The Ed.
Well-Known Member
BABTAC responds to recent stories in the media regarding the danger of manicures. Here we have reprinted their statement in full.
Reading an article on the Daily mail website (Why your manicure could ruin your nails for life: Horror stories range from weeping sores and bleeding nail beds to skin cancer | Mail Online) on manicure horror stories, we were dismayed and troubled by the accusations levied on what is primarily a reputable, skilled and safe industry. The article, which extols the horrors of acrylic nails and potential risks of bleeding, infection, rashes and even skin cancer, is a one-sided story which sensationalises a few examples and uses it to undermine an entire industry.
The nail industry is booming and the treatments, which were considered an affordable luxury during the recession, continue to grow in demand. Regulation of nails, and the associated beauty industry is voluntary, where it exists at all, however this does not mean that standards are poor or professionals are untrained. In the same way you can get a builder for a house extension that wont pass building regulations, you can get an individual poor provider or rogue trader who can do the same with your nails; that doesnt mean every provider is poor and individuals need to take responsibility for asking their nail professional about past and ongoing training, insurance, and experience, before undergoing any treatment. It is also beneficial to ask others for recommendations as they can talk from experience.
At BABTAC, we are campaigning for impartial, independent industry regulation, however in the meantime, we advise clients to pick a reputable, insured professional using our salon search; not only can you be sure they have the correct training and are insured with us, but if you encounter any problems, we have a complaints procedure in place to help swiftly mediate and resolve any issues relating to our members.
Of particular concern with the article is the recommendation from Dermatologist Dr Nick Lowe who recommends that those who like a professional manicure should take their own tools to the salon to reduce the risk of infection. Not only is this an irresponsible recommendation, but it is a potentially dangerous one too. The tools used by professionals vary in type, style and quality when compared with over the counter items, and not only can you risk taking sub-quality tools to a salon, but you can also risk taking the wrong ones. The risk of nail infections is higher from a poor quality treatment than it is from infected tools and properly trained professionals have sterilisation kits and processes which mean salon tools are often cleaner than the ones you have at home. Taking your own tools will not reduce the risk of infection, but it may increase the risk of poor treatment.
BABTAC is not the only industry body concerned with the article, Alex Fox, Editor of Scratch Magazine (link) for nail professionals and Gloss Magazine for consumers (link) has also spoken out. She said The nail industry may not be regulated in the same capacity that other industries are, however that does not mean it is not professional and does not house high quality education, standards, experts and associations all working together to create and keep its professional persona stable. Over the last 35 years as the UK nail industry has been emerging, it has been built on a backbone of fantastic education and pioneered by some fastidious experts who have dedicated their career to creating standards for this industry so that it may stand alone and become its own entity.
She continues I would not dream of having my nails groomed by a person who cant show me qualifications or talk me through the training he/she has taken to build on their skills. I would be wary of anybody who has, for example, bought products from eBay as that is unacceptable and unmonitored. Any nail professional training today or updating their skills is educated that product removal is a gentle soak off. In recent years, the products being created in the nail industry are high quality, tried and tested; they come with education on application and removal. This is a multi-million pound, international industry that is working hard to raise its standards and offer top class education in order to produce stunning nails. [It is also worth noting that] a scientific paper was published last autumn that highlighted that after much testing, UV and LED lamps used for nail product curing are no more of a danger than walking out in the midday sun.
Anyone with questions or queries on this article or beauty treatments in general should email [email protected]
BABTAC is a body representing 15,000 professionals, including numerous nail professionals. We were concerned and dismayed about the sensationalising of this story and have written our own response from the perspective of the professionals who offer these treatments. For anyone interested in a professional response, it is available on our website here: BABTAC membership organisation offering insurance policies
Until then...geek on!
The Ed.
Reading an article on the Daily mail website (Why your manicure could ruin your nails for life: Horror stories range from weeping sores and bleeding nail beds to skin cancer | Mail Online) on manicure horror stories, we were dismayed and troubled by the accusations levied on what is primarily a reputable, skilled and safe industry. The article, which extols the horrors of acrylic nails and potential risks of bleeding, infection, rashes and even skin cancer, is a one-sided story which sensationalises a few examples and uses it to undermine an entire industry.
The nail industry is booming and the treatments, which were considered an affordable luxury during the recession, continue to grow in demand. Regulation of nails, and the associated beauty industry is voluntary, where it exists at all, however this does not mean that standards are poor or professionals are untrained. In the same way you can get a builder for a house extension that wont pass building regulations, you can get an individual poor provider or rogue trader who can do the same with your nails; that doesnt mean every provider is poor and individuals need to take responsibility for asking their nail professional about past and ongoing training, insurance, and experience, before undergoing any treatment. It is also beneficial to ask others for recommendations as they can talk from experience.
At BABTAC, we are campaigning for impartial, independent industry regulation, however in the meantime, we advise clients to pick a reputable, insured professional using our salon search; not only can you be sure they have the correct training and are insured with us, but if you encounter any problems, we have a complaints procedure in place to help swiftly mediate and resolve any issues relating to our members.
Of particular concern with the article is the recommendation from Dermatologist Dr Nick Lowe who recommends that those who like a professional manicure should take their own tools to the salon to reduce the risk of infection. Not only is this an irresponsible recommendation, but it is a potentially dangerous one too. The tools used by professionals vary in type, style and quality when compared with over the counter items, and not only can you risk taking sub-quality tools to a salon, but you can also risk taking the wrong ones. The risk of nail infections is higher from a poor quality treatment than it is from infected tools and properly trained professionals have sterilisation kits and processes which mean salon tools are often cleaner than the ones you have at home. Taking your own tools will not reduce the risk of infection, but it may increase the risk of poor treatment.
BABTAC is not the only industry body concerned with the article, Alex Fox, Editor of Scratch Magazine (link) for nail professionals and Gloss Magazine for consumers (link) has also spoken out. She said The nail industry may not be regulated in the same capacity that other industries are, however that does not mean it is not professional and does not house high quality education, standards, experts and associations all working together to create and keep its professional persona stable. Over the last 35 years as the UK nail industry has been emerging, it has been built on a backbone of fantastic education and pioneered by some fastidious experts who have dedicated their career to creating standards for this industry so that it may stand alone and become its own entity.
She continues I would not dream of having my nails groomed by a person who cant show me qualifications or talk me through the training he/she has taken to build on their skills. I would be wary of anybody who has, for example, bought products from eBay as that is unacceptable and unmonitored. Any nail professional training today or updating their skills is educated that product removal is a gentle soak off. In recent years, the products being created in the nail industry are high quality, tried and tested; they come with education on application and removal. This is a multi-million pound, international industry that is working hard to raise its standards and offer top class education in order to produce stunning nails. [It is also worth noting that] a scientific paper was published last autumn that highlighted that after much testing, UV and LED lamps used for nail product curing are no more of a danger than walking out in the midday sun.
Anyone with questions or queries on this article or beauty treatments in general should email [email protected]
BABTAC is a body representing 15,000 professionals, including numerous nail professionals. We were concerned and dismayed about the sensationalising of this story and have written our own response from the perspective of the professionals who offer these treatments. For anyone interested in a professional response, it is available on our website here: BABTAC membership organisation offering insurance policies
Until then...geek on!
The Ed.