Nail salon hygiene is easy to overlook when you are choosing by price, color range or how soon you can get an appointment. Most salons work hard to keep things clean. Even so, tools that are not properly cleaned between customers can pass on fungal, bacterial and viral infections, and small cuts make that easier. A quick look around tells you a lot.
Before you book
- Licences. In many places, salons and technicians must be licensed, and the licences should be on display. Rules vary by country and region.
- Reviews and recommendations. Look for comments about cleanliness, not only about designs.
- First impressions. Clean floors, tidy stations, good ventilation and no strong build-up of fumes are good signs.
What to check at the salon
| Area | Good signs | Warning signs |
|---|---|---|
| Metal tools | Taken from a sealed pouch, or from a sterilizer, for each client | Taken from a drawer or a jar of cloudy liquid; visibly used |
| Files, buffers, orange sticks | New for each client, or you take them home | Worn or dusty; reused |
| Foot baths | Cleaned and disinfected between clients; disposable liners | Water still draining as you arrive; debris in the basin |
| Technician | Washes or sanitizes hands; asks you to wash yours | Goes straight from one client to the next |
| Towels | Fresh for each client | Damp or stained |
| Products | Labeled bottles; pots used with clean applicators | Unlabeled containers; double dipping |
| Work area | Wiped down between clients | Dust and clippings from the last person |
About sterilizing
Soaking tools in disinfectant reduces germs if the tools are cleaned first and left in the solution for the full contact time. Heat sterilization in an autoclave is more reliable for metal tools. It is reasonable to ask how the salon cleans its tools. A good salon is happy to explain.
Questions you can ask
- How do you clean and disinfect your tools between clients?
- Do you use a new file and buffer for each person?
- How are the foot baths cleaned?
- Can I bring my own tools?
Protect yourself
- Bring your own tools if you prefer: a file, buffer, cuticle pusher, clippers and even polish. Clean them at home afterwards. See How to Clean and Store Nail Tools.
- Do not shave your legs for at least 24 hours before a pedicure. Shaving leaves tiny cuts that let bacteria in.
- Postpone if you have broken skin, such as cuts, insect bites, a rash or an infection on your hands or feet.
- Ask that your cuticles are not cut. Gently pushing them back is enough. See Cuticle Care: How to Keep Your Routine Gentle.
- Say no to blades and graters on your feet. Razors and "credo" blades for removing hard skin are banned in salons in many places and can cause injury and infection. A foot file or pumice is safer.
- Speak up if something hurts, or if a tool does not look clean.
- Protect your hands from UV lamps with sunscreen or fingerless gloves if you are having gel. See Gel Manicure vs Regular Polish: Key Differences.
Extra care for some people
If you have diabetes, poor circulation, reduced immunity or take blood-thinning medicine, check with your doctor before salon pedicures, and tell the technician. A medical pedicure from a podiatrist may be the safer choice.
During a pedicure
- Check that the basin has been cleaned or has a fresh liner.
- Toenails should be cut straight across. See How to Do a Pedicure at Home.
- Ask the technician not to dig into the corners of the nails.
- Feet should be dried properly, including between the toes.
After your appointment
Watch your hands and feet over the next days. See a doctor if you notice:
- Redness, swelling, warmth or pain around a nail.
- Pus, or red streaks.
- An itchy, peeling rash.
- Later on, a nail that thickens or changes color. See Nail Fungus: Signs and Why Diagnosis Matters.
Tell the salon as well, so that they can check their procedures.
When to walk away
Trust what you see. If tools look dirty, foot baths are not cleaned between clients, or your questions are brushed aside, it is fine to leave before the service begins.
Related on ArniSun
- How to Clean and Store Nail Tools
- Gel Manicure vs Regular Polish: Key Differences
- How to Do a Pedicure at Home
- Nail Fungus: Signs and Why Diagnosis Matters
- Cuticle Care: How to Keep Your Routine Gentle
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
Is it rude to bring my own tools to a nail salon?
No. Many clients do, and salons are used to it. Clean and disinfect your tools at home after each visit.
Can you get an infection from a nail salon?
It is uncommon in a clean salon, but fungal, bacterial and viral infections can be passed on by tools or foot baths that are not properly disinfected, especially through small cuts.
Why should I not shave before a pedicure?
Shaving causes tiny nicks in the skin. Soaking freshly shaved legs in a foot bath gives bacteria a way in and has been linked to skin infections.