Nail Safety and Toe Time |

The strangest thing happened to me on two occasions at different nail salons. First, a bit about myself, I have a perfume sensitivity and prefer bringing my own products such as cream and Epson salt. Due to language miscommunication with the technician they thought I suffered from some disease and put on their NC-95 masks – which they did not wear for other customers. Ironic, as many of the chemicals and procedures in nail salons are potentially harmful and/or toxic, with increased exposure. In hindsight, I could have directed these technicians to the Center for Disease Control's webpage "Nail Technician's Health and Workplace Exposure Control".

CTV News has published a list of dos and don'ts to consider when you're at the salon and a similar article and video are featured on ABC News. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has successfully lobbied for the removal of the Toxic 3 additives: formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate, or DBP, found in nail polish. Also, the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Skin Deep database offers links to ingredients, product safety and healthier options.

Learn how to professionally apply polish, get creative, learn about the history of nail therepy and design or even learn to make nail polish with some books from the library's collection…