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Nail technicians see their clients’ nails and cuticles up close all the time, and what they’ve learned about maintaining healthy nails can be insightful.
HuffPost asked nail designers and nail artists what they never after their many years of experience in their industry with their own nails. They share their personal “don’ts” in terms of hygienic, sanitary standards and whether they would to implement certain nail trends on your own nails.
1. Nail biting
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“One thing I would never do to my own nails is bite them! I think it’s safe to say why not – it’s unhygienic. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.”
“There are many people who don’t wash their hands properly, especially under their nails. … It’s satisfying to clean (the dirt around and under the nails), but when I see this, I wonder if people who bite their nails really know what they’re putting in their mouths. Most of my clients say they did it out of fear, and I don’t judge those people, but I can’t do it myself.” ―Christina Tran, nail artist from Los Angeles
2. Get a pedicure at a salon where you don’t know if the nozzles have been disinfected
“Unhygienic whirlpool jets are usually the cause of infections in customers after a pedicure. Unless I am sure that the jets are disinfected after the treatment, every customer If I use the (state) approved procedures, there’s no way I’m going to set foot in there!”
“Sometimes nail technicians trick their clients by using dirty jets with a new plastic liner. This looks hygienic, but when they turn on the hot tub, infectious germs, nail clippings, skin cells and even sock lint can circulate in your foot bath.”
“(To find out if it’s been disinfected) you just have to ask or watch them do it if you happen to walk in. They’re supposed to disinfect it for 10 minutes between clients. So if someone is sitting back to back (clients) in a pedicure chair, you shouldn’t be sitting right behind them. You should say, ‘Wait, I need a few minutes,’ and clean it right in front of you.” —Lynette Chanel, a nail artist from Columbus, Ohio
3. Get hard gels
“The only thing I wouldn’t do to my nails is hard gels. … It’s an absolute commitment. As a nail artist who works with various brands for social media content, my nails must be free of any pre-existing nail enhancements first and foremost.”
“Hard gels are not as easy to remove as soft gels. You can peel soft gels off, whereas hard gels have to be drilled out and grow out on their own.”
“I appreciate the flexibility of being able to remove my extensions effortlessly.” ―Gina Edwards, New York City nail artist
4. Get dip powder nails done at the salon
“It’s not sanitary and it quickly turns into a jar of germs. … The truth is that the powder doesn’t contain any chemicals that will kill the bacteria from person to person reaching into the same pot. So let’s say the salon cuts your skin or you have an open wound, you’re ingesting God knows what kind of bacteria into that fresh open wound.”
“It’s best to skip dip and just ask for an acrylic coat for your natural nails, because in reality it’s the same thing, just applied differently. Dip is attached to the nails with a type of glue, and acrylic is usually applied with monomer, which is a chemical strong enough to kill any bacteria that might be living in the powder.” ―Christina Blea, owner of Dabulous Nailz & Thangz in Berkeley, California
5. Picking at hangnails
“The worst thing I wouldn’t do with my nails is pick or pull on my hangnails. Picking or pulling on the hangnails can cause further problems such as open wounds/ulcers, possible infections or fungal growth. Keeping my skin moisturized keeps it intact. ―Christa Cole, a nail artist from Pasadena, California
6. Remove gels or extensions
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“In my seven years as a nail technician, I’ve learned to avoid many things. One thing I would never do to my nails is peel off the gel! Peeling off the product removes several layers of your nail. If you do this repeatedly, it will significantly weaken your natural nails and could cause permanent damage. Always soak the gel or have it removed by a professional. ―Britanny Zendejas, nail artist from Portland, Oregon
“I would never peel off my gels or extensions! People often think that acrylics or gels damage their nails, but that’s not the case. Peeling and ripping off the gels removes layers of the natural nail, leaving it thin and brittle.” —Vanessa CantinOwner of Strange Love nail salon in Oakland, California
7. Allow salons to reuse nail tools for your nails
“Find a shop that uses new nail files and polishers each time, or bring your own clean tools with you when you get your nails done to ensure you don’t contaminate your own tools with someone else’s.”
“You can tell pretty quickly if a nail file is new. If it has white marks on it or it looks a bit battered, you can politely ask them to use a new one – and honestly, if they get offended, you probably don’t want to make them do your nails.”
“(If you invest in your own tools), take them with you and clean them when you get home. You can keep them in a small plastic bag or get a small pencil case and just keep them in there. It’s an easy way to make sure you at least get a clean treatment and your nails stay healthy.” ―Blea
Some answers have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
This post originally appeared on HuffPost.
