Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Public Protection Health and Safety Team is urging members of the public to make sure they use a reputable beauty salon when booking treatments, to limit the risk of infection.
The warning comes after the team successfully prosecuted American Nails in Westgate Street, Bath, for offering semi-permanent make-up without the proper registration and an incident where a member of the public suffered injury to her toe when it was cut during a pedicure carried out by an unqualified member of staff.
Salon treatments such as semi-permanent make-up, electrolysis and ear piercing carry additional risks of infection if they are not undertaken by a suitably trained beautician or if the salon does not have adequate infection control procedures in place.
Likewise, nail treatments have the potential to cause damage or infection if not carried out correctly.
What to look for when choosing your salon:
- Ask to see their registration certificate – all businesses that carry out skin piercing activities, which include semi-permanent make-up, electrolysis, ear piercing, tattooing and body piercing, must be registered with the Council. They are required to display their registration certificate. This includes those providing a mobile service.
- All reputable salons carry out a client consultation and will retain a record card for treatments undertaken.
- The salon should have a high level of cleanliness.
- Files and other tools should be single use or sterilised/disinfected between clients.
- Electric files should not be used over the natural nail bed or cuticles.
- Pedicures should not involve the use of blades to remove hard skin. If you have problems with hard skin/callouses, then you should consult a chiropodist for advice.
Councillor Martin Veal (Conservative, Bathavon North), Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “Businesses that offer these services should be safe, clean and legitimate. We take the issue of public health very seriously and we know people like to use beauty salons for a range of treatments.
“We want to ensure they can do so in premises which are clean and carrying out procedures safely and correctly.
“We are keen to work with local businesses and recommend they contact us for advice and information about good practice.
“If members of the public have concerns about a particular beauty salon or nail bar they have visited, they should contact the Council’s Public Protection Health and Safety Team on 01225 47700.”
