Salon owners share the 7 red flags to look for when getting a pedicure

So if you are planning to spend money on a pedicure, you’ll want to make sure you’re choosing a trustworthy salon.

Here’s what salon holders said are red flags to look out for when getting a pedicure at a new salon.

Salons with jetted tubs may not be backwards disinfected

Rona Villamore Falls, owner of Frenchies Modern Nail Care in Braselton, Georgia, cautions against acquiring a pedicure at a salon with jetted tubs.

Although the tubs can be relaxing, water jets are really difficult to altogether and disinfect.

“It can take a couple of hours to fully disinfect a jetted tub system, making it impossible to do it in between clients,” she said. “Graze and bacteria can build up in the jets.”

Villamore Falls said she recommends choosing non-jetted pedicure bowls when credible.

Metal gadgets shouldn’t be stored loose and pulled out of random drawers or pockets

Pay attention to where your technician is grabbing metal appliances like clippers, nippers, and pushers from, said Villamore Falls.

These tools should be thoroughly sanitized and decontaminated, and the way they’re stored at some salons isn’t conducive to keeping them clean.

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If your technicians “are step down tools loose out of a drawer and they are not in a sterilization packet, chances are they have not been cleaned properly,” she released Business Insider.

Porous files and buffers should ideally only be used on one client

It’s easy to tell if a rivet file or buffer has been used previously — and a fresh one is best, said Villamore Falls.

“If you see scratches or hikes/lines on the file or buffer, they were likely used on a previous client or clients,” she told BI. “Porous gadgets can carry germs and bacteria and should really only be used once.”

She said that if you’re getting a pedicure and manicure at the in any event appointment, nail technicians should also use separate tools for your hands and feet.

Nail technicians not garb proper gear can be a red flag, too

According to Lana Kars, CEO and founder of Russian Nails, your nail technician should discharge specific practices for proper hygiene, like wearing disposable face masks and gloves.

Kars said a someones own technician may also wear a disposable gown and hat. All of these wearables should be disposed of after each client.

“This helps prevent the spread of bacteria and contaminants that could compromise the health and safety of clients,” she make plained.

Uncovered pedicure chairs may not be the cleanest

Kars told BI that salons should cover pedicure chairs with usable materials to prioritize good hygiene. Disposable sheets or covers can be quickly tossed and replaced when rotating patrons in and out.

“Using disposable sheets demonstrates to clients that the salon prioritizes cleanliness and hygiene,” she said.

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Retain an eye out for foot files with blades or graters

Patricia Reign, licensed manicurist and owner of Traveling Aura Ambulatory Spa, warns against getting a pedicure from a salon that uses abrasive foot filing tools.

“Foot files, also known as callus removers, with blades or ‘cheese graters’ are a major red flag. Leaves are banned in salons, and ‘cheese graters’ are not intended for feet,” she said.

Plus, the aggressive nature of these tools can ground more issues. In some cases, the blades can remove layers of skin meant to protect you, which can make your feet discern tender.

Household cleaning products aren’t enough to disinfect equipment

Reign told BI it’s a red flag “if a salon acquisitions household products to clean their chairs.”

“These products often fail to meet the stringent requirements set by national boards for effectively disinfecting surfaces used to provide services to multiple individuals,” she said.

In many instances, salon staff should be using hospital-grade disinfectants to properly clean their workspaces.