Client Nail Salon Guidelines

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🔹 Overall Cleanliness – The salon should look and smell clean. Floors, workstations, and tools should be free of dust, nail clippings, and debris.

🔹 Disinfection Practices – Look for visible cleaning and disinfecting of tools between clients. Metal tools should be stored in sealed, disinfected pouches or placed in a disinfectant solution.

🔹 Disposable Items – Items like nail files, buffers, pumice stones, and wooden sticks should be new for each client.

🔹 Handwashing & Gloves – Technicians should wash their hands or use hand sanitizer between clients and wear gloves when necessary, especially for pedicures or cuticle work.  They should have their clients do the same thing.

🔹 Salon License – A valid business and cosmetology license should be clearly displayed near the front of the salon.

🔹 Technician Licenses – Each nail technician should have a state-issued license, which is usually displayed at their workstation or on a wall.

🔹 Continuing Education – Some salons showcase certificates for advanced training in sanitation, nail art, or specific techniques, which can indicate a commitment to quality.

🔹 Properly Labeled Disinfectants – EPA-registered disinfectants should be visible and used correctly for cleaning footbaths, tools, and surfaces.

🔹 No Reuse of Disposable Tools – Items like nail files, buffers, and orangewood sticks should never be reused between clients. 

🔹 Clean Footbaths – Pedicure tubs should be disinfected between clients, for NO LESS THAN 10 minutes. If a liner is used, it should be new for each client. The liner is a FALSE sense of security.  The problem lies in the motor/array.

🔹 Jet-Free Tubs or Disposable Liners – Traditional whirlpool jets can harbor bacteria if not cleaned properly. Opt for salons that use pipe-free pedicure bowls, disposable liners and proper sanitation.

🔹 No Razor Callus Shaving – It is illegal in South Carolina for salons to use a razor blade to remove calluses. Instead, they should use a pumice stone or foot file; both of which should ONLY be used on a client one time and then discarded.

🔹 Neat Appearance – Nail technicians should wear clean uniforms, have groomed nails, and maintain a professional appearance.

🔹 Masks & Gloves – Professionals should wear a mask when working with acrylics or filing nails to reduce dust inhalation. Gloves should be worn during pedicures and certain nail treatments.

🔹 No Skin Cutting – Technicians should never cut live skin or use tools that cause discomfort or bleeding. 

🔹 Well-Ventilated Space – A strong chemical smell may indicate poor ventilation. Look for salons with proper air filtration systems or open-air circulation.

🔹 Use of Safe Products – Some salons offer  "The Big Three", "5-free" or "10-free" nail polishes that  have less harmful chemicals in them like formaldehyde and toluene. 

🔹 Consent & Communication – A good technician will ask about allergies, skin conditions, or sensitivities before starting services.

🔹 Pricing Transparency – Prices should be clearly posted with no hidden fees.

🔹 No Pressure for Add-Ons – A professional salon will not pressure clients into unnecessary upgrades or treatments. 

❌ Dirty or Unorganized Workstations
❌ Reusing Disposable Tools
❌ No Visible Licenses
❌ Unclean Footbaths or Tools
❌ Strong Chemical Odors Without Ventilation
❌ Technicians Rushing or Ignoring Client Comfort
❌ Cutting Cuticles Too Aggressively or Using Razors on Skin