By Sheila
The sunny days of Spring and Summer mean shorts, tank tops and open-toed shoes, which gives us gals (and guys) all the more reason to get our feet in gear for the beautiful weather. I love getting pampered by professional pedicures and wholeheartedly recommend them to everyone. They’re a fantastic treat!
One question I am asked frequently has to do with salon sanitation. Many people are rightly concerned about the safety risks that might occur at salons. Horror stories in the news about staph infections and other maladies are serious, but with some common sense and planning beforehand, you can enjoy professional nail services without worrying about health consequences.
It all comes down to this – bring your own tools, and even your own basin for soaking your feet. Yes, I’m serious. Investing in a solid set of implements will ensure that you can have your pedicure and not have to worry about picking up a nail fungus or some other unpleasant affliction from unclean tools at your favorite salon.
You can purchase these items very cheaply at salon supply stores, such as Sally’s. Here are some basic tools you’ll need to create your own pedicure kit:
1. A basin to soak your feet. It’s nice to sit in a pedicure throne and have the back massage, but they might not be cleaned as well as they should. You can find plastic tubs at your local dollar store.
2. Files.Look for one that has a 100/180 grit for pedicures. Grit refers to how rough the file feels in your hands; The finer the grit on the file, the larger the number.
3. A sanding block. To ensure your nail surface is smoothed and ready for polish. FYI, roughing up the nail surface actually allows polish to cling to the nail better. 
5. Nail clipper. Invest in a heavy duty clipper that will last you for years!
7. Pumice stone. 
In a nutshell, practice common sense and if you see things that are a bit iffy, speak up. If you choose to sit in the salon’s pedicure chair, ask them to clean it in front of you. Better to be safe than sorry, I say!
How often do you get a pedicure? Do you head to a salon, or are you a DIY kind of person?
Good tips! I paint my own fingernails, but I find doing my toes a pain in butt, so I was considering getting a pedi done. However, the risks of infection have been holding me back. I had heard of people bringing their own tools in the past, but I was not sure what types of tools I would need to bring with me.
I’m a huge fan of Lincoln Park at Midnight- amazing deep purple!
I’ve only had two pedicures in my life. One in Mexico (it was awesome) and one here where I live (super crappy, they didn’t even smooth my feet which was the #1 reason I went there). So…I do my own. Plus my feet are super ticklish and I don’t like other people touching them.
@ Deb – that’s exactly why I go to a salon. It makes a huge difference!
@ Kate – maybe I should step out of my comfort zone and try that one! Sounds fab!
@ Lisa – Oh, I hate when they try to sell you callus remover and your feet are still as rough as when you came in! You can also buy the Callus Remover and do it yourself – I’ll pull up a link later on.
my last pedicure sucked.
she shaved my callouses off but took too large of a chunk off and while it didn’t bleed, it made it REALLY difficult to walk. Also she didn’t do nearly the same things that the girl in the next chair over was doing for the same procedure..the other girl got a longer foot and leg massage and warm towels placed over her legs.
I was pretty ticked but I didn’t have the energy to say anything, I figure for a small business it means more to not give them business than it does to complain.
I’m so sorry, Ninjagato.Not only is that horrible, that is illegal for salons to do that! Check out this article: http://www.thenailery.com/fyi.htm#5
In your case, better to speak up – it’s a health hazard.
Oh god I’ve never had a mani pedi before, but was contemplating getting one when I’m in Kuala Lumpur in July, but now I’m too paranoid
It bothers me greatly that a lot of nail salons seem to think that they can just dump some Barbicide in the foot spa/bath after you’re done and that that’s plenty enough to clean everything. While I understand that it’s a top-rated disinfectant that kills microbes about as well as bleach, I’m almost certain that those foot spas/tubs need scrubbed. Ugh.
That is definitely wrong!!!
I’m studying for my cosmo liscense right now, and soaking a pedicure basin in bleach or a barbicide/marvicide product is actually only required once a day. In between clients all that is required for cleaning is rinsing and spraying with the marvicide and letting it sit for ten minutes before rinsing again. Most states have laws that say they can only be cleaned with hospital grade cleaners, so as long as they are being sprayed between each client, they should be fine.