IF you love nothing more than popping into your local nail salon for a quick manicure or pedicure, then you may just want to take note.
That’s because a nail tech has revealed two gross things that you’re never told about nail salons – and they’re sure to leave your stomach churning.
In a clip posted to TikTok (@thewnailbar), the beauty whizz, who is from the US, begins: “I’m a licensed nail tech…I own 14 nail salons and here are the things they don’t tell you about our industry – the stuff I leaned in school and along my journey.”
First and foremost, she claims that nail salons are “notoriously dirty.”
She continues: “The stats are that 1 in 4 guests leave with a bacterial or fungal infection every time they go visit a nail salon.
“To prevent this from happening to you, you have to be really choosy about where you go.”
She goes on to say that if you’re one of the lucky people who have never had to deal with this, then scroll through the comments on her video from people who have suffered with MRSA, Staphylococcus and all kinds of bacterial fungal infections.
The nail whizz adds how they’ve caused people “lifelong issues” because they’re “really hard to get rid of.”
“It’s really important you’re choosy about where you go and it’s also important to advocate for yourself and speak up if you don’t see or like what’s happening,” she points out.
She goes on to urge people to make sure the place they go is using hospital grade disinfectant to clean – adding this is what’s going to keep you safe.
Next up, the nail pro says you want to see single-use pumice stones in use.
“Cheese graters are a big no no in our industry,” she explains.
“They’re highly unsafe, very unsanitary, hard to clean and they’re not proper for a nail salon, they’re for a podiatrist.”
She continues: “Also you want to look for single-use items – single-use pumice stones, nail files – make sure the implements are packed in sanitary packs.
“If you see a nail tech pull out an implement or file or pumice stone that looks like it’s been used by another guest, you have to advocate that you don’t want that used on me and then don’t go back to that salon.”
The licensed nail tech captioned the post: “What nail salons DON’T tell you.”
It wasn’t long before the post went viral, garnering a whopping xx views and hundreds of comments – with many eager to share their own horror stories.
“Got HPV and warts getting dip manicure – it costed £393 ($500) with insurance to remove the wart. The nail salon has 3k+ reviews and 4.8 stars idk,” wrote one.
A second penned: “Yes!! I’ve been dealing for two years with a toenail fungal infection from my last pedicure!”
A third commented: “Why I learned and started doing my own nails. Plus I’m saving SO much money.”
Meanwhile, a fourth noted: “I think I just ditched pedicures for 2024.”
Another admitted: “I got nail fungus on my toe nail…my nail has never been the same!”
And a further added: “I was getting a pedicure and the lady stabbed my toe brought blood poured alcohol on it. I have a fungal infection I’ve yet to beat.”
