6 Ways Self-Love Will Help You Crush Your Goals
From breaking free of external validation to creating joy-based goals, discover a more sustainable and fulfilling path to success.
Regulators, Not Consumers, Drive Sanitation Trends
Michael Megna, CEO and co-founder of Backscratchers Salon Systems, discusses salon sanitation issues and the trend toward disposable products.
by Staff
July 1, 2008
2 min to read
NAILS recently caught up with Michael Megna, CEO and co-founder of Backscratchers Salon Systems and got his take on sanitation issues and the trend toward disposable products.
Is there a trend toward using disposable products in nail salons? If so, why?
Megna: Yes. With very real concerns about cross-contamination and changes in state sanitation laws, disposable items make sense for today’s salons. Advances in technology are also making it possible to manufacture many more disposable items, such as file abrasives and salon placemats.
What is pushing the trend?
Megna: While sanitation issues have been addressed in the mainstream media, we are finding that consumers are not demanding better sanitation as a result. What is pushing better sanitation are changes to state laws.
Does it seem like consumers are more aware of sanitation and disinfection issues?
Megna: Nail techs tell us that their clients are not demanding better sanitation or asking about their practices. We think there’s a general consumer awareness of these issues, but unless the nail tech promotes client awareness directly, by showing her customers what sanitation products and techniques she uses, her clients do not make much effort to ensure that a salon is safe.
What do you envision will be the future of disposable products?
Megna: Judging just from the increase in our SeptiFile Replaceable File System sales, we see it increasing exponentially. We’d like to see the industry as a whole try to develop disposable products that have a limited impact on the environment. Other industries, such as medicine, dentistry and food preparation, are also moving toward more disposable products and packaging, so we need to keep the environment in mind.
What new types of disposable products do you see being introduced to the market in the near future?
Megna: Not only will standard disposable items continue to be in demand, but we expect to see more disposable versions of implements and more single-use packaging of product.
What can salons do to compensate for the additional cost?
Megna: In some cases, disposable products are less expensive. However, replenishing salon supplies can put more financial pressure on technicians. It can drive up the price of salon services, and is likely to continue to do so. Since consumer awareness is such an important factor in sanitation, we recommend emphasizing the fact that salons must raise prices slightly to cover the additional costs of protecting their clients’ safety, or of complying with new state sanitation laws.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Wellness
The Invisible Hazard in Every Nail Salon and How to Fight It
From acrylic monomers to airborne bio-dust, the air inside a nail salon carries risks most professionals never see coming. Aerovex Systems reveals the source-capture and room-purification strategies that are setting a new standard for salon safety.
Sponsored by Aerovex Systems
Nail Safety Council Warns Holiday Shoppers About Toxic 'Magic' Gel Polish Removers
Products marketed as 'magic' or 'burst' gel removers may contain methylene chloride, a federally banned, highly toxic chemical.
How Beauty Pros Can Prevent Pain: Somatic Movement for Career Longevity
Working in beauty doesn’t have to hurt. Learn how Somatic Movement helps hairstylists, lash artists, and other beauty pros release tension, improve posture, and extend their careers.
Spa Day, Safe Day: Stop Fungal Infections in Their Tracks
As a spa or salon professional, your clients expect more than just beauty—they expect safety, hygiene, and peace of mind. Fungal infections like Athlete’s Foot and Nail Fungus are more common than you think, especially in environments where tools and footbaths are reused without proper sanitation. This blog covers how to stop these issues before they start, using proven infection prevention strategies for salons and spas.
Federal Research on Nail Salon Safety Concludes Due to Budget Reductions
A federal initiative aimed at studying chemical exposure in nail salons has ended due to staffing and budget changes. Here’s what the project set out to do—and what its conclusion means for salon professionals.
by Anne Moratto
Opinion: What You Need to Know About Pedicure Safety
For many people, a pedicure is a relaxing beauty ritual. But what most don’t realize is that this simple service, if done without proper hygiene and sanitation, can cause serious infections and long-term health issues.
Onycholysis: What Nail Pros Should Know About Nail Separation
Onycholysis is the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. While it may look painful, it typically isn’t—at least not at first. But without proper care, this common nail disorder can lead to infections, deformities, and long-term damage.
What to Say--or Not Say--to Someone Grieving
Mckenzie Kool, Psychologist, MC, RPsych provides us with guidance on what may or not be helpful in speaking with someone who has suffered a significant loss.
Protecting Your Clients From Viral Infections
Clients come to you to feel their best—not leave with a viral souvenir. Warts and cold sores can spread fast in busy salons, but a few smart habits make all the difference. Let’s talk about what’s really lurking in your salon (and how to kick it to the curb).
Beauty Professionals, It's Time to Take the Green Pledge
As Earth Day approaches, The Green Beauty Community Foundation and the Green Spa Network invite beauty pros to step forward and embrace sustainability through the Green Pledge--a powerful initiative designed by and for beauty industry leaders.
How Not to Be Cynical About Valentine's Day
Don’t cancel Valentine’s Day altogether, urges Jill Palmquist. Instead, think of it as a (frilly, flowery, Champagne-bubbly) wake-up call to fall deeply in love with your own life.
Temporary Burnout or Time to Hang Up the Shears?
Life coach and Culture Ambassador of Sam Villa, Andrew Carruthers, outlines how to tell if your burnout is temporary - or if it's time to make a bigger career change.
Nail Care and Cancer Treatment: 6 Tips for a Safe Nail Service
Cancer treatment can create very specific challenges for your guest when it comes to hair, skin, and also nails. Here are some tips for working with your salon client who is going through cancer treatment to help you provide a relaxing, enjoyable, and also safe experience.
Sun Patch Protects Hands from Sun Damage
For those clients concerned about exposure from UV lamps, the Sun Patch might be a solution. Sun Patches are waterproof, reusable (up to 10 wears) block 98% of UVA/UVB rays, and maintain their UPF 50+ rating all day long.
by Anne Moratto
The Nail Doctor: Onycholysis, or Nail Separation, Has Different Varieties
One of the most common conditions that affects the nail is onycholysis, which is the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. Onycholysis occurs as a result of or along with a great variety of nail traumas and disorders. Probably the most common cause of onycholysis is a fungal infection of the nail.
Standing Stretches for Physical Longevity
Hairdressing is a physically taxing career integrating simple stretches into your daily routine can reduce the strain repetitive motion puts on your body, help you stay flexible and strong and eventually prolong your career.