Beauty industry, Blog
Why regular hand washing is vital for all nail technicians
May
Salons should observe strict hygiene protocols says industry professional
Warnings have again been issued around the need for effective hand hygiene for technicians in beauty businesses, with a recent report on the Get Surrey website highlighting the fact that there are a number of potential health risks associated with nail salons that do not take it seriously.
The article by Nicola Roy acknowledges that getting your nails done can “add a spritz of glam to your routine” – particularly when you want to look at your best before a big event or holiday. But – and this is a very significant “but” – nail technicians should ensure that all salon equipment has been sanitised, the treatment area is cleaned regularly – and in particular, they should wash their hands before every treatment.
Roy quotes Mariana Eidelkind, the founder of Oblique House of Nails who pointed out the apparent risks posed by unsterilised equipment at less diligent salons.
“Improper tool sterilisation is a serious concern because it increases the risk of transferring harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses from one client to another.”
Eidelkind warned of the types of problem that can occur when salons don’t follow suitably robust hygiene standards. Unclean tools can even spread diseases such as Hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV.
As a result, small cuts or grazes can become “gateways for harmful bacteria”.
Look out for clean tools and hand washing before your treatment
There are clues and warning signs that you need to look out for on a visit to a new salon, says the report. “One of the most obvious is the use of visibly dirty or unclean tools” Eidelkind is quoted as saying. Clean tools that have properly sterilised should be kept in a sealed pouch before use, and single use items (including files or buffers) should never be re-used she added.
And, very importantly, you should make sure that hands are washed effectively before your treatment begins.
“The technician should also wash their hands before starting your manicure and wear gloves to ensure hygiene.”
Raising salon standards
The Schwarzkopf Salon Health & Safety Guidelines has a stated aim of providing “a set of recommendations to raise hair salon standards” which feature best practice guidance for staff hygiene, keeping equipment and the premises clean and general workplace safety.
Part 2 of the guidance document deals specifically with hygiene standards.
The section begins with vitally important advice regarding hand hygiene, which reveals three key takeaways:-
- “Hands must be washed with soap and water when soiled”.
- Alcohol based gels should only be used when sanitising clean hands.
- A salon should ideally have a hand washing basin or basins that are designated for hand washing only.
Teal’s range of handing wash units for beauty businesses »
Practising good hand hygiene can be tough in a busy salon or when travelling between customers. However, if professionals in the beauty and aesthetics industry want to have a reputation for high standards and excellence in hygiene, it’s important they have constant access to hand washing facilities.
Teal’s mobile aesthetics companies handwashing stations include the ProWash, Hygienius, CliniWash and the Super Stallette – both of which can be positioned near any standard power socket. The HandSpa is not intended to be moved around, but just needs a normal power supply. The highly portable Handeman Xtra Portable can be carried to wherever it’s needed.