Green Your Nail Salon--5 Ways to Make Your Nail Salon Greener

Many nail salon products contain volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) that off gas into the air. They not only make the air smell bad but create air that can cause both acute and long term health issues. Here are 5 changes you can make in your salon that will create healthier air, making your nail salon a healthier place for your staff to work and your clients to enjoy.

1. Offer Non-Toxic Nail Polish--The overwhelming chemical smell that is present in many salons is the paint smell from nail polish. Many polishes contain the toxic chemical combination of toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate (DBP).

Fortunately, there are now other alternatives that have kicked this hazardous trio to the curb. Using polishes that are free of chemicals can attract clients that want to have great looking nails without sacrificing their health by breathing chemical fumes each time they have their nails done.

2. Stock Other Green Products-Fortunately there are now a number of great alternatives to chemical based products. Explore organic lotions, and use products that contain natural ingredients such as lavender, tea tree oil, pumpkin, sage and rosemary as substitutes for those products that contain harsher chemicals.

3. Store and Dispose of Products Safely-Take care to store products away from the area where services are provided. Make sure that tops are on tight. When seals on products have been compromised, store in containers that prevent product vapors from evaporating into the air.

Place empty product containers in metal trash cans with lids to prevent further off-gassing. Dump trash in an outside receptacle at least once daily to avoid fumes from the small amount of product that may be left in the containers.

4. Use Ventilated Tables-Make sure every technician has a work table with an exhaust fan vented to the outside. It's important to provide this effective and immediate ventilation. It prevents particles from artificial nail enhancement from being inhaled when grinding and sanding are necessary.

5. Filter the Air Continually-Wearing a dust mask is an excellent safety precaution for a technician when filing artificial nail enhancements. The masks protect the technician but not the other people in the salon. It is not effective in removing fumes and vapors from these chemicals.

Using a purifier with both a high efficiency particle arresting (or HEPA) air purifier to take out fine particulates, and a carbon based filter to remove chemical vapors from acetone based products, solvents, glues, and disinfecting agents is the best way to keep the air in your nail salon clean and healthy for everyone.