Ladies love to get manicures and pedicures for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they have an anniversary or a special occasion coming up, and they would like their nails to look fabulous. Some even get this beauty package to look good on vacay, at a business gathering, or just for good grooming. If this sounds like just what you need, there are several things you need to know first. The last thing you need after a rejuvenating spa session is bacteria or fungus.
If you are considering getting a mani-pedi, you need to acknowledge the risks involved. After all, procedures done at the salon or spa are not 100% safe because professional nail technicians do them. If not done correctly, it may be the start of a nasty bacterial or fungal infection.
To help prevent this from happening, here are the top seven tips from Greentoes North Nail Salon that will help you achieve the safest mani-pedi experience possible.
1. Ensure Your Salon and Nail Technician are Licensed
When it comes to getting your nails done, the first safety rule is making sure that the spa or salon and its nail techs are licensed. Salons display their licenses alongside those of their employees. Ensure that you look for the licenses and, if prominently displayed, make sure that they are up to date. If for any reason you have some reservations, ask to see the license or go to another salon or spa to get your mani-pedi.
2. Check Whether the Salon or Spa Is Clean
The salon or spa that you choose should be in itself tidy, clean, and well kept. After all, a session should be relaxing, refreshing, and clutter-free to enable you to de-clutter your mind. A clean and tidy salon is indicative of how well they take care of and clean their equipment.
3. Avoid Shaving Your Legs before Your Nail Appointment
Your grooming routine may coax you to shave your legs before going to your pedicure appointment, mainly if you are used to shaving regularly. When you shave, microscopic tears occur on your skin. You may not physically see the tears, but they make your skin vulnerable to infection. If any bacteria, virus, or fungi penetrates your skin, it may result in a skin infection which may cause swelling, redness, inflammation, and pain.
Your nail technician will naturally give you a footbath whenever you go in for a pedicure. Bacteria are known to grow in these types of baths, mainly in the water. If the bacteria makes its way to the micro sores on your skin, then you will likely contract an infection. Therefore, be sure not to shave within a day of your next pedicure appointment.
4. Select a Pipe-Free Whirlpool for Your Footbath
When getting a footbath, request your nail technician to use a whirlpool that is pipe-free. Piped whirlpools, if not adequately cleaned, may harbor dirt, dead skin, and bacteria. Conversely, pipe-free baths are filled with water through a removable faucet reducing the risk of infection. Ensure that the liner in the bath is replaced with a new one every time.
5. Carry Your Tools
If you have a compromised or weak immune system, you might want to consider carrying your manicure and pedicure kit to your next spa appointment. This will prevent you from spreading disease to other people and vice versa. Sharing cutting and piercing tools with multiple people increase the risk of contracting a disease or passing one to others.
6. Use Disposable Items Once
The best way to ensure that disposable items are being used on you for the first time is to check the seal on the packaging. Most salons and spas open a new package during your manicure or pedicure session to guarantee that the cleanest tools are being used on you. If you’d like to be extra cautious, carry your tools as previously mentioned. If not, ensure that the seal on the packaging of one-use items is not broken.
7. Get Educated
If you are planning to get your mani-pedi in a salon or a spa for the first time, it would be wise to educate yourself on the processes involved. Feel free to ask your nail technician to walk you through the whole procedure. Get to know how every service is applied and what it entails. Then, you can comfortably decide if it’s truly safe for you.
Now that you know how you can keep yourself safe from contracting infections when getting a mani-pedi, book your nail appointment at Greentoes North Nail Sa