Magazine for the professional nail industry.
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132 | NAILS MAGAZINE | JULY 2016 Nails Take FLIGHT Get ready to check those bags, because aside from a bottle of polish, nothing else will be allowed in your carry-on. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will allow nail polish, remover, and aerosols on board so long as they are capped. Lamps and other heat producing equipment are allowed as well but must have the energy source disconnected or removed. When it comes to implements, anything sharp outside of nail scissors would be suspect, so it's best to not carry them. "Bubble wrap everything. Bring the least amount of monomer possible, because they leak, no matter how well you pack them," warns NAILS Next Top Nail Artist Winnie Huang, who recently traveled from Canada to Chicago with fve sets of nails and demo supplies. "I bought a bunch of containers in various sizes that secure the content during transition," she says. Another popular suggestion is to check with the airline. Call a customer service number and ask them about specifcs before you pack so you aren't having TSA agents throw away valuable product at the gate. There's a wealth of knowledge online from government resources such as www.tsa.gov and www.faa.gov including charts and QR codes. The TSA also has a blog (blog.tsa.gov) that answers questions and gives examples. One of the content feeders for the blog are questions tweeted to the administration (@TSA). Following the TSA on Twitter and staying in touch via social media is another helpful and up-to-date option. Being overly cautious in terms of documentation and research can help too. Before leaving, write out a checklist of only the things you absolutely need to bring. See if certain products can be mailed out in advance. Ask a local nail tech friend to borrow supplies or recommend a beauty supply store close by in case of an emergency. Travel with products in their original packaging and make sure to label everything very carefully. Come prepared with business cards and if necessary, a note from your manufacturer or organization stating that you are traveling as a nail tech on professional business. The Transportation Security Administration means well. It's this agency within the Department of Homeland Security that protects the freedom of movement for people and commerce (perhaps better known as the uniformed ofcers who stand between you and getting on an airplane). Even without all of your nail supplies and tradeshow purchases, the art of packing properly for air travel can be a hard learned one. Your job by defnition consists of implements and fammable products, so what's a nail tech to do? CHECK IN CHECKLIST FOR COMMON NAIL SUPPLIES Here's a list of nail products and tools that can be carried on board or must be in checked baggage. Remember that for carry on, the 3.5 oz. liquid container max and ftting all liquids into a quart-size plastic bag rules always apply! Item Nail polish Implements (hand fles, cuticle nippers, etc.) Acetone-based nail polish remover Pure acetone Liquid & powder acrylic system Gel products E-fle UV/LED lamps Carry-on X X X Checked X X X X X X X Not Allowed X