on trend magazine issue 1 | Page 13

Sanitized tools are made of metal. Metal pushers Cuticle nippers Nail clippers Foot files Disposable products are not made of metal. Orange wood sticks Nail files Block buffers Disposable block buffers, nail files and orange wood sticks should never be used more than one time and only used on one customer. They are a breeding ground for bacteria and infection. Make You Sick? If your salon is reusing these implements it should be a RED FLAG for you as the consumer. It is not recommended that these items be reused ever. A properly sanitized reusable block buffer, foot file or nail file will be clean and look as thought it has never been used. If your salon uses disposable supplies they should provide you with a new nail file, block buffer and foot file at each service. These should either be disposed of after your service or given to the customer to take home. Reusing these one time disposable supplies will put you at risk for infection and fungus growth. Never allow anyone to use a callus planer on your feet. This is the product that has a razor blade attached to it with a handle. These are against the law in many states. They are extremely dangerous and can easily cause serious harm and infection. Tub sanitation is as important as tool sanitation. Your salon and service provider should be sanitizing the pedicure tub after each service with a hospital grade disinfecting solution. If they are not sanitizing and disinfecting after each service you are at risk of serious harm. You should see the service provider clean the pedicure tub after the last patron leaves and before your service begins. If not, you have every right to demand that it is cleaned and sanitized property. At the end of the day the salon owner or service provider should be thoroughly sanitizing the pedicure tub with a process we call “back washing.” The pedicure How can you tell if your service provider or tub is filled with a hospital grade disinfecting salon is adhering to state regulations regarding solution and the hottest water possible. The sanitation and disinfecting? By asking the tub is then ran for at least fifteen minutes (or service provider or the salon owner. Don’t be according to the manufacturer’s instructions.) afraid to ask questions of the salon owner or service provider. Take control of your own Once the backwash is complete they should health and well being. rinse the tub with clean water and dry the tub with a clean towel. If your salon is using household bleach as a disinfecting solution you are not safe from contamination. Household bleach is not an effective agent for disinfecting and sanitizing any salon equipment. It will not kill the live bacteria that are present in most pedicure tubs or spas. By - Roseann Giannone roseythecouponcoach.com