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.
Watsonville: News at 11
Far be it for me (as a member of the media) to criticize the rest of the media, but you have to wonder why the news picked up on this story six months after it happened, and is now blowing the story out of the water without doing much follow-up.
July 1, 2001
2 min to read
“20/20 calling,” came the call last week. “They want some information about the nail industry for a story they’re doing on Watsonville, Calif.” I spoke with a producer; who’s interested in facts and figures about the nail industry and anything else I could tell her about the bacterial outbreak that occurred in Northern California last year. As usual, when we do these interviews, I imagine the “teaser” ad they’ll run: “These women had no idea they were risking their health when they walked into their salon for a beauty treatment, but they came out of the salon with their legs covered with sores — news at II.” Far be it for me (as a member of the media) to criticize the rest of the media, but you have to wonder why the news picked up on this story six months after it happened, and is now blowing the story out of the water without doing much follow-up.
As most of you know, a California salon was shut down late last year after many of its pedicure clients broke out in sores. They were exposed to a common, but virulent bacteria in a poorly maintained foot bath. (For the full story, see “Don’t Let It Happen to You” in the March 2001 issue of NAILS.) The story launched a slew of local news stories, especially in California, about salon safety, and has led several manufacturers and the California Board of Consumer Affairs (which regulates the salon industry in California) to lead a campaign to clarify maintenance procedures for the foot baths. So out of the scandal conies at least one good thing.
The problem I see is not that all of the industry’s dirty laundry is aired, it’s that the public sees only one side and usually isn’t given enough information to put it all in perspective. I’ve seen it many, many times: A news report on one bad salon can wreak havoc on the industry for months — sometimes even years — to follow, There’s no way to prevent the stories, but I suggest that all salon owners and nail professionals be prepared to deal with the fallout directly, honestly; and intelligently with their own clients. That means tell your clients what you do in your own salon to keep them safe. Tell them how you dean your pedicure spa, for example, and why it takes a few extra minutes to do.
You think your business has gotten competitive? SO has the news media. They compete by offering more salacious stories, more gruesome images, and more outcries in the name of public safety. And you can bet if they’ve got it, there will be news at 11.
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.