Nails
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Health

Reader to Reader: How do you store your files?

July 1, 1998

I take sanitation very seriously. I store each client’s personal implements in a re-useable cloth bag I designed myself. It has a plastic front, which contains the client’s information. I buy my files in bulk, and replace them after every fourth appointment. – Leona Parker, Changes, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Each client has her own re-sealable plastic storage bag, which contains a file, buffer, cuticle stick and nail brush. – Rhiana Leal, At Your Fingertips,  McAllen, Texas

We store each client’s file in either a plastic re-sealable bag or a heavyweight re-sealable manila envelope, with her name address, and phone number written on it. Our clients love knowing that when they come in, they are getting their own file. This method also saves on file costs. A single file goes a long way if it’s stored correctly.  – Melanie Monterio, Hairsay, S. Attleboro, Mass.

I store my files in an airtight container that meets my state board’s guidelines. I buy my files in bulk (they cost about 40 cents each), and I throw them away after every use. This enables me to save considerable time and money on sanitation. – Terry McCasland, Barbara’s Beauty Shop Grand Saline, Texas

Due to sanitation, health hazards, and lawsuits, I require my clients to purchase their own files, (this is profitable for the salon, too.) Each file, along with oil and a buffer, is place in a zippered bag labeled with the client’s name, the date of purchase, and whether they wear acrylics or fiberglass. Each bag is stored in a three-drawer cabinet. If a client needs a repair and I’m out of town, another nail technician simply locates the labeled bag and completes the repair with no files to wash afterwards. – Lou Gonzales-Krueger, The Hair Shaque, Farmington, N.M.

I provide each client with her own personal implements and store then in a videotape box. Each box is stored alphabetically in a small bookcase. It may cost me a little more up front, but my clients love it. – Lyn Baker, Finished Perfection Salon, Duncanville, Texas

I place the client’s file, buffer, and orangewood stick in a plastic re-sealable bag, label it with the client’s name, and file it alphabetically in an accordion file. – Tina Keefer, The Nail Zone, Talent, Ore.

We do not use conventional files in our salon. We use the Septifile system, which consists of removable abrasives and two-sided sanitizable handle. We store the file halves in a storage box. I save money using the system; the file halves only const 23 cents each. And there is no fear of cross-contamination between clients. – John Brouchard, Nails, Unique, Hartford, Conn.

More FAQ

What should I do with a client who reacts to acrylics and gels?

I have a client who became allergic to acrylic nails, so I switched her to gels and now, after 1 1/2 years, she has started having the same reaction with gels. A few of her fingertips swell and crack. What should I do? She still wants nail enhancements. ... read more

My back is aching and I need a new chair. What should I look for?

My back is aching and I need a new chair. What should I look for?... read more

Will lifting nails damaged by formaldehyde repair themselves?

I saw a client who damaged her nails with nail hardener containing formaldehyde and all her nails have lifted from the nail bed — some worse than others. Will they repair themselves over time?... read more

Is it true that taking biotin is one thing that will help my clients with weak, peeling nails.

Is it true that taking biotin is one thing that will help my clients with weak, peeling nails. Is it safe? How much should they take?... read more

I have a 50-year-old client with hard, brittle nails with recurring ingrown nails. Can I help prevent the ingrown nails?

I have a 50-year-old client who has been having recurring ingrown nails on her fingers. It tends to affect the middle and ring fingers on both hands, and on both sides of the nail. She starts to feel sensitivity to pressure on her fingers and within days you can see pus under the skin. It looks like a small piece of nail is growing into the skin, causing the infection (and quite a bit of pain). She has hard, brittle nails that she wears short and polished. Is there anything I can do in the salon to prevent this from happening so often?... read more

Why is it important to ask new clients if they have any allergies?

Why is it important to ask new clients if they have any allergies?... read more

Lately I’ve been hearing that paraffin candles are somehow toxic. What can you tell me about this?

Lately I’ve been hearing that paraffin candles are somehow toxic. What can you tell me about this?... read more

What is the chemistry behind nail prep items that help with bonding?

What is the chemistry behind nail prep items that help with bonding? Are they just super dehydrators? Is something added to the nail that remains there or does it all evaporate?... read more

What is the best way to avoid developing contact dermatitis?

I have very sensitive skin and horrible allergies. I'm afraid of developing contact dermatitis. What is the best way to control exposure without worrying my clients by looking like a scientist in a hazmat suit?... read more

I am a nail tech and I am having issues with my own nails? What is the cause of brittle nails?

I have been a nail technician for three years, and I have a terrible problem with my own nails. They are extremely thin, and they peel, chip, and never grow past the end of my finger. I have applied acrylic to my nails because they are in such terrible shape; I don’t want my clients to see what they really look like. In trying to take care of this, I wear gloves with every client, and I take a good daily vitamin with extra calcium. My nails are so thin they sometimes hurt, and the end of the nail beds are red. One contributing factor might be my severe back problem; I had surgery four years ago, and it still acts up. I am always on medication (Flexelil, Darvocet, Indocin, and water pills). When I am wearing acrylics, they constantly lift and my own nail plates seem to pull away from the nail bed. The nails appear to have fungus when actually they don’t. What is causing this, and what can I do to fix my nails?... read more

Why do I have headaches at work?

I am a nail technician, and for about a year I have had headaches at work. I thought it was just stress, but one Friday I got a very painful migraine headache at the salon, and I swelled up. I stayed in bed all weekend. Four days later I still had the headache. I am scared to go to my doctor. I am using a 3M respirator to work and am looking for a ventilation hood to use at my station. What could be the problem?... read more

Reader to Reader: How do you keep your sanity during the holiday season?

How do you keep your sanity during the holiday season?... read more