Julie Serquinia, owner of the Paint Shop in Los Angeles, where Vo is now employed, agrees that the conditions in many salons leave a lot to be desired. In her own experience, she's observed that many nail technicians fail to wash or disinfect their instruments after using them on a client. When they got done with them, they would just turn them over and use them again. Since nail filings and fumes circulate in the air of nail salons, proper ventilation is crucial. To remain effective, the system needs to be cleaned and filters changed periodically as recommended by the manufacturer.
Many nail technicians wear disposable masks to filter the air they breathe.
While this measure guards them from dust filings, it will not protect them from toxic chemical fumes, say experts, who emphasize that exhaust fans and ventilation are of paramount importance. She and other manufacturers recommend that before accepting a job, a nail technician should take a whiff of her new salon. If you walk in and smell the chemicals, the ventilation is inadequate, she says. With continued exposure, the nerves for the sensation of smell may become desensitized to the noxious fumes and you may no longer be able to detect them. You can get used to it, but that doesn't mean that it's not there doing the damage.