Hygiene is one of the most important things to look for when choosing a salon ( any salon, not just nail salons) or nail technician to keep your nails and hands healthy. No one's gonna care how sparkly your design is if its also inflamed and crawling with bacteria. As technicians its our job to give the best possible service and to educate your clients about nail care. And as a client, it is your job to do your research, choose said technician wisely and then actually follow the guidance of your tech.
Todays lesson is about nail files - And the reasons behind why i have made to switch to keeping personal client files.
Nail files are porous meaning they can absorb moisture. And with that moisture comes bacteria. The inside of a nail file is dark and damp making it the perfect breeding ground for even more bacteria.
How do we stop this?
Sanitize AND Disinfect.
Sanitation is another word for cleaning. It is the action of significantly removing visible contamination and debris. Disinfection is the destruction/killing of viruses, bacteria and fungi on non-living surfaces. See the difference?
Heres the pickle. Isopropyl alcohol or any other medical grade disinfectants will only kill between 95% and 98% of bacteria. NOTHING will kill 100% because thats where sterilizing comes in and porous surfaces like nail files can not be sterilized. That left over 2-5% is pretty safe, I can guarantee you walked in the salon with more germs than what my nail files have, but it bothers me.
So I've made the switch. All of my clients will now have their own personal files kept with there appointment records in a breathable envelope. The 2-5% of bacteria may still be present on the file but its isolated, to be used on that client only. Left over bacteria will no longer be shared.
How do I stop the spread of bacteria in the salon?
Sanitize AND Disinfect AND Isolate