Nails destroyed by chemicals | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

A Mount Maunganui nail technician is calling for greater regulation of the industry as some salons continue to use unhygienic practices and chemicals which have been banned overseas.

Currently no regulatory body oversees nail salons in New Zealand - something Olivia Stubbs would like to see changed.

Ms Stubbs, who owns Nail Niche and is also a nail educator, says plenty of salons in New Zealand are using chemicals, banned in many countries, to apply false nails.

MMA (methyl methacrylate liquid monomers) had been banned in the US for more than 25 years, and Ms Stubbs regularly saw the aftermath of clients who had visited salons which use it.

"Often when the client goes to have it taken off, it takes a few layers [of the natural nail] off. You get this really thin nail that can become infected.

"I saw a customer this week. She came to me to get her enhancements taken off [that had been applied by another salon using MMA] and it took a chunk of natural nail right to her nail bed."

Ms Stubbs wants to see MMA banned in New Zealand.

In Australia there was now an industry association for nail technicians, but no such organisation existed in New Zealand, and Ms Stubbs would like to see more regulation of the industry.

"For nail technicians, anyone can start up a nail salon and away they go.

"There's nobody governing it, no association to check hygiene standards, which is quite a concern.

"The New Zealand training companies have a high standard by which they educate their students.

"But a lot of [practitioners] are not New Zealand trained."

Tools used such as files, scissors and nippers could spread diseases if not cleaned properly, she said. And she feared dodgy nail salons were giving the industry a bad name.

"Women will go and get their nails done and have a really bad experience, and they don't want to do it again. It doesn't have to be like that."

A Tauranga woman told the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend her nails were ruined after having false nails applied for most of this year by a chain salon.

The woman, who did not want to be named but supplied a photo of her damaged nails, described a salon with "lackadaisical" staff who took phone calls while grinding her nails.

"Going there to get the backfills done was akin to going to the dentist," she said.

"Quite often your nails will be burnt and really, really hot. I would go out with bleeding cuticles."

She continued going to the salon because it was good value and convenient, as it took walk-ins without an appointment.

"I had them taken off for a month because I had a fungal infection underneath.

"My nails were getting quite sore for days after I had them done," the woman said.

When she eventually decided to get the nails taken off for good at another salon, she was told they had been applied using MMA.

"It's gone through my nail. My nails have been stripped right back."

Tania Berryman, who teaches beauty therapy at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, said though the nail technology industry had no local or national governing health regulations, the NZ Beauty Therapy Association set out guidelines within a code of practice.

"Any education towards improving the work environment for the nail technicians and for safety of clients would be greatly supported."

Jill Briscoe, owner of Goldfinger Nail & Body Salon, agreed there was a need for greater regulation in the industry.

"A lot of the nail bars use products that are toxic.

"I don't think the public realises."

On its website, Minx Beauty in Mount Maunganui warns consumers to be confident that their salon has good hygiene standards, and follows "excellent nail procedures".

"Do not be shy in asking your therapist/technician what training, qualifications and brands they use.

"As reputable therapists and technicians, they will be proud to advertise the products they are using and proud to advertise their experience and expertise in their field."