Double Dipping and other horrors. More salon secrets from industry insiders

Tammy from Esthetique Health and Beauty in Dalkey wrote to us, concerned that many salons in Ireland may cut corners when it comes to hygiene. Originally from California, she was dismayed to learn that in Ireland there is no board regulating health and hygiene in salons. Here's what she had to say:

The Double Dip
"Those infamous wooden spatulas are disposable for good reason. Once they’re dipped into the wax and the wax is spread onto your skin, they should be tossed, and a new spatula should be used for each subsequent dip. Why? Wax is only heated to a temperature just above 40°, which isn’t hot enough to kill bacteria or viruses, any hotter would scald you. Once the spatula touches skin, dipping it back into the wax can potentially pass bacteria along with it. Now I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to come in contact with anything that’s touched a stranger’s anything.

"We all assume the worst thing we could leave a salon with would be misshapen eyebrows, badly painted nails or an un-even bikini line. However, the health risks associated with the beauty industry include viral infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and warts, as well as, conjunctivitis, bacterial and fungal infections

"My clients have told me stories such as

• ‘I went for a manicure, but awoke in the morning to find my fingers, freshly painted, throbbing, swollen and very painful. The therapist just ever so slightly nicked me, but I didn’t think anything of it until the pain!’ Obviously, the utensil wasn’t as clean as it could have been.
• I’ve heard of clients being severely burned and having to go into A &E
• catching conjunctivitis after tinting
• having a constant ‘itch’ from bikini waxes
• Infected pedicure footbaths, manicure tools, eye-lash tinting brushes and double-dipping waxing applicators are the perpetrators that cause most infections.

"Salons that are failing to use the proper disinfectants, sanitisers and cleaning mechanisms are not innocent businesses, but are irresponsible businesses risking your health and the reputation of the entire industry!"

Tune in tomorrow to find out Tammy's checklist of questions to ask in your salon and things to watch out for.