When manicures turn dangerous: Allergic reactions and the importance of client assessments

For years now I’ve absolutely loved visiting salons to have my nails manicured and prettied up with a splash of gel. For the most part, I’ve usually used Calgel – the same system I trained with and also used to apply to my own clients who visited for a little pamper.

I recently visited a salon* who use Bio Sculpture instead and who I have never had a problem with in the past.

 

I visited the salon on Friday afternoon in order to have my current Bio Sculpture nails infilled, this time I was put with a different therapist who I have never met before. The therapist started to work on my nails, filing down, cutting cuticles and also cutting back my nail wall which I have never had done before and was always trained not to do with Calgel for risk of infection and causing damage.

After my nails were painted, my therapist applied CND Solar Oil to my cuticles which I don’t recall having on the last time (and isn’t on images of my nails that I sent to my mum right after my last appointment). The therapist also sold me a bottle of the Solar Oil and explained that it contained Vitamin E and Jojoba oil to nourish my cuticles and prolong the life of my gel nails. She instructed me to apply it nightly to keep my nails and cuticles in great condition.

 

 

That afternoon after leaving the salon, my nails felt tingly underneath the nail bed and appeared to be quite red and sore around the mantle. I put it down to the nail trauma of having the cuticles and walls cut and didn’t really think much of it until later on that night. I woke several times in the night with a throbbing pain in my nails along with swelling, itching and irritation and noticed that one of my nails was actually weeping.

 

 

I knew something was far wrong so searched up CND Solar Oil online and was absolutely horrified to see that it contained Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis – Sweet Almond Oil. The reason for my horror is that I have an extremely severe nut allergy which causes an anaphylactic reaction when ingested, due to my sensitivity to nuts, I also have to avoid this in any products that make contact with my skin due to the allergic reaction it causes.

 

 

I spoke to the salon on Saturday afternoon and discussed my reaction with the manager and pointed out that a client assessment had never taken place. I was told that every other treatment in the salon requires an assessment but that nail treatments do not. Calgel training and other nail training I have undertaken in the past taught us that client health and safety is paramount importance and stressed the need for an assessment along with checking for any contraindications and medical conditions beforehand. As HABIA (the government approved standards setting body for hair, beauty, nails and spas) states on the Code of Practice for Nail Services:

“Effective client consultation helps to determine the correct treatment plan to suit the client’s needs and identify possible contra-indications or restrictions to the service. It is important that accurate records are made at the time and stored securely for future reference.”

I was offered a partial refund and the matter was dropped for the time being.  Over the next few days, my fingers and nails began to feel worse and worse, I had to take painkillers and wear cotton gloves to protect the weeping, blistery mess on my hands and I kept waking in the night with throbbing and burning sensations under the nail plate.

 

 

I decided to contact the actual owner of the salon and show her the images of my sore nails, and after being invited in to meet with her and discuss my experience, I have every faith that she will re-enforce the health and safety precautions to her therapists and ensure that they are completely aware of just how important it is to be aware of allergies and comply with the regulations set out for nail technicians. We are living in a very suable society, so it is within the interest of any salon, beautician or therapist to provide a seamless and safe service to all clients.

 

 

The whole point of this post is to draw attention to the absolute necessity of following proper procedure and ensuring that all of us in the beauty industry take our clients wellbeing very seriously. The consequences of our ignorance or lack of care, even for a short time, can be dangerous or even fatal. I’m sure that is not something we want hanging over our heads along with the stress and damage of a lawsuit and negative reputation.

Today is the fourth day since I had my nails infilled and I’m happy to say that the redness and swelling is finally letting up. My nails and fingers are still painful and if I catch them on anything it is absolute agony, but they are finally starting to heal and the weeping is starting to subside.

I urge anybody else who might have suffered with the same sort of issue to bring it up with the owner of the salon and allow them the opportunity to deal with it correctly and provide a solution. As with any business, mistakes can and do happen, but it is how we deal with them that is extremely important. Proper planning, correct care and great customer service go a long way to creating an enjoyable experience and retaining our clients.

 

 

*I have chosen not to name the salon or therapist as I don’t want to hinder the reputation of anybody involved – this post is fully intended to raise awareness of health and safety within the beauty profession, not to hold accountable or shame individuals.

 

© This post is copyright of Rachael Divers 2014.