Dear Salon Patron,

Don't put your health at risk by getting a discount pedicure!

I am writing to you today, not as a salon owner, but as a health care professional. As a health care professional, I am obligated to inform you of the risks involved when you get a salon service and how to reduce your chance of getting an infection.

Not many people realize that it takes a tremendous amount of effort and monetary resources to keep a salon operating under sanitary and safe conditions. There are numerous surfaces, nooks, and crannies that germs(bacteria, viruses, and fungi) can live and multiply. These germs can easily spread from patron to patron through contact of contaminated surfaces. To prevent such outbreaks, salons are required to sterilize all implements, disinfect all surfaces, and sanitize all areas. These cleaning procedures require a lot of time and money; specifically staff hours, equipment, and cleaning supplies. Because of the costs involved, not all salons follow sterilization and sanitation procedures required by the State Board of Cosmetology.

These costs are the same, no matter which salon you go to. So how can discount salons offer ridiculously low prices if all salons have the same costs? There are only two choices for discount salons: 1) be clean and lose money, or 2) be unclean and make money. As we all know, a business can not survive and continue to operate without making profits. So discount salons make money by putting your health at risk. Discount salons will skip many required sanitation procedures to reduce costs. Please don't be in denial and think the prices are low because the salon's costs or profits are lower than those of other salons. Discount salons have low prices, because they have low integrity and low standards.

My intention is not to scare you--after all, I am a salon owner. The salon experience can be quite enjoyable and safe, if you take certain precautions. Follow the tips below and your next salon trip will be worry free:

• Make sure the salon looks and smells clean. This is the most obvious, but most often ignored sign of danger. If the salon looks dirty, imagine all the stuff that you can't see. Leave.
• Make sure the prices are not so low. Getting a pair of shoes for cheap is okay--unless they're high heels. But getting a cheap pedicure is like playing with a ticking time bomb. You might be okay going there for a while, but it only takes one minor cut to give you a major infection. If you can't afford to pay a fair price for a pedicure, get a home pedicure kit. It is safer and it will save you a lot of pain, suffering, and money in the long run. Think it over.
• Examine the nail file and buffer before the technician starts the service. If the salon does not use disposable nail files and buffers; or if the technician takes the file and buffer from her pockets; or if the disposable nail file and buffer are dirty before she starts your service. Leave.
• Ask to see the auto-clave. If they don't know what that is; or if they don't have one; or if they refuse to show you. Leave.
• Make sure they are actually using the auto-clave. Discount salons will have an auto-clave and put their implements in a sterilization pouch, but will not use the machine because of the costs involved--pouches are not cheap, ask your dentist. There is an easy way to check whether the implements they use on you are sterilized. When they bring out the pouch: make sure it is sealed (they may reuse it to save money). Also make sure the arrow on the pouch has changed to the sterilized color (the color will be indicated on the pouch--each manufacturer will have a different color). If any of these tests fail. Leave.

Going to the salon should be an enjoyable and relaxing experience. Choose your salon based on cleanliness, quality of work, and customer service--not on pricing-- and it will be.

As always, be safe, be healthy, be happy.

Sincerely,

Dr Anthony N Huynh