Years ago, before I really entered the world of nails, I went to a nail salon that was marketed as "luxury" and "high quality" to get acrylic nails done before a vacation. It ended up being a huge mistake.
My nails were done using MMA acrylic, a cheaper and super strong material meant for dental work, instead of EMA acrylic, a gentler and more flexible, but pricier material meant for cosmetic use.
The MMA ended up with my natural nails ripping off during an accident, instead of only the enhancement breaking off like EMA would have. The salon was priced like it was high quality, but it was far from it.
It's estimated that upwards of 75% of nail salons don't follow proper hygienic protocols. Read on to learn how to spot various red flags that give away a salon's true nature.
1. First things first, check the bathroom!
If they can't be bothered to keep the bathroom clean, chances are that nothing else is clean either.
2. The pedicure tubs have bubbles and jets running.
These can't be properly and consistently cleaned between each client, meaning that you're basically washing your feet with everyone else that used it before you.
3. They use those blue light machines to "sterilize" their tools.
Those machines don't sterilize anything! Instead, the tools that are used on you should come in individually sealed blue pouches, signifying they were properly sterilized in an autoclave machine.
4. The files and pumice stones look used.
By law almost everywhere (I only linked the law in Boston as an example but you can research your location too) these items are 1 time use per customer only. They're also super cheap to buy in bulk, so if a salon is reusing them on people, then they're definitely also cheapening out on the big stuff.
5. The products are in unmarked containers and they're being shady when you ask about it.
This isn't a guaranteed red flag, but if they refuse to tell you what brands they're using or act flustered when you ask, there's a good chance they're using something low quality. If the containers are marked or they tell you the brand, make sure to research the brand to be sure it's safe!
6. The price is too good to be true.
Now as you can tell from my own nail salon horror story in the beginning of the post, even high prices don't necessarily signify high quality. But super low prices almost always signify low quality.
7. You see the nail techs removing nail extensions forcefully, like with thin cards, nail tips or even floss, leaving damaged nails behind.
The proper removal method for extensions is either filing off or soaking off to minimize damage as much as possible. If you see this being done, they do not care about nail health and you should get out if you care about yours!
At the end of the day, your nails and your health are worth protecting. Just because a salon looks high-end or charges more doesn’t mean they’re following proper safety protocols or using quality products. I learned that the hard way, but if you follow these guidelines, you don’t have to go through what I did.
By knowing what red flags to watch for, you can make informed choices, avoid damage, and feel confident walking into any nail salon.
Ask questions. Stay observant. And never feel bad for advocating for your nail health.
Your hands deserve better than shortcuts and subpar products.
Sources:
https://www.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/U_Z/Use-of-methyl-methacrylate-MMA-in-nail-products
"Death By Pedicure" by Dr. Robert Spalding
https://info.sweeneyfootankle.com/blog/the-downside-of-salon-pedicures-understand-your-risks
https://nailknowledge.org/nail-knowledge-base/do-uv-sanitation-devices-work