A salon visit is an essential part of most people’s self-care routine. After all, there’s nothing like letting the experts do wonders to your looks. While it’s easy to believe salons know best when it comes to your hair, skin, and nails, it’s not a compliment applicable to every establishment you visit.
Don’t wait for a bad experience before you start taking precautionary measures. There are practices in every salon that you need to watch out for. Otherwise, you’ll risk your money and health.
Sanitation Cycle
Cross-contamination between clients is a serious matter. It happens when a salon fails to maintain a sanitation cycle. This ensures that they use new or sterilized tools on each client.
If you’ve been going to the same salon for years, make observations on your next visit. Some of the essential sanitation practices include cleaning shower bowls–especially the neck–and disinfecting workstations. They should also clean aesthetic beds, manicure tables, and chairs after each client’s use.
This is especially important when you’re having your manicure and pedicure done. Whirlpool footbaths that aren’t maintained well house bacteria and fungus. You can also get infections through accidental cuts made with tools that they haven’t sanitized well enough.
A straightforward way to avoid this is skipping peak days like weekends. It’s hard to make sure that they follow sanitation cycles when all technicians are catering to half of Singapore’s salon-goers. The money you intend to spend on another pedicure might be for nail fungus treatment if you’re not careful.
Scalp Massages
Who doesn’t appreciate a good scalp massage during a shampoo, right? It might surprise you to know that it’s not an add-on service. Massaging the scalp promotes blood flow and circulation. It also cleanses and revitalizes hair strands. If your hairdresser isn’t doing this, it’s a sign that you’re not in good hands.
True professionals do their jobs well. This includes talking to you about your hair history, choice of treatment, and the look you want to achieve. It’s not enough that they speak to you—what you need to hear is an interest in how they can serve you best.
Without these practices, you’re likely putting yourself at risk not only of feeling bad but looking bad as well.
Ventilation
Get out of a salon that’s filled with fumes. Exposure to these chemicals can trigger allergies and respiratory problems. A salon that doesn’t consider this a severe health hazard isn’t worth your time and money.
Look for a salon that has proper ventilation. It might not be easy to recognize one because not all dangerous fumes smell bad. In the same way, not all fumes that smell bad are dangerous to your health.
One way to guarantee that there’s enough ventilation is through the presence of local exhaust ventilators. They’re often on walls and ceilings close to areas that emit fumes. Dare to ask if their ventilators use high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filters. The presence of one is an assurance that the air in a salon is also clear of microscopic particles that can damage your respiratory system.
You can never be too careful when you’re receiving any kind of salon treatment. Keep these reminders in mind and switch to another salon if your current one doesn’t pass these standards. It’s better to be safe than risk turning salon visits to hospital appointments in the future.
