Did you know Florida Law states a pedicure tub MUST be cleaned thoroughly after each use AND after every single service must be filled with a hospital grade disinfectant and the unit must be running with the jets on for a minimum of 10 minutes.
AFTER EVERY SERVICE!!
Bet you didn’t know that!
I can’t tell you how many times I have gone to a salon and have seen the service provider pull off the little plastic tub liner and just rinse out the tub without cleaning before wrapping it with another liner.
Just because a plastic liner has been used DOES NOT mean a pedicure tub is clean and sanitized!
GROSS!
People, it’s time for a pedicure revolution!!
When you go in for a pedicure use this checklist as a basis for a good and healthy service;
Has the tub been cleaned and sanitized per state code? Washed, cleaned with soap, rinsed and filled with hospital grade disinfectant then ran for a minimum of 10 minutes.
Require that a new file and buffer be used. ( I have been using a new one time use nail file and buffer for years. Nobody wants someone else’s toe funk.)
Make sure all metal instruments are in a SEALED sterilization pouch and opened in your presence.
Cuticles! You can’t push back toe or nail cuticles if the tissue is dry. It hurts! I perform a cuticle treatment at the end of the service, before massage. That way the tissue is exceptionally soft and easier to push back and the excess skin can be gently sloughed away versus being CUT AWAY. Cuts and nicks can open you up for infections like MRSA or worse Hep C
For good soles; most salons still use a block to rub on your heals but that only removes a build up of callused skin. It’s important to remove and then SMOOTH your soles. If you rub your feet together and they’re still rough tell them! REQUEST them to smooth your heals with something. Do not settle with laziness or a speedy service. You’re paying a lot of money and your pedicure should be done efficiently. For years I’ve used a stainless steel pedicure wand that uses disposable one time use peel and stick adhesive abrasives (like a nail file). I use 2 grits, 180 smooth and 100 grit which to me is very coarse for most guests. Very rarely do I ever use 100 grit. By using this you can be sure it’s more sanitary. And the wand can be cleaned and STERILIZED. A good pedicure is all about leaving with soft smooth feet so when you rub your feet together at night they’re smooth on your sheets.
NEVER NEVER NEVER go for a pedicure and allow them to CUT the side of your toes! THIS will cause ingrown toe nails and possibly worse like a bad infection! Ugh! A nail salon is NOT who should be cutting your ingrown toe nails. Go see a podiatrist. Please. Or at least invest in your own ingrown toenail tool or cruette tool. Google it.
If using toe separators, be sure it is a brand new one. No one wants to have an old one used on them for fear of athletes foot funk. (I use a twisted tissue for my guests. It feels better and costs much less and is sanitary.)
In the past 2 weeks I have had the pleasure of servicing several new nail guests.
When they arrive at my salon they look around and say wow this is fabulous.. of coarse I blush a little and gently lower my head to reply “yes, this is all mine”.
Their next question is just that “does someone else work here?” And I quietly respond “nope, it’s just you and me”. Their eyes light up with amazement.
Wow they say..
When they see my 2 pedicure chairs they ask “oh, you do pedicures too?”
I politely respond to their question with a yes but. The but is, I will no longer provide a pedicure service on anyone who has issues like toe fungus or warts.
They have all shared with me issues they have currently or have had with their feet. And they all talk about horrible experiences having pedicures. Why would you go have a pedicure and pay so much money to come out with heals that are still rough.
Let NO ONE use anything that looks like a cheese grater on the soles of your feet. Or a blade! Yikes!
I remember having a pedicure years ago and she used a credo blade on my heals. Then knocked of the skin off by hitting on the side of the pedicure tub only to place it back into her pedicure tote. Oh my goodness I could go on and on.
Ugh, it’s so sad.
So, education is the key! And I truly believe this is something that all well educated and LICENSED service professionals should be talking about. (I’ll save the “are they really licensed?” topic for a separate blog post).
Sharing is caring and I care about your wellness whether you’re my client or someone else’s. I can’t do everyone’s nails so it’s time I toot my horn.
It’s been a while since adding new guests to my clientele. Nails I’ll do all day long but pedicures I’m a bit more particular about after all the funk going around town. Eew
I am very blessed to be in this industry for almost 4 decades and still thriving. I truly love doing nails.
I’m happy to answer any questions that you may have to further discuss this topic or anything else related to nails.
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For an at home foot smoother check out my Pedi Pro Callus Remover available in 3 colors, purple, turquoise and black for the dudes ( cause they’ll steal yours)!
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Peace and love, Linda