6 Salon Services That'll Totally Mess You Up While Making You Look Damn Good
Pretty hurts. 🙅 💅
Salons are a safe haven for catching up on gossip or sitting back in silence as you're transformed into a perfectly coiffed masterpiece.
There's no sweeter feeling than leaving the salon feeling like a regulation hottie. But what if you left with serious health problems, too?
People shed hair and secrets in salons, but they also shed lots of germs and bacteria. Here's a breakdown of the very damaging price you might end up paying when you indulge in your favorite beauty service.
Service: Hair Wash | Potential Price: Strokes
How it happens: Getting your hair washed at the salon is something akin to a spiritual experience. What's better than not having to shower and shampoo yourself? However, it can have some seriously dangerous side effects. Leaning back into a sink basin can cause hyperextension of the neck and could eventually lead to a stroke, due to damaged arteries in the cervical spine. This is rare, but incredibly serious. One woman who experienced a "beauty salon stroke" told ABC-KGTV that her symptoms included vomiting, high temperature and weakness in the arms and legs.
How to prevent it: Look for salons that have sinks that provide comfortable neck support. Otherwise, you can ask your stylist to pad the sink area with towels.
Service: Haircut & Style | Potential Price: Head Lice
How it happens: Freshly salon-washed hair couldn't possibly end up infested with lice, right? Wrong. Lice actually love clean hair and can spread through styling tools. A lice problem causes extreme itching and sores along the scalp. Gross.
How to prevent it: Make sure your salon uses a sanitizing solution between customers on all brushes and combs. If you're unsure, bring your own styling tools.
Service: Manicure | Potential Price: Fungal Infection
How it happens: Leaving the salon with fresh claws is the perfect excuse to avoid doing dishes for a few days. However, nail tools can carry some nasty bacteria that could result in a nasty fungal infection. If you experience pain, swelling or thickening of the nail, play it safe and get it checked.
How to prevent it: Ask your manicurist not to cut your cuticles. Instead, just have them pushed back gently. Having them cut could increase your risk of infection. Also, make sure your manicurist is using freshly sterilized tools.
Service: Pedicure | Potential Price: Amputation
How it happens: A woman in Santa Clarita, California sued a salon last year after a botched pedicure left her with no choice but to have a toe amputated, according to CBS LA. She claims her nail tech cut in between her third and fourth toe with scissors and the cut got infected. This is a rare occurrence, but it could happen to you, especially if you're on the hunt for a good deal. Remember: what you get is what you pay for.
How to prevent it: Only go to an experienced, licensed nail care technician and if something doesn't feel right, speak up. Pay close attention to the tools used and make sure that they're sanitized. Also make sure the foot tub basin looks clean before using it. A host of infections could be lurking in that water.
Service: Skin Care Treatments | Potential Price : Dermatitis
How it happens: Whether you have specific skin concerns or your only concern is looking like a radiant babe 24/7, skin treatments like facials and chemical peels are definitely a luxury. So make sure you know the risks before you drop the cash. Your aesthetician might use a few different products, but be wary of the chemicals. Depending on your skin's sensitivity, you could develop an itchy, peeling rash like dermatitis. That definitely defeats the purpose of trying to give your skin a nice glow.
How to prevent it: This shouldn't deter you from getting skin care treatments at salons, just be your own best advocate and ask about the products that are being used. This way, if you do end up with a rash of some kind, you can tell your dermatologist what was used and get it cleared up right away.
Service: Hair Removal | Potential Price: Burns & Blisters
How it happens: Laser hair removal and waxing are gifts from the lord above. But you could go in intending to remove your lady 'stache and end up with burns, bruises, swelling and blisters. This can happen if the wax is way too hot or the wax strip isn't removed properly.
How to prevent it: Don't let just anyone point a laser at you. Do your research and find a reputable laser hair removal location with well-trained technicians. If you're getting waxed, listen to your body and speak up if the wax is hotter than you're comfortable with.