The term ‘green’ has become a buzzword over the past decade. Becoming more eco-conscious sounds like the responsible thing to do, but what exactly does it involve in a salon setting?
First, start with an inventory of your products. Many polishes contain the toxic chemical combination of toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Fortunately, there are now other alternatives that are better for your health and the environment.
In addition, to polish choices, take a look at your other products, like lotions. Organic lotions and products containing natural, plant-based ingredients make great substitutes for those formulations with harsher chemicals.
Next, direct your attention to how you store and dispose of products. Take care to store products away from the area where services are provided. Make sure that bottle tops are on tight. If seals on products become compromised, store in containers that prevent product fumes from escaping into the air.
These next tips relate to the work environment. It is imperative that each technician has a worktable with an exhaust fan vented to the outside. Providing this type of ventilation will immediately pull particles dispersed into the air from sanding and grinding nails to the outside.
Lastly, encourage technicians to wear a dust mask when filing artificial nail enhancements. It’s important to note this mask does nothing to protect clients and other people in the shop. It also does not eliminate vapors and chemical fumes.
For a more detailed look at greening your salon check out this article from Nails Magazine.