walking by trashing or tossing their trash into the curb bin.”

ADVERTISEMENT

For instance, is there a garbage can? Is it clear and its lid is on? Have any customers discarded that container on the spot? If the containers are clear and the containers have not been vandalized or thrown away, I can tell you for sure that the shop is clean.

But what if that’s not the case? Consider the following steps before you walk in and check their handiwork:

Place your hands in a small cup of water before your appointment. If your hands smell, it means the machine was not fully disinfected after cleaning and you are more likely to get a cuticle or injury. Take a few minutes while you’re there to think. Write down any concerns you have so you can focus on your own self and not worry about what happened in the past. Check the number on the counter and reference it in your head to see if there was any backbiting between the staff. A staff member might be carrying a knife at the counter, but this is not a red flag. Again, write it down, and make sure you know where the staff member is located. If they are behind the counter, ask them how often they clean up after themselves, and check the servers instead. If they are downstairs in the lobby, make sure they are safe. Nail salon locations aren’t above employing unlicensed employees, so ask the employees you encounter whether or not they carry a knife and whether or not they are armed with it. Remember to arrive early for your appointment and leave time for an extra manicure or pedicure. This way, you’ll be certain there is enough time to get everything done and keep your nails manicured.

It’s tricky to spot telltale signs of abysmal maintenance practices with the darker glare of shadow, but I’ll add another important factor to my checklist. Do they have a complete list of all the cleaning products you’ll need? Things like bleaches and air fresheners, waxers, varnishes, masks, and more are all great tools to help you guard against getting scuffed up in a wicked hot bubble bath with a mix. But think twice before choosing to stand in the designated nail salon sink: it could be a leaky faucet that’s spilling unpleasant chemicals down your drain. And if there’s an open sink, does it have a little slide for inspecting the contents for leaks or makeup buildup? If so, don’t be shy about asking to use it. Remember to clean before going in — put your hands in water and watch your cuticles heal. Practice that before your next appointment; it could save your hands from splitting, sooty underarms, and the like.