When deciding what nail salon to choose it is imperative that you do your research. There is nothing worse that choosing the wrong place and getting a poor manicure or pedicure. The repercussions can range from an ugly manicure or pedicure to a serious infection. Currently localities are requiring more and more that these nail salons be licensed and inspected periodically for compliance with sanitization standards. The fact that using cutting tools on the skin can create an opportunity for infection is the primary concern for lawmakers.
Once you’ve found a licensed nail salon the next step may or may not be the location. Obviously, it needs to be convenient for you patronize. Driving an extra 50 minutes is not an issue if you’ve found the right place! Once you’ve found the right nail salon you will probably never ever leave them. Your relationship with the manicurist or pedicurist is extremely important and should never be overlooked. Since you will be getting a pedicure and manicure regularly you’ll be spending a lot of time with these people. You must enjoy being with them!
When you enter the nail salon look around. Does it look clean? Does it appear to be sanitary and tidy? These are the first clues to the conscientiousness of the employees and you can expect the same in the work they do for you. If the manicurist or pedicurist is tidy and keeps and clean work station you can expect a professional job. On the other hand, if the area is unkempt and dirty, you can expect that they don’t follow the sanitary guidelines they are supposed to and will put you in jeopardy.
Do they have sample of their work for you to see? Look for photos of happy clients and pictures of the work they’ve done. You may want to look for an internet presence also. If they have spent the time and effort to put together a comprehensive website then you know that they expect to be in business for a while and are trying to build a reputation. If the webpage is just a generic free page you can assume that they are not putting any effort into building a business.
Look for references. Find out what other clients think of them. If they are not very good you know someone is squawking about it somewhere. Check the Better Business Bureau and local commerce sites to find out how viable and legitimate this business truly is. Do they advertise in the yellow pages? If you put their name in an internet search do they come up?
Do they offer other services and products? You don’t want to frequent a nail salon that doesn’t have focus. If they have other things for sale like life insurance, laundry detergent, or other non-related items, you can assume they are not focused. If, however, they have related articles for sale, you can assume that the business is focused. If the business is focused then it knows the nail salon business! You should see nail polish, files, nail clippers, hand and foot lotion, pedicure chair, nail chair , and other manicure and pedicure related products for sale. These items are part of their overall business plan and reveal a focused business.
Shopping for a nail salon is an individual thing, but these guidelines should get you started to find the right nail salon for you.