Beauty industry, Blog
Nail technicians should wash their hands before every treatment
Apr
Effective hygiene procedures for keeping safe during a manicure
A pedicure or new set of nails can be a real confidence booster, and can be ideal before a special event or keenly anticipated holiday; but such treatments could pose “serious health hazards if proper protocols aren’t followed”, according to a recent report on the Express website.
Nail salons have, in some cases, become “a staple in many people’s lives”, according to the article author Nicola Roy, who strikes a cautionary note by revealing that effective hand hygiene and the cleanliness of tools are not always an important factor in some beauty facilities. Indeed, she questions “whether customer safety is truly a priority”.
The report quotes the founder of Oblique House of Nails who pointed out the apparent risks posed by unsterilised equipment at less diligent salons. Mariana Eidelkind provided advice regarding safe practices during a manicure.
“When tools like nail clippers, files, and cuticle pushers are not adequately cleaned, they can carry harmful pathogens that may lead to infections such as fungal infections, bacterial infections, and even bloodborne diseases like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV.”
The importance of hand washing
The salon should be verbally clean, with no sign of debris or dust said Eidelkind. And, she continued, hand washing should occur before every treatment.
“The technician should also wash their hands before starting your manicure and wear gloves to ensure hygiene.”
Warning issued to anyone who gets their nails done at a salon »
Salon hygiene guidance
The Schwarzkopf Salon Health & Safety Guidelines has a stated aim of providing “a set of recommendations to raise hair salon standards” which feature best practice guidance for staff hygiene, keeping equipment and the premises clean and general workplace safety.
Part 2 of the guidance document deals specifically with hygiene standards.
The section begins with vitally important advice regarding hand hygiene, which reveals three key takeaways:-
- “Hands must be washed with soap and water when soiled”.
- Alcohol based gels should only be used when sanitising clean hands.
- A salon should ideally have a hand washing basin or basins that are designated for hand washing only.
Teal’s range of handing wash units for beauty businesses »
Practising good hand hygiene can be tough in a busy salon or when travelling between customers. However, if professionals in the beauty and aesthetics industry want to have a reputation for high standards and excellence in hygiene, it’s important they have constant access to hand washing facilities.
Teal’s mobile aesthetics companies handwashing stations include the ProWash, Hygienius, CliniWash and the Super Stallette – both of which can be positioned near any standard power socket. The HandSpa is not intended to be moved around, but just needs a normal power supply. The highly portable Handeman Xtra Portable can be carried to wherever it’s needed.