Editor's note

Most nail infections traced back to a salon come from three sources: reused implements that weren't properly sterilised, buffers and files used on multiple clients, and foot baths that weren't drained and cleaned between customers. The correlation between how a salon looks and how hygienic it actually is weak. A busy, well-reviewed salon can be cutting corners on sterilisation because the turnover pressure is high. A modest-looking salon can be running autoclave sterilisation on every metal implement. The questions to ask are specific. The visual cues to look for are specific.

At-Home vs Salon topics

• Cost & Cadence
• Skill & Handedness
• Gel Removal
• Events & Photos
• Salon Risk

What sterilisation actually means in a nail salon

Sterilisation and sanitation are different things. Sanitation reduces microbial load — wiping with alcohol does this. Sterilisation eliminates it — autoclave achieves this. For implements that break the skin or work near it, sterilisation is the correct standard. For porous implements — files, buffers — sterilisation is not possible. The correct protocol for porous implements is single-use: a fresh file and buffer for each client, disposed of or given to the client.

Myth, meet fact

• Myth: UV steriliser boxes do the same job as autoclave. Fact: UV light sanitises surfaces it can directly reach. It does not penetrate to sterilise the full implement.
• Myth: Alcohol wipes between clients are sufficient for metal tools. Fact: Alcohol reduces bacterial load but doesn't sterilise. Autoclave is the correct standard for implements that contact tissue.
• Myth: A busy salon is probably fine. Fact: High turnover is a risk factor. Infections often don't trace back to the salon, or they do so weeks later.

Start here, if you've never assessed a nail salon for hygiene

1. Autoclave vs UV vs alcohol — what each actually does (4 min)
2. Single-use implements — what should never be reused (3 min)
3. What to look for before you sit down (3 min)
4. Questions to ask your nail tech — and what good answers sound like (4 min)
5. Foot bath hygiene — the overlooked risk in pedicures (3 min)

Hygiene standard by item

Metal implements require autoclave sterilisation between every client — UV box only is insufficient. Files and buffers must be single-use per client; porous surfaces cannot be sterilised. Gel brushes should be wiped with isopropyl between clients at minimum. Pedicure foot baths must be drained, scrubbed, and disinfected between every client. Work surfaces and towels should be fresh each appointment. Acrylic and gel product pots must not be double-dipped with a contaminated brush.

Everything we've published on salon risk

• Autoclave vs UV vs alcohol — the sterilisation hierarchy
• Single-use nail files — why reuse is the primary cross-risk
• What to look for when you walk into a nail salon
• Questions to ask your nail tech — and what good answers look like
• Foot bath hygiene in nail salons — what clean actually requires
• How nail salon licensing and inspection works by state
• Nail fungal infections — how they happen and the salon connection
• The e-file as a risk factor — when it's used incorrectly
• What a clean nail station looks like — a visual guide
• Acrylic product pots and cross-contamination — the hidden risk