Tips for a Safe & Healthy Spa Experience

With holiday parties marked on everyone's social calendar, salons are sure to see a surge of women getting beautified for a big night out, but sometimes what they see at certain salons isn't so pretty. Here at Skinsational, we are dedicated to our clients' safety and comfort and therefore adhere to the highest standards of cleanliness that comply with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

Check out some of these tips and guidelines for top salon practices from the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology that all of our customers are sure to experience at Skinsational this holiday season and all year round!

Take a Look Around

Look for the license. Manicurists, who give pedicures as well as manicures, must have a license from the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, and it must be visible to customers. The license is your assurance that the manicurist has passed an examination and understands the techniques for each procedure, as well as how to properly clean and disinfect instruments and foot spas.

Next, look at the general cleanliness of the place. If the place doesn't look clean, leave. After all, a messy shop may indicate that critical cleaning steps are not being taken, either.

Foot Spa Cleanliness

While waiting for your turn, watch the foot spas. By law, foot spas have to be cleaned and disinfected after each use. Cleaning and disinfecting basins thoroughly is a must-do, or you could run the risk of infection from Mycobacterium fortuitum, a bacterium that can grow in the warm water of a foot spa that hasn't been properly disinfected. Mycobacterium can cause painful skin boils.

Foot Care Do's and Don'ts

Once your feet have been soaked, it's time to smooth them. No razor-edged tools, such as "Credo" blades, should be used to remove calluses or rough skin. Sharp instruments can cut the skin, allowing bacteria to invade the cut. For the same reason, don't shave or wax your legs 24 hours before your pedicure. Cuts on your skin from shaving or waxing can get infected during the foot soak.

When shaping the nails, buffers or emery boards must be new, used only on you and then thrown out. If an instrument cannot be properly disinfected, it must be disposed of after the pedicure. Metal nail files and cuticle pushers must be completely immersed in disinfectant between uses.

Don't Cut Corners to Save $$

If you find a shop that charges considerably less than other nail shops in the area, you should question whether all the necessary cleaning steps are being taken. The equipment used to properly clean and disinfect nail implements and foot spas are an expense, and sometimes to cut costs, a shop will add water to the disinfectants. The problem is, the disinfectant is no longer potent enough to do the job.

At Skinsational, we thouroughly clean and sanitize each pedicure spa before and after each client using approved undiluted disinfectant solution, scrubbing the entire surface, jets and screens. We also use clean and santized implements for manicures and pedicures, and use brand new emery boards, buffers and foot scrubbers on each client.You can feel confident that all of your spa services are delivered under the highest standards of safety and sanitation here at Skinsational. Check out our Holiday Specials HERE, and know that you can relax and enjoy our Mistletoe Pedicure!