Cuts at a Nail Salon: What can happen if you injure or infect a client?

The year was 2006, and a Maryland woman was getting a pedicure. As her nail technician was working on her calluses with a credo blade (also called a callus cutter), it slipped and cut the woman’s toe.

Her toe began to bleed, which the technician immediately addressed with a first aid kit, but that was the beginning of the technician’s nightmares.

The woman had heard horror stories about infections caused by cuts during pedicures, and when she saw that the credo blade was stored in a “crayon box”-looking tool holder, her fears escalated. She rushed to get tested for HIV or AIDS. And she got tested again. And again.

The woman decided to go through 16 months of testing due to her fears, costing her significantly, which is why she eventually pursued the nail salon in a pedicure infection lawsuit. The nail salon pushed back, saying that there was never any danger of an HIV or AIDS infection due to their cleaning procedures, and they blamed the woman’s excessive tests and symptoms on her “paranoia.”

Paranoia or not, they ended up in court, and the jury was not convinced that the nail salon was blameless. They awarded the woman $227,267, reported Miller & Zois Attorneys at Law.

What can we learn from this story of a cut at a nail salon? And what could happen to your nail salon or clients today if you nick or cut them during a manicure or pedicure? Let’s find out and learn how to avoid them.

What’s the worst that can happen from a cut during a pedicure?

As the opening story illustrates, not all cuts at a nail salon actually lead to an infection. So are they even worth worrying about?

Actually, there are many obvious examples of manicure cut infections and pedicure infection lawsuits that show how real the threat can be, as shared by USA Today.

The cause of these hospitalizations, amputations, and other consequences aren’t the small cuts themselves. They’re caused by the infections that come as a cut during a pedicure or manicure exposes the body to microorganisms, fungi, or viruses that would have been repelled by the skin.

As we have written before about esthetician infection control and also for beauty consultants, every beauty professional has to worry about transferring germs from client to client. But nail technicians must be especially careful because the hands and feet are some of the dirtiest parts of the body. If one client has a disease or dangerous bacteria on their hands or feet, there is a chance that you can transfer that through a foot cut during a pedicure or a cut finger during a manicure to another client.

Clients may come into your nail salon with preexisting cuts, or you may accidentally cut them with a drill or credo blade. Even purposeful cuts, like cuticle cuts at a nail salon, are an issue if there aren’t proper cleaning and disinfecting procedures in place, the EPA warns.

Cut-related issues distract from your business and your passion to help clients. But you can avoid cuts at a nail salon with these tips.

The Do’s and Don’ts for a Successful Manicure or Pedicure Service

Whether you are worried about a gel manicure nick, a routine pedicure cut, or you just want to improve your precautions to avoid a bad infected cuticle from your nail salon, here are some Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind:

Do: Prepare your Station and Yourself.

If you aren’t comfortable and prepared before you start a pedicure or manicure, you are much more likely to cause an accidental cut on a foot during a pedicure. Before sitting down for an appointment, ask yourself:

• Is my station clean and wiped down?
• Do I have enough lighting so I can see what I am doing easily?
• Do I have gloves and backup gloves ready?
• Am I able to support myself and my hand comfortably with how I’m sitting?

As the OSHA standards for nail salons suggest, you are much more likely to perform well and avoid accidental nicks and cuts to hands and feet if you have everything set up and ready for a clean and comfortable pedicure or manicure before you begin.

Don’t: Reuse Dirty Implements and Tools.

Reusing dirty tools, foot baths, or uncleaned work stations is one of the biggest causes of manicure or pedicure infection lawsuits. Yet many nail technicians underestimate the importance of cleaning and disinfecting their tools.

Baths and basins are especially important to clean, and they take time! The EPA recommends that they sit with disinfectant for at least 10 minutes or even longer, depending on the type, which is difficult to do if you are a busy salon with many clients to service. But you can prioritize clean baths and basins by leaving gaps between clients for sanitization. The same is true for any clippers, nippers, or cuticle pushers you use.

Regardless of all the other tools you clean, remember that the most important “tools” to clean are your own hands. If you aren’t washing them thoroughly between every client, you’re more likely to transfer bacteria and organisms into any accidental cuts during a pedicure or manicure.

Finally, for any tools that are porous, use new ones on every client. A porous texture is difficult to clean, so swapping them out for new ones is safer.

Do: Communicate Potential Dangers to Clients.

Communication is key to keeping your clients happy, and it becomes especially important with your salon clients who come in with different levels of understanding about pedicures, manicures, infections, and safety procedures.

• Do they know about manicure and pedicure infections and what they look like?
• Have you shown how you take infections seriously?
• Do they know how to prepare for your appointment appropriately?
• And, in the case they do get an infection, do they know that you care?

If the appointment is scheduled in advance, send them info on potential dangers and important preparations, like not shaving beforehand. Let them know what pedicure or manicure cut infection symptoms look like, and recommend that they see a doctor immediately if they notice anything.

Once they come for the actual appointment, share these same info with them verbally. Then ask them if they have preexisting cuts around their feet or hands. Even if it’s just a papercut, reschedule if there is already a cut on their skin.

Also share with them aftercare options, and ask them to call you if they notice any issues. Getting willingly involved early on is much better than finding out a year later after they have endured many doctor’s visits and medical bills.

Don’t: Cut Cuticles Thoughtlessly.

Getting a cuticle cut at a nail salon is common practice, but many experts actually recommend avoiding it whenever possible, as shared by InStyle Magazine. If you can soften and push the cuticle back sufficiently with cream and a cuticle pusher, that is much preferred over creating a cut during a pedicure or manicure that can let in infections. However, some cuticles take up too much space. Use your judgment and try to keep any cuts to a minimum. And always use sterile snippers to do so!

Don’t let a pedicure cut or a manicure nick ruin your peace of mind.

Sometimes, despite all your caution and safety procedures, clients get infected from a cut at your nail salon. Mistakes shouldn’t be the cause of you losing your business to bankruptcy in a lawsuit. WellnessPro Insurance can help both you and your client bounce back from infections from a cut during a pedicure, or a manicure lawsuit. We can help you have the peace of mind you deserve with our coverage tailored to help nail technicians and beauty professionals like you.

Get a quote to protect your business and clients here.