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10 polite habits nail techs actually dislike – and what to do instead

Nail salon etiquette mistakes Repeat after us: Pampering yourself is important. An easy way to do just that? Getting a manicure. Not only is it relatively affordable, but prettily painted nails can also put an extra pep in your step. Of course, the nail tech who does your manicure plays a large role in making you feel so good: From that wonderful hand massage to getting your cuticles in tip-top shape, their skills can make a huge difference. So, it only makes sense that you’d want to treat them really well. But here’s the thing: Certain seemingly polite etiquette rules can actually make a nail tech’s job harder. Plus, while it’s important to be nice, you don’t have to try extra hard to make their life easier. “A manicure is your time off, so you should relax,” says Karina Medrano, a nail technician. So what does that mean? It means there are certain polite habits that are totally a must. And then there are other moves you can (and should) skip so you can focus on your own relaxation. Since it can be hard to identify exactly what most people dislike, we turned to the pros to fill us in on polite moves that are actually etiquette mistakes at the nail salon. Anticipating their next move Over the course of your manicure, your nail tech will likely move your hands around a bit – turning them over to apply lotion and rotating each finger to paint your tips with the best nail polish. If you’ve had a number of manicures, you may even be able to anticipate what they’ll need you to do next and be tempted to save them from having to tell you how to move. Don’t do it. “Many times, clients position themselves in a way that seems to be helpful, but it’s the contrary,” says Medrano. You may make the wrong move and actually mess up their paint job, causing them to have to start over. Do this instead: “It’s best to let your nail tech move you around,” says Medrano. “There is no need to tense up – just relax.” Put simply, wait for them to direct you. One way to make that easier is to pay attention to what’s going on. If you have headphones on and are listening to music or a podcast, keep it at a low enough volume that you can hear your technician if they need you to do something. Keeping the conversation going When you’re getting your nails done, you’re literally face to face with your manicurist. Because of this, you may feel like it’s your job to chat with them and keep them entertained. But there’s no need to rack your brain for conversation starters. This is a job, and there is zero expectation that you should keep your nail tech entertained, says Medrano. If you want to chat, no problem. If you don’t? Well, that’s OK too. Do this instead: If you’d prefer quiet, Medrano says that it’s become totally normal to ask for a “silent appointment”. You can either let the salon know when you book your appointment or you can mention to your tech when you sit down that you are going to use the appointment to relax and have some quiet time. Giving a colour a chance when you don't like it You arrive at the salon and are faced with a wall of nail polish colours. Whether you want the trendiest colour of the season or just what you’re in the mood for, you’ll probably spend some time debating the perfect shade. Fast-forward to the moment your manicurist is slicking it on, and – you’re not so sure about it. But you feel bad and want to give it a chance. Maybe you’ll like it once the second coat is on, right? And you’d hate to make the tech take it off and start over. “For many, the hardest time to speak up during their appointment is when they don’t like the colour,” says Medrano. “But it’s better to tell us the second you start doubting your choice. Applying the colour is the most time-consuming part, and catching the colour change before doing all 10 fingers helps us stay on track with our appointments.” Plus, your nail tech wants you to walk away happy! Do this instead: If you’re not feeling the colour, speak up as soon as possible. You can simply tell them you’re not sure you like it. Then, tell them what you don’t like – maybe the red you chose is too orange or the pink is too sheer. They may be able to suggest another shade that is what you are looking for. After all, they see lots of different colours every day. Removing your own gel If you get gel manicures, you know that removing that type of polish can take a long time. You have to sit with remover on your nails for a while before the gel can be scraped away. But trying to do it at home to save time and work for your nail tech is not advisable. Gel polish needs to be removed in a certain way to minimise damage, warns nail artist Braelinn Frank. If you try to remove it yourself and wreck your nails, your tech will be left trying to get them back into shape to prevent your nails from peeling. Do this instead: When you make your appointment, let them know you have gel polish that will need to be removed. This allows the salon to build in more time for your appointment so the gel can be removed properly by a professional and you don’t make a bigger mess for your manicurist. Deferring to the pro Do you want rounded nails or more of an almond shape? Do you want your cuticles cut, or do you just want your manicurist to use really good cuticle oil before pushing them back? These are all decisions you’ll need to make during your appointment. Don’t just defer to the tech. Yes, they’re pros, but these are your nails. “It’s helpful when someone knows what they want their nails to look like,” says Medrano. Do this instead: If you really aren’t sure what you want, avoid telling the nail tech to do whatever they’d like. A better way to approach it is to ask them for their input on the different options and then make the decision that’s best for you based on what they tell you. Cleaning up There’s always a little bit of a mess when you get your nails done – think nail clippings, dust from filing, used cotton balls from removing polish. Worried that your nail tech is grossed out by all this and annoyed at having to pick up after you? They’re not. Not only that, but if you try to clean up, you might just get in the way. “It’s part of our job to keep up with the mess,” says Medrano. “And we know our way around our station best.” Remember, you can always give yourself a manicure at home, but if you go to the salon, one of the perks is not having to clean up! Do this instead: If you want to help, the best thing you can do is stay out of your nail tech’s way. As they try to wipe down their station, move your hands so they can do that. In other words, pay attention and adjust your positioning when needed – that will be the best way to help. Moving your own stuff to the drying station Your manicure is done, and it’s time to move over to the drying station. You feel bad about making a tech pick up your handbag, so you grab it yourself. While your intention is to be kind, you may smudge your nails and mess up all the hard work they just did. “We are here to help,” says Medrano, who confirms it’s better for them to help than to have you mess up your nails. Plus, even a little chip or smudge is a cardinal sin when it comes to making your manicure last longer. Do this instead: Allow them to move your bag (and any other items you have with you) to the drying station. Be gracious, and say thank you. Also let them pull out the chair or stool for you. Really don’t want someone to pick up your bag? Consider wearing a small crossbody bag so you can keep it on during your appointment. Holding it in Maybe you have to sneeze, or perhaps you are mid-manicure and suddenly have to pee. Holding it in does nobody any favours. While you may not want to interrupt the appointment, your nail tech would rather you be comfortable and enjoy the service. Plus, if you hold in your sneeze, it could backfire and lead to a bigger sneeze where you spray germs everywhere. “Do not be scared to ask if you need to do something,” says Medrano. “Nothing surprises us.” Do this instead: Need to use the bathroom? Let your tech know, and ask when the best time would be for you to do so. Have to sneeze? Say, “I’m going to sneeze.” Then, rather than using your hands to cover your mouth (which your tech then needs to go back to touching), sneeze into the crook of your arm. Trying to shimmy your credit card out of your wallet If the end of your appointment has come and you still haven’t paid, sliding your credit card out of your wallet with wet nails may feel like a Herculean task. But you can’t possibly ask your nail tech to do that, right? That would be rude. Wrong again. It’s actually ruder to smudge the beautiful paint job your nail tech just put a ton of time and energy into. Do this instead: “The amount of times that I have helped take out credit cards? It’s quite often,” says Medrano. “Just ask! Truly, it’s no problem.” Make it easier on your tech by telling them exactly where it is and what colour the card is; that way, they don’t have to fish around for it. Also, there’s no need to apologise – just say thank you! Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/tips/10-polite-habits-nail-techs-actually-dislike-and-what-to-do-instead" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Beauty & Style

12 red flags you’re about to get a bad haircut

Hair beware There’s nothing quite like walking out of the salon with a haircut you love. A new ‘do can boost your confidence and put a little pep in your step. But a bad haircut? Ugh. That can leave you shaking your head and wondering what the heck just went wrong. Going to a new salon can leave you particularly vulnerable to getting a bad haircut. After all, you’ve never seen the stylist and don’t know if they’ll be a good fit for you. What if they make a ton of hairstyle mistakes? Or promise a hairstyle that’ll make you look younger but deliver a ‘do better suited to your granny? “A bad haircut or colour can ruin six months or more of your confidence,” affirms stylist, Natalie Palomino. Because of this, one of the very best hairstylist secrets you can learn is how to spot the red flags that you are about to get a bad haircut. Here, experts share the tell-tale signs you may be in for a bad cut (or colour!). The salon is dirty If you walked into a doctor’s office and it was filthy, you probably wouldn’t feel super comfortable getting care there, right? The same thinking should apply to a hair salon. “If a salon looks dirty or unkept, it is concerning,” says celebrity hairstylist Shantise Michelle. “This could indicate that they don’t prioritise cleanliness and sanitation, which can be a health risk.” So what constitutes ‘dirty’ at a hair salon? Michelle points out that seeing a few hair clippings on the ground, especially if a client is mid-cut, is totally normal. What’s not? Tools that look dirty, lots of dust or piles of hair that haven’t been cleaned up even after clients leave. The stylist won't share examples of past work Maybe you’re hoping to learn how to grow out grey hair gracefully. Or maybe you’re looking for hairstyles for women over 40. No matter your goal, it’s super helpful if new stylists are able to show you examples of their work. If they don’t post client cuts on social media, ask them to share pictures of previous cuts they’ve done. “Not being able to show you examples of their work is a red flag,” says Michelle. Even if they are relatively green, stylists should have examples from their training. The stylist doesn't ask for a hair history Before a stylist gives you a cut for the first time, it’s important that they get some key info from you. Without this assessment, you may end up with a cut or colour you can’t stand. “Before a bowl of colour is mixed, a stylist should know if you’ve used boxed dye recently or any other treatments you’ve recently had,” says Palomino. “If you are getting a cut, they should know what your normal hairstyling routine looks like.” This is crucial because it helps them tailor your cut to your needs. For example, a cut that will require lots of blow-dry time to look good is a no-go if you never have time to blow-dry your hair. Basic questions surrounding your hair history include how you normally style your hair and if you’ve had any recent treatments (think: relaxing your strands or a perm). If you’re going in for a colour, the stylist should ask when you last coloured your hair and how, as well as any other hair treatments you’ve recently had. The stylist refuses to give an opinion It’s your hair, sure, but your stylist is the professional. So if you ask for their opinion, they should give it. If you ask what they think and they don’t say much, be wary. “While this doesn’t necessarily mean you are seeing a bad stylist, it may be the sign of someone who is green and doesn’t know how to interact,” says Palomino. A stylist should have a general idea of what cuts work for different hair textures, face shapes and lifestyles, she says. If they don’t seem to know these things, you should be concerned. In an ideal world, you should feel like your stylist is a collaborator on your journey to great hair. You know your hair and what will work for you, and they have professional expertise and know things like the best blow-dryer for straight versus curly hair, or what looks good on round versus long faces. They should offer up this info to help guide you when you’re deciding the fate of your strands. The stylist is pushy You want someone to weigh in, not boss you around. After all, you have to live with the end results. “You should never feel bullied into getting a certain type of cut,” says Michelle. “A good hairstylist will listen to your needs and preferences and make recommendations based on that – but not force you into something you don’t want.” Getting to the perfect cut for you should be a bit of a give-and-take. For example, if you want to go short, start by telling the stylist that. Then they can suggest a short cut that would flatter your face shape. From there, you can give feedback on their suggestion. Oh, and hairdressers shouldn’t be pushy about buying products either. If you like something they use and want to purchase it from the salon after your appointment, great. If you don’t have that in your budget, they shouldn’t make you feel like you have to. The salon is always empty If the salon is regularly a ghost town or constantly offers deep discounts, should it worry you? You bet. “If the salon is brand new, they may still be getting their name out there, and it’s not a reason to run away,” says Palomino. The same applies to a salon that has recently reopened after being closed for the pandemic or for another reason. “However, if the salon has been around for a while and is always empty, then you may want to look elsewhere,” she says. One way to suss this out? Rather than making an online appointment or calling a new salon, try stopping by on a Saturday – which tends to be the busiest day. This way, as you make your appointment, you’ll be able to get a feel for the salon and see how lively it is. The salon has lots of bad reviews Imagine looking up a restaurant before having dinner there and seeing a bunch of reviews that mention finding hair in the food or seeing lots of roaches. You’d find a new place to eat, wouldn’t you? Use the same logic when considering a new stylist. Look up the salon on Yelp or Google and give the reviews a good read. “If a hairstylist has a ton of bad online reviews, it could be a red flag and should be a concern,” says Michelle. “However, it’s important to read the reviews carefully and consider the context before making a decision.” If all the reviews give the same bad feedback (like the cut was a disappointment or the employees were rude), you can probably trust them. If there are a handful of poor reviews that seem more situational (perhaps someone is mad that they showed up late and weren’t accommodated), take those with a grain of salt. An assistant takes you straight to a shampoo station If you arrive at a new salon and an assistant immediately whisks you to the shampoo station, it should give you pause. “A stylist should always look at your dry hair when you come in, because this gives them a better idea of how your hair naturally behaves,” says Michelle. “This information allows them to make more informed recommendations.” For most stylists, a visit flows like this: they have you come right in and sit in their chair. They look at your hair and have a short consultation about what you’re looking for. Some stylists may even cut a bit of your hair while it’s dry – this is most common if you’re cutting a large amount of hair. In this case, they may take off some length before you have your strands washed. From there, it’s off to the shampoo station. (Oh, and a really good stylist will customise the shampoo for your hair needs. So if your hair is thin, they’ll use a thickening shampoo; if it’s dyed, they’ll use a shampoo for colour-treated hair – you get the idea.) Once you’ve been sudsed up, you’ll head back to the stylist’s station for shaping and the actual cut. The stylist's hair looks worse for wear A stylist’s hair is a bit of an advertisement. “If your hairstylist has really damaged hair, it could be a red flag, because it could indicate that they don’t know how to take care of their own hair properly,” says Michelle. “This could reflect how they’d mistreat your hair.” One thing to keep in mind: You should be looking at the condition of their hair – not the actual style. Dry, brittle, damaged tresses should worry you. They have access to great hair masks for damaged hair and other tricks that should help them avoid an unkempt appearance. So if their hair is looking not-so-great, it’s dicey. But not liking their cut or colour isn’t the same thing. You may just have different style preferences, and that’s totally OK. The stylist's nervousness makes you nervous Accidentally dropping a brush? No big deal. Anxiously looking at a pair of scissors and biting their lip every time they make a snip? Yikes. “If your stylist seems nervous or unsure of how to use tools, they may not be properly trained,” says Michelle. As they move about their station, look for signs that they are at ease. If they’re using a tool like a hair-straightener brush, they should look like they do it all the time. The same goes for getting you set up in your chair. Clipping on the cape should be second nature for them, as should raising and lowering the chair. The stylist doesn't solicit feedback Once your stylist has finished up, they should initiate another consultation, turning you toward the mirror, and then giving you a handheld mirror so you can look at the back of your head. “By asking what you think of the result, it helps ensure that you both are on the same page and that you are happy with the results,” says Michelle. But what if you aren’t thrilled with the outcome or think it’s a flat-out bad haircut? That’s what makes this step even more important. You should feel free to speak up about what’s not working for you. In turn, they should offer suggestions on how they could alter the cut so you like it more. Michelle says no good stylist should bristle at this kind of feedback. The stylist doesn't discuss aftercare At the end of your appointment, a good stylist should discuss aftercare with you. This information will be customised to your hair’s needs and your cut. For example, they may suggest the best shampoo and conditioner for your tresses or give you a few tips on how to use a curling iron to recreate the waves they added to your style. “How you treat your hair at home has a dramatic impact on the health of your hair,” Palomino points out. So when a stylist shares this kind of info, it’s a sign that they’re really looking out for you and your strands. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/beauty/hair-and-nails/12-red-flags-youre-about-to-get-a-bad-haircut?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Beauty & Style

Salon owner loses $40,000 from one $60 deposit

When beautician Thuy Le received a call from a supposed customer’s ‘husband’ regarding an accidental payment, she could never have foreseen the devastating turn her life would take from that point on. The mother of two, whose husband is living with Parkinsons and unable to work, recounted how her harrowing ordeal started with that one phone call, and the man on the other end requesting she return the $60 his wife had ‘accidentally’ paid. Le checked her bank statements to verify his story, and after noting one deposit that matched, she transferred the funds into the account he provided. She did not provide any of her own personal information, her passwords, or any critical numbers for her accounts. And yet, in the time to follow, Le could only watch in horror as more withdrawals were made from her account, into the very same one owned by the customer’s ‘husband’. The withdrawals totalled a devastating $41,600 stolen from Le’s life savings. Le also recounted how she was refused access to her business account, and that she got in touch with her bank as soon as she realised what had happened, suspecting she had been scammed. Her quest for support in her time of need was cut short, with the financial institution placing the blame solely on Le and ruling that they were not liable for the losses she had endured - this was despite the suspicious withdrawals raising no alarm with the bank, and the lack of personal information involved in the scam. Of their questionable red flag system, the bank claimed that it is “nearly impossible for an unauthorised third party to guess”, referencing the way that the logins for the costly transaction all succeeded on the very first try. Furthermore, as stated in a letter to Le, they declared that “the only reasonable explanation for these logins would be that your online banking credentials were known to the unauthorised third party, which would be in breach of the passcode security requirements.” “I am in financial hardship,” Le admitted of her dire situation, and the need to have the funds returned for her family and her husband’s crucial medication. “I have two little kids, I have a husband with Parkinson’s disease, he cannot work,” she continued. “We are still in the process of applying for government help and I have carried the financial burden on my shoulders.” While Le’s bank offered $200 to resolve her complaint, she was offered no further assistance, and took matters to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, hoping to have her money returned to her. “I can’t sleep,” she confessed. “I want to know why this happened to me and how it happened to me. “I’m not a liar, not a criminal, not a fraud.” Images: Supplied to 7News, Facebook

Money & Banking

6 things your nails reveal about your health

The body has a unique way of giving hints about your health. According to dermatologist John Anthony, a quick glance at your nails can tell you volumes about your whole-body health. Anthony and Bebra Jaliman, author of Skin Rules, spoke to Health.com about the top seven nail symptoms you shouldn’t ignore. Clubbing “Clubbing of the nails—when the ends of your fingers swell and the nail becomes curved and rounded—can sometimes be a sign of liver or kidney disease,” says Dr Anthony. Chat to your doctor if you experience this. White spots It’s often said that small white spots on the nails are an indication of calcium deficiency, but Dr Anthony says that’s not always the case. “They’re often the result of minor trauma, such as if you whack your finger against something, and aren’t generally to do with calcium.” Yellow nails Nails can naturally turn a yellow tinge with age, “But it’s also sometimes due to nail lacquers or acrylic nails,” says Dr Anthony. If your nails are usually covered in a thick layer of gloss, try giving them a few days off to recover. Dents If your nails are covered with small dents or pits, speak to a health professional Dr Jaliman says it could be a sign of psoriasis. Dry, cracked or brittle nails According to Dr Jaliman, this is a common problem and there are a few possible causes. “Soft, brittle nails can occur from dryness on the nail plate,” she explains. This could be from swimming, using nail polish remover too often or frequently dishwashing without gloves. Horizontal ridges Bumps or consistent ridges from side-to-side on a nail can be a sign of trauma to the nail. When your body is busy fighting an illness, it tends to allocate energy to the important parts, rather than nail repair. “Your body is literally saying, ‘I’ve got better things to do than make nails’ and pauses their growth,” Dr Anthony tells Health. Concave nails “Spoon nails” are very thin and form a concave shape. Dr Jalimen says if you have this issue, it’s worth consulting a doctor. “This is usually a sign of iron deficiency anaemia,” she explains, which can be treated with iron supplements. Image: Getty

Body

15 secrets your hair stylist won’t tell you

The clients I dread the most are those who say things like “Do whatever you want” Or: “I’m pretty easy to work with.” Nine times out of ten, hair stylists say, it’s not true. We know you hate the word bleach So we hairdressers use words like lightener and decolouriser. But no matter how we prettify the language, if we’re lifting a dark colour out of your hair, we’re using bleach. If you’re not sure exactly how much lighter your hair should be, here’s how to find the best hair colour for your skin tone. Yes, I keep notes about you on your client card, and they can get pretty personal I may note that you don’t tip well or that you talked loudly about how drunk you were last night. I may also write down that you’re going through a divorce or that you’re into tennis so I can remember to ask you about those things next time. If there's one rule to live by, it's this Don’t make your first appointment with me on a Saturday. That’s our busiest day, and I won’t be able to give you the time and attention you want and deserve. Thin hair doesn't have to be worn short I had a client who wore her super-thin hair short for years because she thought she had to. I finally talked her into growing it out into a stacked bob, and everyone now says she looks incredible. I know you’ve heard you shouldn’t wash your hair before getting an updo, because a little grit can help maintain the style But please don’t show up with hair that’s greasy, tangled, or smelly. Wash it the night before, and don’t put any styling products in it. That way, we hairdressers can start fresh and create our own texture. Every year after school starts, at least one mom brings in her daughter with hair down to her waist and tells us to give her a pixie cut We know what’s going on: a lice infestation. But when we point out the nits and tell the mum we can’t do the cut, she always acts surprised and says, “I didn’t know.” We’re thinking, Yeah, right. To save the embarrassment for all involved, get the situation under control before your appointment. We don’t “wash” your hair – we “shampoo” it When we’re trying to make you feel pampered, we can’t use the same word you use for doing dishes. One of the secrets to great hair according to pros is a cold rinse after shampooing. Come at least five minutes early If you’re running late, please call ahead. Show me some basic respect. This is a business, not fun and games. Don't ask me to squeeze you in My work takes time. When a client says she’s in a rush, I tell her she needs to schedule her time better. If I’m already booked, I’d be taking time and effort away from other clients. You wouldn’t like being treated that way. A rush job never looks good. I'm not a psychologist Hairdresser school does not teach about counter transference, projection, negative reinforcement, or personality disorders. If you’re looking for a therapist, all I have is a tail comb and an opinion. Layers are the magic remedy Some women think that if they keep their hair all one length the way it was in high school, everyone will think they’re still in high school. Guess what? You’re not. As you get older, you need to soften the lines around your face. Bodies and hair change as hormones change If your hair is dry, listless, or brittle, or if it’s not holding your colour or style the way it used to, see a doctor. If your hair isn’t overprocessed, you could be pregnant (surprise!) or menopausal (yes, I can tell). Take a picture Some clients will say, “Cut my hair just like you did last time.” That always baffles me. The average time between appointments is six to eight weeks. I have hundreds of clients. I already know which are the best haircuts for every face shape, but how am I supposed to remember exactly how I did your hair the last time? If you want a carbon copy of a cut and style you loved, take a picture and show me. We see women at their worse Their hair is wet, they have foils on their hair, they have no makeup on. There’s nothing for them to hide behind. So they tell us everything. The truth is, I really don’t care about their personal lives. I’m only interested in their hair. Hairdressers and manicurists have seen plenty of crazy things. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/beauty/hair-and-nails/36-secrets-your-hair-stylist-wont-tell-you?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Beauty & Style

15 winter nail colours and trends you won’t be able to resist

Winter nail colour trends Even if you spend most of the winter bundled up, there are still parts of you worth showing off all year long. And let’s not forget about that moment of pure joy when you slip your hands out of your gloves to show off your favourite new nail polish. So, now that autumn is over, what are the hottest winter nail colours and trends that should be on your radar? From rich, jewel-toned hues to dupes for frosty snowflakes, winter nails aren’t following one set of rules right now. We’re still seeing a lot of nail art, but it’s less cutesy and more architectural. For example, according to celebrity nail artist Brittney Boyce, instead of going with an overt candy-cane look, opt for a “chic, angled half-French in a sultry red, or do a half white nail with a diagonal cut across that looks clean and elevated.” You also won’t find just the typical wintery shades this year – you might see pastels on the chicest nails. If we had to sum up winter 2022 in a word, it would be unexpected or bold. We asked celebrity nail artists and other experts for their take on what’s trending right now so you can take your manicure to the next level. To get salon-quality results, use non-toxic polishes and gel nail polishes. Nail trend: a hint of sparkle Don’t overdo the shimmer on your winter nail designs – a small amount will do the trick for this 2022 trend. Even if you use polish with chunky glitter in it, add only a dab or two. The idea is to catch the light, not pile on the glitter. “Adding a bit of sparkle is a great way to put a classic spin on a French mani and is also perfect for the winter,” says salon marketing manager, Jennifer Bell. Nail trend: browns, taupes, and chocolatey shades Winter is the time of year you can match your mani to your hot drink! “We will continue to see a lot of neutral browns and chestnuts throughout the winter,” Bell predicts. There are so many gorgeous shades in this family that you can take it from nearly nude to deep sueded shades, depending on your mood. Nail trend: a touch of grey Expect to see a lot of steely, slate, silver, or pale grey polish this season. “We [particularly] love a wintertime grey with a shimmery finish,” Bell says. Greys look great on nearly everyone, but a good rule of thumb (as it were) is that if you’re not sure which grey shade to choose, opt for a darker one because it flatters more skin tones. Nail trend: naked nails Believe it or not, one of the hottest winter nail looks is perfectly pampered hands and cuticles with barely any polish. “Nude nails have been a beauty staple for years and are back with a new twist that embraces the barely-there look,” says Patricia Freund, managing director for cuticle oil brand, Cuccio Naturalé. While nude or barely there polish is a classic look, it also makes sense as there’s no need to worry about chipping a nail or ruining your nail art! Freund advises applying cuticle oil daily “to maintain hydrated and healthy nails throughout the winter and keep the ‘less is more’ nude manicure looking fresh all season.” One more tip for your tips: while short nails make sense during glove season, a look that’s gaining traction right now is a slightly longer oval nail with the sheerest polish, perfectly groomed cuticles, and moisturised hands. Nail trend: red hot It wouldn’t be winter without classic red winter nails in every shade from spicy tomato to deep burgundy blacks. “We’ll also continue to see classic deep reds throughout the winter,” notes Bell. If you do plan on painting the town – or at least your nails – red, opt for a chip-proof top coat so you won’t have to keep touching up your mani. Nail trend: black Classic black will be having a moment this winter. “The opposite of the opaque white trend for spring/summer is onyx – shiny patent leather nails,” says celebrity manicurist Michelle Saunders. It’s all about high contrast and showing off your sparkly jewellery with this winter nail idea. Think black tie meets high fashion. Saunders says for maximum impact, be sure to use a high-shine top coat. Nail trend: glitter ombré tips If don’t want to go all-out with glitter, try using just a hint of it in your nail art. Boyce’s advice? “Apply a strip of glitter polish on the tip, then gently drag the glitter chunks downward with the brush. This way, most of the glitter is on the tip and you’ll get a nice ombré effect.” You can also experiment with this effect to add a little oomph to your favourite shade. “Do this on a bare nail, a nude nail, a white nail, or even a darker one,” Boyce says. But if you’re going dark, stick to a neutral shade like a dark taupe or dark blue so there aren’t too many competing elements. Nail trend: forest inspired While some trees may be stripped bare, your nails will look amazing in a leafy-green polish. “All kinds of greens are still in the forefront of people’s minds,” Saunders says. And while you’d think deep, lush greens were the only trending verdant hues, you can also go playful and polish your nails any shade of green for an on-trend winter manicure. Nail trend: baby shades Despite light colours usually making an appearance in spring, Saunders says, “we are going to see a ‘pastel winter’ with muted, serene colours on fingertips.” Picture Easter-egg hues on your winter nails. If you’re not sure that light colours are your thing in the winter, opt for colours that are classic, not cutesy. Think shell pink instead of bubblegum, or shimmery apricot instead of a bolder orange. Nail trend: winter blue This winter nail colour can be rocked all season long. “Blue will win the race for this winter,” Saunders says. She’s predicting that everything from baby blue to deep metallic blue will be on all the chic nails this season. “It’s a nod to the ’90s, and super fun to create nail art with,” she adds. Nail trend: rich jewel tones If you love the look of lush nails, get ready to indulge. “Deep gemstone colours are always a classic during wintertime,” Saunders says, “and that isn’t changing anytime soon.” Add some oomph to your LBD with any of these rich colours. Think ruby, emerald, sapphire and amethyst for a super luxe look. Nail trend: gold half moon “Winter is a fun time to play up shimmer and texture,” Boyce says, adding that not all winter nail art needs to be complicated. “A gold half-moon near the cuticle is simple nail art that makes a big statement. You can play up different types of metallic shades for this [trend] depending on your look, from a standard gold to rose gold to even a bright orange bronze shade.” Nail trend: dark meets light Create a bit of drama with mostly sheer nails and a hint of a darker colours. “For winter, I like dark, still shades because it reminds me of just how quiet it gets during the night,” Boyce says. Think muted blues or purples contrasted with barely-there colour. “While black gives a lot of edge, you can soften it up with midnight navy or dark forest green shades,” she adds. How can you create this look at home? “An Angled Half French can be achieved easily by using washi tape as a guide and a dry brush dipped in nail polish remover to clean up the edges,” explains Boyce. “You then use a glossy top coat over the entire nail for a finished look.” Nail trend: classic French tips in metallic shades If you can’t get through the winter without a French mani, consider mixing things up. “A classic French tip using a shimmery shade on an oval-shaped nail, either short to medium length, looks really gorgeous for the holidays,” Boyce says, adding that the easiest way to get the perfect French tip is with a silicone nail stamper. Stampers are easy to use, but they come with a bit of a learning curve, so practise before that big event. If you’re not comfortable with a stamper, try dotting on a design with a nail art brush or using a fan brush to create a softened tip. Nail trend: all the winter colours Still can’t decide which winter nail colour or trend is your favourite? You don’t have to choose. Simply paint each nail a different colour for maximum wow. The experts we spoke with for this story all said winter nails this season are more about self-expression rather than sticking to any particular trend. Written by Rachel Weingarten. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/culture/15-winter-nail-colours-and-trends-you-wont-be-able-to-resist" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> Image: Getty Images

Beauty & Style

Woman reveals why she left a salon with lopsided lips

A woman who left her beauty appointment with half-plumped lips has <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10469965/Woman-left-lopsided-lips-forced-leave-beauty-appointment.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed</a> the reason behind the incredibly awkward situation.Hareem Shah, a popular TikToker with 6.5 million followers, revealed in a video that she had to leave after receiving a phone call informing her of a money-laundering investigation against her.In the now-viral <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@hareemshahofficialx/video/7058436779015163138?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clip</a>, Shah explained that she found out her accounts had been frozen midway through her appointment.“I am in the UK right now. Today I went to the doctor to get my lip filler done,” she said in Urdu, as translated by <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/trending-news/story/pakistan-tiktok-star-hareem-shah-lip-job-fia-bank-account-freeze-video-1907014-2022-02-01" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Today</a>.“The doctor had just inserted a filler on one side of my lip when I received a call and I got to know that the Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency has frozen my bank accounts.”She said she left the expensive treatment as she wouldn’t have been able to pay for the service.According to media outlet <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1669061" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dawn</a>, an investigation was launched against Ms Shah by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on January 12 after she was seen holding two large stacks of money in a separate video.Holding two stacks of British pounds, Ms Shah revealed in that clip that she had travelled to the UK with a “heavy amount” of the currency.“The government had promised to increase the [value] of the currency, increase the [value] of the [Pakistani] passport, but they didn’t do anything. They could only talk,” she said in the clip.She also issued a warning to travellers considering travelling with large amounts of money, as “they catch you”.“Nobody said anything to me and, you know, they cannot. I came very easily,” she said.According to the Pakistan government’s Federal Board of Revenue <a href="https://www.fbr.gov.pk/categ/travel-guide/51149/80881/%20131184" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>, travellers are permitted to take out foreign currencies of “up to US$ 10,000 unconditionally”, but that “taking out Pakistan currency exceeding Rs. (rupees) 3,000 is not permitted”.Images: @hareemshahofficialx (TikTok)

Beauty & Style

Harry Styles’ foray into the beauty world sparks huge demand

The world of men’s beauty products has remained relatively untouched in the past, with many believing these self-care products are exclusive to women. However, as Grammy award-winning musician and style icon Harry Styles has launched his own non-binary line of products, the demand for men’s products has seen a global rise. His new brand, called Pleasing, was launched in November and features skin care items and nail polishes, which have become Styles’ signature in recent years. Global fashion marketplace, <a href="https://www.lovethesales.com/press/articles/fashion-data-daily">LoveTheSales</a>, has been tracking demands and a range of sales data from over 10 million international shoppers. Since Pleasing was announced on Styles’ Instagram account, shopping searches for “men’s makeup” sky-rocketed a whopping 393 per cent compared to the week before. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CWeVKMVvrpI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CWeVKMVvrpI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Harry Styles Updates. (@harry_update1)</a> </div> </blockquote> There was also a 72 per cent increase in fashion searches for “men’s nail varnish” and a truly giant 641 per cent increase in demand for “men’s lip serums”. Harry started his line with specifically non-gendered items, as the conversation around gender and fashion continues to be evolving and changing amongst younger generations. “It’s starting with nail polish because that was kind of the birth of what it was for,” he told <a href="https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/54765/1/harry-styles-pleasing-brand-cover-2021-interview">Dazed</a> in an interview. “Me seeing a colour on a flower or a wallpaper or something and thinking, ‘Oh, I wanna put that on my nails.’” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CWTYc_4lWHf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CWTYc_4lWHf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Pleasing (@pleasing)</a> </div> </blockquote> Harry Styles has long been known for embracing gender-neutral style, as he has pushed the envelope with his fashion in photoshoots, and donning a more progressive way of presenting himself. With the help of his army of fans, Styles is helping to break down gender stereotypes in the world of beauty and fashion, as his new Pleasing brand is only the beginning. Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram

Beauty & Style

14 tips to get healthy, gorgeous nails

Keep nail beds hydrated To keep your nails hydrated, rub a small amount of petroleum jelly into your cuticle and the skin surrounding your nails every evening before you go to bed or whenever your nails feel dry. Keep a jar in your bag, desk drawer, car – anywhere you might need it. Not a fan of petroleum jelly? Substitute castor oil. It’s thick and contains vitamin E, which is great for your cuticles. Or head to your kitchen cupboard and grab the olive oil – it also works to moisturise your nails. Protect nails from wear and tear Wear rubber gloves whenever you do housework or wash dishes. Most household chores from gardening, to scrubbing the bathroom, to washing dishes, are murderous on healthy nails. For extra hand softness, apply hand cream before you put on the rubber gloves. Slipping on some gloves will also protect your manicure. Treat cuticles gently When pushing back your cuticles (it is not necessary to cut them), come in at a 45-degree angle and be very gentle. Otherwise, the cuticle will become damaged, weakening the entire nail, says manicurist, Mariana Diaconescu. Avoid ingrown nails For healthy nails, trim your toenails straight across to avoid ingrown toenails. This is particularly important if you have diabetes. Keep hands dry Dry your hands for at least two minutes after doing the dishes, taking a bath or shower. Also, dry your toes thoroughly after swimming or showering. Leaving them damp increases your risk of fungal infection and ruins healthy nails. Get shoes in top shape Dry your hands for at least two minutes after doing the dishes, taking a bath or shower. Also, dry your toes thoroughly after swimming or showering. Leaving them damp increases your risk of fungal infection and ruins healthy nails. Find high-quality socks Wear 100 per cent cotton socks. They’re best for absorbing dampness, thus preventing fungal infections. You can also use socks to cover up your messed-up DIY toenail art. Make your manicure last longer Stretch out the beauty of a manicure by applying a fresh top coat every day, says Susie Galvez, author of Hello Beautiful: 365 Ways to Be Even More Beautiful. Try these vitamins To make your nails as strong and resilient as a horse’s hooves, take 300 micrograms of the B vitamin biotin four to six times a day. Long ago, veterinarians discovered that biotin strengthened horses’ hooves, which are made from keratin, the same substance in human nails. Swiss researchers found that people who took 2.5 milligrams of biotin a day for 5.5 months had firmer, harder nails. In a US study, 63 per cent of people taking biotin for brittle nails experienced an improvement. Got milk? It’s great for healthy nails! Add a glass of milk and a hard-boiled egg to your daily diet. Rich in zinc, they’ll do wonders for your nails, especially if your nails are spotted with white, a sign of low zinc intake. File your nails correctly To keep your nails at their strongest, avoid filing in a back-and-forth motion – go in only one direction. And never file just after you’ve gotten out of a shower or bath. Wet nails break more easily. Try this finger massage Massage your nails to keep them extra strong and shiny. Nail buffing increases blood supply to the nail, which stimulates the matrix of the nail to grow, says Galvez. Keep 'em polished Polish your nails, even if it’s just with a clear coat. It protects your nails, says manicurist Diaconescu. If you prefer colour, use a base coat, two thin coats of colour, and a top coat. Colour should last at least seven days but should be removed after 10 days. Avoid these polish remover ingredients Avoid polish removers with acetone or formaldehyde. They’re terribly drying to nails, says dermatologist, Dr Andrea Lynn Cambio. Use acetate-based removers instead. Image credit: Shutterstock This article first appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/14-tips-to-get-healthy-gorgeous-nails?pages=1" target="_blank">Reader's Digest</a>.

Beauty & Style

More than skin deep: Beauty salons are places of sharing and caring

What happens when people visit beauty and hair salons? Are trips to the salon simply about shaping how one looks on the outside, or can these spaces involve something deeper? Research shows that beyond “beauty”, salons can be spaces for clients to have intimate conversations with salon workers. This means beyond technical hair and beauty skills, working in the industry involves listening to and managing the emotions of clients. In my <a href="https://blogs.deakin.edu.au/gender-and-sexuality-studies-research-network/2019/09/19/hannah-mccann-on-crisis-treatment-and-the-role-of-the-beauty-salon/">research</a> and interviews with salon workers between 2017 and 2019, most described themselves as makeshift counsellors. One sign in a Melbourne shopfront even read “Therapy is expensive, get a haircut instead, we’re great listeners.” Beyond the technical Research conducted in the United States shows salon workers can act as “<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28388338">lay health educators</a>”. Workers have close physical contact with clients and potentially access to different and diverse communities, depending on the salon. Some US salon workers have even been engaged to assist public health campaigns, educating the general public about health issues such as melanoma, diabetes, and unintended pregnancy. Salon workers can develop a “<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/002224299906300405">commercial friendship</a>” with clients as they maintain close physical proximity with the client over a long period. But they are neutral figures in relation to emotional disclosures. This relationship means clients may disclose more details about the troubles in their lives than they would to friends or family. <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0038038501035004007">UK research</a> also shows salons are spaces where workers often provide clients with emotional support. It’s appropriate then that initiatives have emerged across the globe to train hairdressers and other salon workers to respond to client disclosures. In Victoria the <a href="https://www.edvos.org.au/">Eastern Domestic Violence Service</a> has been running a program called <a href="https://www.edvos.org.au/hair-3rs/">Hair-3R’s</a> (recognise, respond and refer), to train salon workers to safely manage client disclosures of family violence. In some US states, “cosmetologists” (hairstylists, manicurists and other salon workers) are <a href="http://chicagosaysnomore.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChicagoSaysNoMore-2016-12-NewLawSalonProfessionals.pdf">legally required</a> to do formal training in domestic violence and sexual assault awareness every two years to renew their salon licenses. What workers signed up for? Expecting salon workers to respond to issues such as family violence is asking a lot. Low wages and sometimes <a href="https://theconversation.com/health-risks-beneath-the-painted-beauty-in-americas-nail-salons-41660">dangerous working conditions</a> persist in the beauty industry. When I interviewed <a href="https://www.edvos.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/EDVOS-HAIR-3Rs-RESEARCH-REPORT-2019.pdf">salon workers trained in the Hair-3R’s program</a>, I found they were relieved to be able to have frank discussions about the nature of their work, and grateful to receive support and guidance in negotiating these issues. Research has shown salon workers are likely to have clients <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26813297">disclose intimate partner violence</a> to them at some point. But workers I spoke with also mentioned a huge array of different issues clients bring up. Marriage breakdown, mental health, suicidal ideation, gender transition and job loss were among the client issues reported by workers. While the majority of conversations a worker has in a day or even over the course of a week may not be so “heavy”, they will likely encounter diverse and sometimes distressing stories, given the huge segment of the community they come into contact with over months and years. Many workers suggested the Hair-3Rs training was the first time they’d spoken about the emotional aspects of their work or had it recognised as something they negotiate daily. Beyond the surface Feminists <a href="https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-beauty-myth-9780099595748">writing about beauty</a> have long focused on the gender expectations maintained in these spaces. From this perspective, salons have been seen as reinforcing stereotypes of how women should look and how they should maintain their bodies. A reframing of this perspective notes the beauty industry is highly feminised, dominated by workers who are working class and often migrant women. Salon workers are represented as low-skilled “bimbos” in popular culture and the media. It is therefore no surprise the emotional nature of this line of work has remained largely hidden and both economically and culturally undervalued. As the beauty industry continues to boom – a day spa, nail salon or laser hair removal clinic on almost every Australian street corner and dotted throughout our shopping centres – we might speculate people are accessing these services for reasons beyond maintaining appearances. While some may <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-05/economics-of-beauty-industry/10182320">lay the blame</a> on an increasingly image-soaked world due to the popularity of social media such as Instagram, we might also look to what kind of emotional refuge the salon is providing for a <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/from-9-11-to-christchurch-earthquakes-how-unis-have-supported-students-after-a-crisis">world in crisis</a>. Further research is needed to identify what can be done to support workers in this industry, who may accidentally find themselves acting as untrained social workers or therapists with little community support or recognition. Written by Hannah McCann. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/more-than-skin-deep-beauty-salons-are-places-of-sharing-and-caring-127006">The Conversation.</a>

Beauty & Style

Nail salon workers suffer chemical exposures that can be like working at a garage or a refinery

Anyone who has walked past a nail salon is familiar with the noxious odors that emanate from acrylic nails, polishes and removers. Customers getting manicures and pedicures endure the smell temporarily, but manicurists who inhale these evaporating chemicals for hours expose themselves to health risks. The smells come from volatile organic compounds, or VOCs – compounds that <a href="https://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/chemicals-and-contaminants/volatile-organic-compounds-vocs">easily become vapors or gases</a>. These substances have been <a href="https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality#Health_Effects">linked to health problems</a> ranging from headaches and respiratory irritation to reproductive complications and cancer. In a normal room-temperature environment, VOCs evaporate and humans breathe them in. Our research team, along with colleagues at Colorado State University, recently investigated <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.086">chemical exposures in six Colorado nail salons</a> and found that employees spent their days exposed to high levels of VOCs. Participating technicians, who had worked in salons for up to 19 years, reported suffering headaches and skin and eye irritation. We measured levels of benzene and formaldehyde in the salons, and determined that exposure to these known human carcinogens was increasing the workers’ lifetime cancer risks above one in one million – the level that <a href="https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/iwachap10.pdf">many U.S. agencies consider acceptable</a> in regulating exposure to harmful substances. Nail salon workers in New York City rally for safer working conditions. Identifying health hazards A 2015 <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/nyregion/at-nail-salons-in-nyc-manicurists-are-underpaid-and-unprotected.html">New York Times exposé</a> highlighted underpayment and poor working conditions in New York nail salons. However, it failed to address chemical exposures that salon workers experience daily. Several research groups have sought to <a href="https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2010.300099">characterize</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2012.755152">quantify</a> VOC exposures <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-018-1353-0">in the nail salon environment</a>, using standard measurement techniques and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-007-9084-4">self-reported health surveys</a>. Their research shows that nail salon workers are exposed to higher levels of VOCs than they would typically be expected to encounter in most homes, occupations or urban environments. As a result, these workers frequently experience work-related health symptoms. Our study measured 10 VOCs, including the carcinogens <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.086">benzene and formaldehyde</a>. We found that VOC levels in the six salons where we monitored regularly exceeded common threshold levels for <a href="https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris_drafts/atoz.cfm?list_type=alpha">odor and inhalation risk</a>. In some cases this posed a significant risk of cancer over a 20-year exposure period. Twenty workers answered questionnaires about their personal health. Among them, 70% reported some form of short-term health symptom related to their employment, while 40% reported multiple related symptoms. We worked closely with salon owners to enlist volunteer nail technicians to participate. Having owners’ support was instrumental, since it allowed salon workers to accurately report on their health and working conditions without fear of reprisal. Workers have participated in making groundbreaking policy change such as passing the SF <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HealthyNailSalon?src=hash">#HealthyNailSalon</a> Program Ordinance <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EFCSRchat?src=hash">#EFCSRchat</a> Like working at an oil refinery Many people view cosmetology as a relatively safe profession, but it isn’t. We found that exposures to aromatic hydrocarbons like benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes – collectively referred to as BTEX – resembled those previously reported in studies of <a href="https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Ambient-Air-Quality-Monitoring-in-Terms-of-Volatile-Singh-Ramteke/7089e7068ccb85bca9d05f36598e2b5fb92ae910">oil refinery workers</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10807031003670071">auto garage technicians</a>. Our results aren’t unique. A 2018 Iranian study found similar concentrations of benzene, ethylbenzene, and xylene in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-018-0213-x">Tehran beauty salons</a>. Another study conducted that year in Michigan found concentrations of toluene at <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-018-1353-0">over 100 parts per billion</a>, which is roughly 30 times higher than <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/toluene.pdf">reported urban outdoor levels</a>. Regulation of this kind of workplace exposure has not kept pace with science. Many U.S. occupational safety and health exposure limits have not been updated <a href="https://ohsonline.com/Articles/2014/12/01/Can-OSHA-Update-the-PELs.aspx">for nearly 50 years</a>. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, readily acknowledges that many of its permissible exposure limits are “<a href="https://www.osha.gov/dsg/annotated-pels/">outdated and inadequate</a> for ensuring protection of worker health.” OSHA offers only guidance and recommendations for businesses, effectively shifting the burden of worker protection onto private industry. This is especially problematic in the nail salon industry, where over 90% of salons are small businesses that <a href="https://www.labor.ucla.edu/publication/nail-files/">employ fewer than 5 people</a> and do not have safety personnel on staff. Inadequate cosmetic product regulations and labeling requirements make it hard to know which products are actually safe. A 2012 study by the California Environmental Protection Agency found that 10 out of 12 nail products labeled “toluene free” still contained <a href="https://dtsc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2018/04/DTSC-Summary-of-Data-Findings-from-Testing-a-Limited-Number-of-Nail-Products-April-2012.pdf">up to 17% toluene</a>. Products labeled free of the so-called “toxic three” ingredients – dibutyl phthalate or DBP, toluene and formaldehyde – actually contained <a href="https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/nailsalons/chemicalhazards.html#resources">greater concentrations of DBP</a>, an endocrine-disrupting compound, than products that made no claims at all. Solving the problem Owners often work in nail salons, so they generally support efforts to improve air quality inside their businesses. Those who we interviewed typically had some understanding of the problem and wanted to fix it, but didn’t always know how. The <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-05/documents/nailsalonguide.pdf">U.S. Environmental Protection Agency</a>, the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/99-112/pdfs/99-112.pdf?id=10.26616/NIOSHPUB99112">National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health</a> and <a href="https://www.osha.gov/Publications/3542nail-salon-workers-guide.pdf">OSHA</a> all publish healthy nail salon guides. Yet owners in our study had never heard of them – perhaps because the guides are only published in English, while many nail salon workers are Asian and Latino immigrants with limited English language skills. Several grassroots community organizations have published guides to improving salons’ air quality in both <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5783e9b9be6594e480435ffe/t/58f447f903596ebd7ca8f6f3/1492404219566/Nail-Salon-Booklet-FINAL-Vietnamese-March-26-2014-adjusted-for-color-copier-and-single-pages.pdf">Vietnamese</a> and <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5783e9b9be6594e480435ffe/t/58f447e386e6c023e6aff51c/1492404197241/Chinese-FINAL-Version-2-2012.pdf">Chinese</a>. These references discuss ventilation and use of personal protective equipment, which are paramount for mitigating chemical exposures in the workplace. Small changes, such as running ventilation continuously, wearing <a href="http://safety-zone.com/products/nitrile-gloves/">nitrile gloves</a>and utilizing proper <a href="https://www.firstaidglobal.com/product-page/carbon-filter-masks-n95-with-exhalation-valve">charcoal face masks</a>, can significantly reduce worker exposure. Results from <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2019.106499">our most recent study</a> also suggest that placing large activated carbon sinks in salons could effectively remove VOCs from the air. We are currently experimenting with embedding these chemical-absorbing materials into <a href="https://cen.acs.org/environment/pollution/Environmental-engineer-Lupita-Montoya-scrutinizes/97/i32">pieces of art</a> that can hang on salon walls. Another priority is conveying information to larger audiences and advocating for more safety training in cosmetology certification programs. Education and training are particularly important for ethnic minority groups. Many workplace standards enforced by OSHA, such as those regulating exposure to toxic and hazardous substances, <a href="https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/nailsalons/standards.html">apply to nail salons</a>. However, cosmetic manufacturers are <a href="https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-laws-regulations/fda-authority-over-cosmetics-how-cosmetics-are-not-fda-approved-are-fda-regulated#Who_is_responsible">not required</a> to obtain federal approval for products or ingredients before they go on the market, or to file product information with the agency. In contrast, California passed a bill in 2018 that will require manufacturers to <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB2775">provide ingredient labels</a> on any professional cosmetic products manufactured after July 1, 2020 and sold in the state. The campaign for this common-sense reform was largely led by advocacy groups like the <a href="https://cahealthynailsalons.org/">California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative</a>. Practical steps like this can improve conditions for workers who receive little attention but are exposed to serious health risks on the job every day. Written by Lupita D. Montoya and Aaron Lamplugh. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/nail-salon-workers-suffer-chemical-exposures-that-can-be-like-working-at-a-garage-or-a-refinery-118152">The Conversation.</a>

Beauty & Style

8 things you never knew you could put in your dishwasher

You’d be surprised just how many household items can be given a thorough cleaning in your humble dishwasher. <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/13-things-you-never-knew-you-could-put-in-the-dishwasher">1. Small plastic toys</div> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/13-things-you-never-knew-you-could-put-in-the-dishwasher"> Germs can linger on your kids’ toys for months. Disinfect them by putting them in a mesh lingerie bag on the top shelf of your dishwasher. Then just let the normal cycle run. 2. Hairbrushes Your hairbrush can hold almost 3,500 colonies of bacteria, according to University of Arizona research. Remove any stray hairs and drop your brush in the silverware tray for a thorough cleanse. Remember: Only plastic brushes or combs. Wooden or boar-bristle brushes will get ruined. 3. Potatoes <div id="page5" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> Making mashed potatoes for your next big family gathering? Cut your preparation time and wash your spuds on a rinse-only cycle – no detergent! – on the top shelf. <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/13-things-you-never-knew-you-could-put-in-the-dishwasher">4. Refrigerator shelves</div> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/13-things-you-never-knew-you-could-put-in-the-dishwasher"> Between leaking meat juices and spilled food, your fridge can get really gross really fast. Instead of scrubbing every last inch clean, throw those shelves in with your other dishes. 5. Penholders <div id="page8" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> When it comes to cleaning, common desk items like penholders and trays for scrap paper often get overlooked. If they’re metal or plastic, toss them in your next dishwasher load. <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/13-things-you-never-knew-you-could-put-in-the-dishwasher">6. Bathroom stuff</div> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/13-things-you-never-knew-you-could-put-in-the-dishwasher"> <div id="page10" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> Your bathroom is a haven for bacteria, from soap dishes to bathtub drain plugs to toothbrush holders. Luckily, all of them can be cleaned on the top rack with your other dishes. <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/13-things-you-never-knew-you-could-put-in-the-dishwasher">7. Nail clippers and tweezers</div> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/13-things-you-never-knew-you-could-put-in-the-dishwasher"> <div id="page11" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> Most cosmetic tools like nail clippers and tweezers are dishwasher safe. You can even wash plastic makeup brushes. <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/13-things-you-never-knew-you-could-put-in-the-dishwasher">8. Razors</div> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/13-things-you-never-knew-you-could-put-in-the-dishwasher"> <div id="page13" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> Razors can get dirty from more than just hair. They also pick up the chemicals in your shaving cream and salts from the water. When you wash them in a dishwasher, use liquid detergent. Tablets can leave grit on the metal. <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/13-things-you-never-knew-you-could-put-in-the-dishwasher">Written by Claire Novak. This article first appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/13-things-you-never-knew-you-could-put-in-the-dishwasher" target="_blank">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN93V">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Home & Garden

Woman left $2,500 out of pocket over a broken nail on US holiday

A Sydney woman has been left with a shocking bill that has left insurance companies warning travellers about the costs of getting injured in the United States. Rachael Minaway, 32, arrived with her friend in Honolulu and hadn’t checked into their hotel before breaking her acrylic nail in a glovebox. “We had a late check-in, so we headed straight for the beach, and we were so excited to run out of the car and get into the water,” Ms Minaway told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/travellers-stories/aussie-tourist-forced-to-fork-out-2500-after-breaking-a-nail-on-american-holiday/news-story/513292ca5fe39393de734dfd34117743">news.com.au</a>. “We were packing away the GPS in the glovebox, and I was being too quick and smashed my fingernail between the dashboard and the glovebox, and it cracked. “I didn’t think it was a big deal at all, it’s happened to all of us before.” Her and her friend searched for medical centres to help them out with the issue. “We typed in ‘medical centre’ in the GPS and I guess in Hawaii they call hospitals ‘medical centres’ because it directed us to the closest emergency room,” she said. “At that point my hand was really hurting, and we thought, OK, they’ll just tell us what to do. “We just wanted to get back to our trip. And I was wasting my friend’s time for a fingernail, it was so silly.” The doctor at the hospital said that it would be best to remove the fingernail, which she agreed to if she could undergo a local anaesthetic. “It was so painful, I did not want to feel him ripping it off,” she said. “But we were taking photos and laughing through it, I honestly did not expect it to be a big deal.” It was all fun and games until the pair were presented with the bill of $1,200. “I had to pay it on the spot,” she said. “I told them we’d only just landed, I hadn’t even checked in my luggage at the hotel. But they wouldn’t let us leave without paying it.” However, she was inundated with more bills from the hospital after returning home to Sydney. “I remember emailing them after the first one and saying, ‘No, sorry, I’ve already paid for this’, but the invoices were for different things. They kept finding new things to bill me for. After a few months I regretted giving them my real address. “It was pretty upsetting. I was six months pregnant at that point, and I kept thinking, imagine if didn’t have insurance and actually had to pay for all this myself.” She was telling her story to warn other travellers about heading to the United States. “I’d heard about how in America they don’t have Medicare like us, but I never expected (the cost) to be this outrageous for something this tiny,” she said. “I feel so sorry for those people who go over there (to the US) and wind up with massive medical bills,” she said. “You have no idea what’s going to happen.”

Travel Trouble

“It hurts”: Roger Federer’s crushing admission after nail-biting Wimbledon finals loss

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic were on the verge of causing a worldwide meltdown after an intense Wimbledon final that will forever be remembered. After an epic four-hour-and 57-minute-long match, Djokovic emerged as the victor in the longest men’s final the All England Club has ever witnessed. The final set on its own went for two hours with the champions hoping to one up each other with every move they made. In the end, it was the Serbian who came out on top 7-6 1-6 7-6 4-6 13-12 (7-3) as the world watched the first ever fifth set tiebreak at the iconic major. Devastated, Federer was unable to take advantage of two championship points in the fifth set and was the player who fell short on a day that will be considered iconic for tennis fans. Former British star Tim Henman said on the BBC broadcast, it’s a match “the tennis world will reflect on for a long time to come”. And he wasn’t the only one who held those sentiments, as viewers at home took to Twitter to express their disbelief at the game they just witnessed. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> Unbelievable scenes. Novak Djokovic saves two match points and breaks. 8-8 in the fifth. Four hours and 13 minutes gone. Utter madness. — George Bellshaw (@BellshawGeorge) <a href="https://twitter.com/BellshawGeorge/status/1150455918984871937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">14 July 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> Amazing! Djokovic wins his 5th <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a>. What a final! <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rogerfederer</a> played an unbelievably good match but somehow <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> wins after saving multiple match points. There is no limit to the amount of pressure this man can handle. Superhuman stuff! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> — Pat Cash (@TheRealPatCash) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPatCash/status/1150467312694284288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">14 July 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> I have such huge respect for both <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rogerfederer</a>. What a match... wouldn’t have minded to see it go on a little longer 😊 Congrats Novak on another <a href="https://twitter.com/Wimbledon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Wimbledon</a>! — Kevin Anderson (@KAndersonATP) <a href="https://twitter.com/KAndersonATP/status/1150474987687620614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">14 July 2019</a></blockquote> Despite being crowned the winner, Djokovic was too exhausted to celebrate, but he made sure to pay tribute to his opponent during his on-court interview. “I think this was, if not the most exciting and thrilling final I was ever part of, then definitely top two or three in my career against one of the greatest players of all time in Roger, who I respect a lot,” he said. “Unfortunately, in these kind of matches, one of the players has to lose. “It’s quite unreal to be two match points down and come back … and quite strange to play a tie-break at 12-all too. “I know I’ve said this before but when I was a boy … this always has been the tournament for me. It’s where I wanted to participate and where I wanted to win one day.” Federer cemented his nice guy status. Despite being crushed from his loss, he still found time to praise Djokovic for his performance. “It was a great match. It was long, it had everything,” he said. “I had my chances, so did he, we played some great tennis so in a way I’m happy with my performance as well. “But Novak, congratulations man, that was great. That was crazy. “I hope I give people the chance to believe, at 37, it’s not over yet.” In his post-match conference, Federer was visibly down but still tried to remain optimistic for having the opportunity of making history. “I mean, all of us working in this sport, we know what a great sport it is. I don’t think we need matches, per se. Maybe we need them to sometimes cross over to other sports, maybe get to the fans in the streets and so forth. If that’s the case, that this match did something like this, I think that’s great,” said the Swiss champ. “I think it was a great match with wonderful points played. It had everything. Novak played also amazing today. So I hope it resonates in a big way. “You try to take the good things out of this match. There’s just tons of it. “Like similar to 2008 maybe, I will look back and think, ‘Well, it’s not that bad after all’. For now, it hurts, and it should, like every loss does here at Wimbledon. “I think it’s a mindset. I’m very strong at being able to move on because I don’t want to be depressed about actually an amazing tennis match.” His battle against Rafael Nadal in 2008 at the All England Club is widely considered to be one of the greatest games the sport has ever seen, and now, with Sunday's epic final, fans and experts can’t help but draw comparisons. But despite the intensity and power of the two matches, the only thing the 37-year-old can focus on is the end result. “Sure, epic ending, so close, so many moments. Yeah, I mean, sure there’s similarities. But you’ve got to go dig, see what they are,” Federer said. “I’m the loser both times, so that’s the only similarities I see.” And while members of the media snickered after hearing that last line, it’s obvious that behind the smile, Federer is crushed that he couldn’t leave London with the one thing he wanted most.

News

Why you should check your nails for signs of cancer

When you think of skin cancer, you probably think of checking for moles. But did you know your nails can also reveal a sign of melanoma? Manicurist Jean Skinner had first-hand experience catching this stealthy symptom. “I had a walk-in nail client a couple weeks ago,” she wrote in an August 2017 Facebook post. “She had a straight dark vertical stripe down her nail. She said as soon as she sat down – I need a colour dark enough to cover this stripe.” Other salons had speculated that the woman’s mysterious line could be due to a calcium deficiency, a blood blister, or a strange hereditary mark. Yet Skinner knew better than that. She immediately told her customer that the dark line was likely a little-known symptom of melanoma. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7823255/melanoma.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a8f20ad60096495a98eedd593cb9ad1b" /> Don't brush off this easy-to-ignore symptom. Subungual melanoma (aka nail melanoma) is, as its nickname suggests, a skin cancer that occurs under the nail. It affects <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10642684">0.7 to 3.5 percent</a> of people with melanoma. Rare as it is, it’s important to know about its telltale sign: a dark black or brown line across a finger- or toenail, according to the <a href="https://www.aad.org/media/news-releases/nail-melanoma">American Academy of Dermatology</a> (AAD). Sadly, Skinner’s hunch was correct – and the prognosis wasn’t good. The client called later to tell her she had aggressive melanoma that had spread to her lymph nodes. (Check these <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/conditions/cancer/8-ways-get-fitter-after-cancer-treatment">8 ways to get fitter after cancer treatment</a>). A black band isn’t the only skin cancer symptom that could be hiding under your nail polish. Other signs of nail melanoma include darkened skin around the nail, blood, pus and splits in the nail, according to the AAD. Early diagnosis could be crucial, so see your doctor right away if you happen to notice a dark mark under your fingernail or any other suspicious symptoms. Written by Brooke Nelson. This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/conditions/cancer/if-you-have-mark-your-nail-you-should-get-checked-cancer">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN87V">here’s our best subscription offer</a>. <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Body

Woman’s disturbing discovery while cooking supermarket chicken

Just when we thought fruit being sabotaged with needles was finally over, a woman has discovered something in a piece of chicken as she bit into it during her meal, which she had purchased from a supermarket. Nadia Petersen, from New Zealand, shared a post on her Facebook page after her horrifying discovery – she found a rusty nail in the chicken as she was grilling the boneless piece. Peterson confirmed she had purchased the boneless chicken thigh pieces from a Countdown supermarket. Sharing the warning on her Facebook page with photos, Petersen wrote, “Check your boneless chicken thighs from Countdown (Regent Whangarei). Just about chomped on a rusty … nail.” <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnadiapetersenx%2Fposts%2F10216864299661100&width=500" width="500" height="420" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> She told local news company TVNZ, “I picked it up and I held it and stared at it for a couple seconds in disbelief, then I ran outside and spat my food out then washed my mouth out.” Petersen also took measures to ensure she would not fall ill or suffer any poisoning following the incident. “I rung the hospital first who took my details and passed me on to the poisons centre to make sure I wasn’t going to get sick from ingesting chicken with rust in it,” she told TVNZ. Petersen posted an update on Facebook, stating: "I shop at Countdown Regent all the time and the staff there are awesome. Today they gave me a $50 voucher on surrender of the chicken and nail, and gave me a pack of chicken, but most importantly they took it seriously." <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnadiapetersenx%2Fposts%2F10216870758342563&width=500" width="500" height="708" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> In the meantime, the New Zealand supermarket chain is investigating how a rusty nail ended up in a piece of boneless chicken thigh. A Countdown spokesperson confirmed to <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/womans-shocking-discovery-supermarket-chicken-055542138.html">Yahoo7</a>, “Food safety is our utmost priority and we have a really thorough process to ensure we investigate any complaints properly.” They continued, “We have a range of safety precautions and measures in place which include metal detectors at points in the process and full traceability on all fresh meat.” The Countdown spokesperson also told Yahoo7 that “investigations are already underway and once the nail arrives we’ll be able to further analyse this”.

Legal

How a manicure could save your life

Sarah Burrows was having her usual monthly manicure when the beauty therapist doing her nails casually asked about a mole on her chest. Burrows had been ignoring it for months, thinking there was nothing particularly unusual about it, but the fact that her beautician had noticed it – and was concerned enough to bring it up – took her by surprise. She felt compelled to get it checked out by her GP, starting a chain of events that would lead to her being diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. "If it hadn't been brought to my attention, I don't think that I would have ever done anything about it," says Burrows, 52. "It's hard to think that I could be telling a completely different story now if I hadn't had that conversation while getting my nails done." Burrows, a marriage guidance counsellor from Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK, had been a regular visitor to the clinic of holistic beauty therapist Lucy Dempster for nearly five years. It was in January last year, while she was wearing a slightly lower-cut top than normal, that Dempster spotted the mole on her chest. Burrows recalls: "She really gently said that she had been doing some training on skin cancer and perhaps I should get it checked out. She reassured me that, of course, if it was nothing then I would only have taken up maybe five minutes of a doctor's time." Dempster recognised the mole as she had recently taken part in a pilot training course designed to help beauty, hair and skincare professionals spot skin cancer. Launched in the UK in January this year, the Masced training scheme (short for Melanoma and Skin Cancer Early Detection) aims to improve early diagnosis rates based on the assumption that many people get their hair or nails done more frequently than they see a family doctor. Through a professionally accredited, 45-minute online course, beauty professionals are trained in the warning signs and given advice on how to bring up concerns tactfully with clients. While they are not expected to diagnose the disease, they can suggest someone visits their GP to get checked out. Skin cancer is on the rise in Britain, with the incidence of melanoma soaring by 128 per cent in the past 20 years. Experts have put the rise down to the growing popularity of cheap package holidays to sunny destinations, as well as a boom in sunbed use in the '70s, '80s and '90s. Melanoma is now the fifth most common cancer in the UK and one of the most common among 15- to 34-year-olds. Most melanoma cases occur in the over-85s, who have had a lifetime of exposure to the sun, and rates are expected to rise by another 7 per cent by 2035 as the population ages. While incidence of skin cancer has seen similar growth in other Western countries in recent decades, the UK has slightly higher mortality rates, with 2.6 deaths per 100,000 people compared to the European average of 2.2. Lower survival rates have been partly blamed on a tendency to diagnose cancers later in the UK – something the Masced scheme aims to combat. The project is the brainchild of Claire Dale, of cancer charity Skcin, who came up with the idea after her mother died of malignant melanoma aged 63. "My mother was really into beauty and health and fitness so she was always in the gym or at the salon, but rarely went to the doctor," she says. "No-one ever noticed the mole she had on her abdomen until it was too late. That got me thinking about whether the kind of professionals she saw all the time could be trained to spot skin cancer in otherwise healthy people. If Masced had been around then, her mole might have been seen in time and her life could have been saved." <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Please Retweet. Great article in <a href="https://twitter.com/Telegraph?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Telegraph</a> today about our <a href="https://t.co/HqhvQY86G9">https://t.co/HqhvQY86G9</a> campaign and how it has helped save a life! Huge thanks to all involved <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/skincancer?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#skincancer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/melanoma?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#melanoma</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/beauty?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#beauty</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/health?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#health</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/manicure?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#manicure</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/skincare?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#skincare</a> <a href="https://t.co/dUSNmEGHl1">https://t.co/dUSNmEGHl1</a> — Skcin (@Skcin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Skcin/status/1036678764955136001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2018</a></blockquote> While it was sadly too late for Dale's mother, the scheme is already saving lives. Burrows, a mother-of-two herself, saw her GP after speaking to Dempster and was referred to a specialist. He diagnosed the mark on her chest as a basal cell carcinoma, a type of tumour that occurs in eight out of 10 skin cancer cases and rarely spreads. While that was easily treatable with a chemotherapy cream, the doctor found another suspicious mark on the back of her left thigh. "He asked how long I'd had the mark for and I said: 'What mark?' When was the last time you looked at the back of your own legs? I had no idea it was there," she says. A biopsy revealed it was a malignant melanoma – a spreading form of skin cancer that kills six people every day in the UK. Burrows went in for surgery to have it removed, only for doctors to find yet another malignant tumour on her other leg. She was referred to The Christie cancer hospital in Manchester for tests on her lymph node to check whether the cancer had spread. Luckily, biopsies showed she was all clear. "On both occasions, it was caught before it had spread throughout the rest of my body, which they say it probably would have done had it been ignored any longer," Burrows says. She sighs as she imagines what the outcome might have been had Dempster not spotted the original mole. "It was one of those chance conversations with somebody who had been told to keep an eye out. The mole didn't have any of the signs you normally read about – it wasn't bleeding, itchy or uneven. It was only because somebody else mentioned it that made me do something about it." Ironically, Burrows is always careful in the sun as she is quite fair-skinned and doesn't tan. Doctors believe most of the damage was probably done before she reached puberty and she blames it on an incident of being badly sunburnt as a young child. "It was my seventh birthday and I was in Cornwall. I remember it because it was my birthday so I was supposed to be happy, but I was so sunburnt, I was just crying," she says. "I've since spoken to my mother and aunts and uncles and they have all said suncreams just weren't around nearly as much back then. In fact, I remember my mother putting olive oil on, which seems like really crazy behaviour now." Dempster, 49, plays down her role in saving Burrows's life, but agrees that the training could protect hundreds of lives nationwide. Although she runs her clinic single-handedly from her home near Wilmslow, Cheshire, she has already helped four clients who have received treatment for suspected tumours. She says: "If it makes that much difference with just one person, imagine how much of an impact it can have if everyone in a busy salon is trained." Written by Rosie Taylor. Republished by permission of <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/106797232/how-a-manicure-could-save-your-life">Stuff.co.nz</a>.

Body

Doctors issue warning: How your gel and acrylic nails may be affecting your health

With nail salons around the country advertising their services at affordable prices, the popularity of gel and acrylic nails have hit its peak. More long-wearing than your standard manicure, it’s the most convenient option for women on the go. But as the saying goes: if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. New research has shown that a certain chemical found in both treatments can cause adverse reactions if not applied properly. Dermatologists in both the UK and Ireland have officially issued a health warning about the methacrylate chemical – a substance that is found in almost all gel and acrylic nails, which is causing an “allergy epidemic” across the two countries. Allergy tests of 4,931 patients across 13 dermatology units were assessed to come to this outcome, as results showed that at least 2.4 per cent of those people could be suffering from this allergy. Another study conducted in 2017 by the British Association of Dermatologists discovered that the chemical was most likely to cause a reaction when it touches the skin, with side effects including loosening nails or a red and itchy rash that can appear anywhere on the body. Those affected the most were nail technicians who come into regular contact with the chemical and those who attempt to do their own manicures at home rather than seeing a professional. The moral of the story? Go see a qualified nail technician and dump the at-home nail kits in the bin. Do you prefer to do your own nails or get someone else to do it for you? Let us know in the comments.

Body

Warning against pedicures after woman almost loses leg

A woman in America has warned of the dangers of getting a pedicure at a nail salon after almost losing her leg. Tracy Lynn Martinez suffered a serious infection in her foot and leg after indulging in a pedicure at a local salon, which she claims was caused by a callus cutter. "I just wanted to share my story to save someone from going [through] what I'm going through or even death," Martinez wrote on Facebook. Martinez believed the "grade A salon" in Winston Salem to be very clean. "The whirlpool baths have the disposable bags, and they bring the new fresh tools in a new bag," she said in her Facebook post, "but also bring a nice bacteria infected callus cutter too." Martinez visited the nail salon on June 22 for her pedicure and the next day, was suffering nauseousness, chills and vomiting. She attempted to sleep off the symptoms of what she thought was the beginning of a cold, but by June 24 – just two days after the pedicure – she had no strength, lack of balance and her leg had swollen to a huge size. She continued explaining on her post on Facebook, "I am [in an] ambulance to the Emergency Room to find out [if] I am toxic and have a serious case of cellulitis caused by a strep infection in my blood stream caused by the scrapes on the outside of my heel from the callus cutter." Martinez added, "I have been through hell, pain, shock, all of it.... But I want to raise awareness. Say NO to the callus cutters/shavers." The 35-year-old has since discovered that callus cutters are not permitted in nail salons in North Carolina, writing, "There is no way to properly disinfect this tool to continually [use] on people. I no longer recommend pedicures but definitely say NO to these callus shavers if you do go!" She is still recovering from the infection after a two-week stint in hospital and is required to take medication for the next 3 months. Martinez explained that she will also have to wear compression stockings for the rest of her life, to protect herself from another infection, as well as take a separate medication for life. "Every day was a new chapter of what was going to happen to my leg. Was I going to lose my leg? Was I going to lose my life?" Martinez shared. Do you regularly get pedicures at nail salons? Tell us in the comments below.

Body

6 tips to make your nails healthier and stronger

As we age, our nails can become weaker and more brittle, making the little everyday things in life a struggle – not to mention causing a hefty amount of pain when they break. If that sounds like you, you’ll be happy to learn you don’t need to fork out for expensive treatments or put up with that gross chemical smell that often comes with many nail products. Here are six natural solutions that will leave you with healthier, stronger nails in no time. 1. Olive oil This miracle ingredient has uses well beyond the kitchen. For an inexpensive remedy for damaged, weak or peeling nails, simply soak them in extra virgin olive oil for 10 to 15 minutes each day for a month, then two times a week after that. 2. Vitamin E cream Choose a natural cuticle cream containing vitamin E and massage it into your nails and around the nail beds every night before bed. This will nourish your dry cuticles, improving the overall health of your nails. 3. Gloves Dishwashing liquid, detergent, cleaners and other substances used during housework can wreak havoc on already damaged nails. The simplest way to prevent further harm is by wearing gloves while completing chores, then washing, cleansing and moisturising your hands and nails afterwards. 4. Biotin Biotin is a B complex vitamin which helps keep your skin, hair, nails, eyes, liver and nervous system healthy. To increase your intake, ensure your diet includes biotin-rich foods such as avocado, cooked eggs, whole grains and cauliflower. Supplements are also available. 5. Avoid nail polish remover This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but most (if not all) nail polish removers will cause damage of some kind. If you can’t resist a manicure, try to avoid using nail polish remover more than once or twice a month, and never use one containing acetone. 6. Drink water It seems like most of our health complaints can be solved with those two words, but it’s true – staying hydrated on the inside will keep your outside (including your nails) hydrated, too. Tell us in the comments below, have you successfully treated brittle nails before? We’d love to hear your tips!

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10 polite habits nail techs actually dislike – and what to do instead

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Salon owner loses $40,000 from one $60 deposit

6 things your nails reveal about your health

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Woman reveals why she left a salon with lopsided lips

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14 tips to get healthy, gorgeous nails

More than skin deep: Beauty salons are places of sharing and caring

Nail salon workers suffer chemical exposures that can be like working at a garage or a refinery

8 things you never knew you could put in your dishwasher

Woman left $2,500 out of pocket over a broken nail on US holiday

“It hurts”: Roger Federer’s crushing admission after nail-biting Wimbledon finals loss

Why you should check your nails for signs of cancer

Woman’s disturbing discovery while cooking supermarket chicken

How a manicure could save your life

Doctors issue warning: How your gel and acrylic nails may be affecting your health

Warning against pedicures after woman almost loses leg

6 tips to make your nails healthier and stronger

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

10 polite habits nail techs actually dislike – and what to do instead

12 red flags you’re about to get a bad haircut

Salon owner loses $40,000 from one $60 deposit

6 things your nails reveal about your health

15 secrets your hair stylist won’t tell you

15 winter nail colours and trends you won’t be able to resist

Woman reveals why she left a salon with lopsided lips

Harry Styles’ foray into the beauty world sparks huge demand

14 tips to get healthy, gorgeous nails

More than skin deep: Beauty salons are places of sharing and caring

Nail salon workers suffer chemical exposures that can be like working at a garage or a refinery

8 things you never knew you could put in your dishwasher

Woman left $2,500 out of pocket over a broken nail on US holiday

“It hurts”: Roger Federer’s crushing admission after nail-biting Wimbledon finals loss

Why you should check your nails for signs of cancer

Woman’s disturbing discovery while cooking supermarket chicken

How a manicure could save your life

Doctors issue warning: How your gel and acrylic nails may be affecting your health

Warning against pedicures after woman almost loses leg

6 tips to make your nails healthier and stronger

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