Nails Magazine

Career Handbook 2014

Magazine for the professional nail industry.

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66 | 2014 NAILS CAREER HANDBOOK Sanitation in the salon is of the utmost importance. We're not here to preach to you (well, maybe we are just a little) but taking care of your clients' health should be extremely important to you. There are stories of dirty nail salons using unclean implements all the time. Not only can you be fned for these violations, but you are also putting your clients at risk. We all need to make a concerted effort to help shift the public's negative views of nail salons. Your station, pedicure chair, and implements must be cleaned before each client. And the thing is, it's not that diffcult to follow standard procedures. Below, we've included a checklist of the basics you should be following. This is only the beginning; you can fnd much more detailed information on the NAILS website (see "Find It All Online" on the next page). And we urge you to take our Pledge (download it at www.nailsmag.com/handouts ). Can't keep the diferences between sanitation, disinfection, and sterilization straight? The following are defnitions put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Learn them, live them, love them. sterilization n. the use of a physical or chemical procedure to destroy all microbial life, including highly resistant bacterial endospores. (Endospores are thick-walled bodies formed within the vegetative cells of certain bacteria. They are able to withstand adverse environmental conditions for prolonged periods.) Sterilization is not required in the salon. disinfection n. the use of a chemical procedure that eliminates virtually all recognized pathogenic microorganisms but not necessarily all microbial forms (e.g., endospores). (Microorganisms are living organisms — good and bad — that are invisible to the naked eye.) All implements and equipment used on clients must be disinfected before use. sanitation* n. to wash with soap and water to remove dirt and debris and to reduce the levels of microorganisms to a safe, acceptable level. Before implements or equipment can be disinfected, they must frst be sanitized. *Generally accepted defnition o Wash your hands and have your clients do the same prior to each service. o Use clean towels or manicure mats for each client. o Sanitize and disinfect all reusable manicuring tools in accordance with state regulations and industry "best practices." o Any tools that can't be disinfected are disposed of or given to the client after a single use. o Never use a blade to cut any skin, including calluses. Heavy callus needs to be taken down gently, sometimes over the course of a few services. o Use only quality, professional-grade, legal, and safe products. o Take steps to minimize your exposure to odors, vapors, and fling dust in the salon. These steps include using covered waste cans, keeping products tightly covered, and taking out only enough product to be used on each service. o Keep Safety Data Sheets (SDS) on all the products you use. o No matter what type of pedicure spa you use, always follow the proper safety procedures from the Pedicure Equipment Cleaning and Disinfecting Procedures for Nail Technicians (you can fnd this on our website). There are specifc instructions for cleaning after every client, at the end of the day, and once a week. o Keep a log of your cleaning schedule, and make it available for clients to see if they ask. For more information about sanitation, read "The ABC's of Sanitation" at www.nailsmag.com/sanitationabc. You can also read "Disinfectant Products: Crack Down on Grime" at www.nailsmag.com/grime. For a more detailed checklist, go to www.nailsmag.com/sanitationchecklist. You can fnd more industry defnitions at www.nailsmag.com/encyclopedia. >>>

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