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As the weather turns warm, you may be focusing on getting your bod in shape, but don’t forget about your nails. Your toes will be seeing the light of day once again so it’s important to treat them with a little TLC at your local nail salon. We asked Don Conner, owner of HANDS ON, a Beverly Hills luxury spa specializing in the healthy treatment of hands and feet, how to get the best in nail care.

When shopping around for a nail salon, what should we look for?

When searching for the right nail spa, hygiene and cleanliness should be the guest’s top priority. What sterilization method does the spa employ, traditional liquid solution sterilization or superior autoclave sterilization? Does the salon reuse supplies that are designed for only single use, such as files or buffers? If the spa uses whirlpool pedicure tubs, do these tubs require the re-circulation of water, making them difficult to sterilize or are they pipe-less where proper sterilization is much easier? What is the general appearance and cleanliness of the facility?

What are the 5 top signs of a bad spa?

The five critical signs of a bad nail spa are:

1. Improperly sterilized implements or supplies increasing the risk of nail fungus or infection.
2. Strong odors of acrylic, acetone or other product fumes indicating poor facility ventilation.
3. Inexpensive treatment prices which are usually indicative of poor quality supplies (base or top coat, polish, lotion, oil, and other nail supplements), inexperienced service providers and less attention on hygiene and cleanliness. The old adage you get what you pay for is especially true in nail salons and spas. While more expensive treatment prices do not necessarily guarantee better results, the guest has a far better chance to get a quality, hygienic and professional services when reasonably priced.
4. Difficulty in communicating with the service provider, which may impede upon the service experience and make specialty needs or requests difficult.
5. General un-cleanliness and disorganized facility appearance.

Why should we get spa treatments instead of doing at home manis & pedis?

Ease, comfort, quality and specialized knowledge concerning proper hand and foot care are the main reasons why consumers should seek professional nail care services over do-it-yourself options.

Should we bring our own tools to the facility?

No. If a guest feels the need to bring their own implements to a facility because of hygienic concerns, they probably should not be visiting that facility to begin with. Proper sterilization of implements should be professionally done with medical grade disinfectants and through the use of an autoclave (a surgical grade sterilization process using high pressure and high heat sealed chamber.) Because of lacking knowledge of properly sterilization, a guest’s own implements may be significantly unhygienic.

How easy or hard is it to get a nail infection from a salon?

If a facility does not follow proper sterilization protocols and practices, the risk of fungus and infection can be quite prevalent and high. Stubborn nail funguses and infections such as Hepatitis and Staph, as well as other blood–born diseases are possible.

How should we take care of our nails in between treatments?

Proper hydration and moisturizing are critical to the maintenance of healthy hands and feet between professional services. This is especially true in colder weather climates which tend to be more dehydrating and harsh.

Is it okay to tell a technician she (or he) is doing something you don’t like?

Definitely. The guest should always communicate their preferences, desires and special needs. Being able to effectively communicate with the service professional is critical to having an exceptional experience.

Are there any spa etiquettes we should know?

Visiting a quality spa is no different than visiting a fine restaurant. Kind, courteous and thoughtful behavior and treatment towards service providers and other guests will always return the best experience. Talking on a cell phone during a treatment, speaking in a loud voice to the service provider or to an adjacent guest, or not being cooperative to service provider requests of stillness should be refrained from or minimized. Exceptional service should always be rewarded with a gratuity traditionally 15-20% of the service price.

How long should a good mani/pedi last?

The duration of a superior manicure or pedicure will vary depending upon the guest’s pre-existing condition of hands and feet, usage and strain typically put upon hands and feet, and selection of polish color. Poor diet, or general health, a hyper-active lifestyle, and darker polish colors all may adversely affect the duration of a superior manicure or pedicure. With that being said, a standard guideline for a superior service would be 7-10 days for a manicure and 2 weeks for a pedicure.