NAIL SALON NIGHTMARE!

Ok, so I had never been to a ‘nail salon’ until 2 weeks ago.

I have always worked in amazing beauty salons, skin clinics, beauty colleges and day spas, so I have always have access to the best beauty therapists this way, and have always had my nails done in-house.

At my engagement party 4 months ago, I stubbed one of my big toenails and it went black and fell off.    By the time my wedding came around I still only had a 3^rd of a toenail on this toe.  So I decided to go to a local nail salon who could add an acrylic tip to my toenail, so I would be all ready for my wedding day. 

Now listen, I had heard that some nail salons could be a little dirty or un-hygienic, but didn’t really believed it – I thought this may have been a bit of a media “beat-up?”.

When I arrived I was initially pleasantly surprised at how well groomed the staff were – although the decor did leave a little to be desired.  This is where the pleasant surprises end...

This is how my experience went:

·         My ‘therapist’ showed me to her manicure table?– which I thought was odd because I was having a toenail done – but I was new to this, so who was I to question?

·         I noticed a thick covering of nail dust all over the manicure table – ALL OVER!  I am not one to run a finger over things to see how clean things are – not at all.  This dust was completely obvious!  Already I started wondering why there are people actually having their nails done here – and why they haven’t all walked out because of the un-hygienic state of things...  but then I was still there – I didn’t want to offend anyone.

·         Next I couldn’t help noticing the emery boards were still covered in white nail dust from the previous clients – and the buffing machine was also still completely covered in white nail dust! Yuck!  This nail dust would contain funguses and worse!

·          Still I stayed.

·         Then I noticed that all of the cleaning equipment was dirty, and covered in splashes of nail polish.  As was the fan. There were also crumpled dirty tissues on the desk.  Hmmm.  Still I stayed.

·         Ok, now this is the real kicker...  As I said I was confused as to why I was sitting at a manicure station to have my toenail done – especially when I could see there were pedicure chairs available.  I didn’t know where I would be putting my foot for my therapist to have access to it?  Would I be asked to fling it up on to the manicure station?  No...  She dragged a bin across and asked me to rest my foot on top of the lid... an actual rubbish bin!  A stainless steel flip-top bin with a bin liner in it!  And every time she had rubbish, I had to lift my foot up off the bin so she could put her rubbish in it!  FYI she did not lay down any covering over the bin.. so my skin was actually touching the bin.

·         Still I stayed   

After this I tried to tune out and pretend I wasn’t really there.

My treatment was eventually over and I got out of there.

What is the moral of this story?  Thank the heavens we have Beauty By Theresa on board!  Theresa is an absolute clean and hygiene freak!  And we love her for it!  

Now I play the waiting game to see what if any infections come up in my toe nail... I’m already feeling a little sore.

Paula :)