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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Babies in nail salons -

80 replies

HellKitty · 06/02/2015 14:16

  • not actually getting their nails done mind Confused

I've just walked past one of those Chinese/Korean nail bars and there were three buggies in there with sleeping babies in while, I assume, the mums were getting their nails done. It's a very small shop, no windows and quite a few (8+) techs working.

These places really smell of chemicals, you can smell it a good few shops away. I've used a place like this in the past for my nails and it takes a good 30 minutes start to finish.

Aibu in thinking it's not the greatest place for babies?

OP posts:
mamababa · 06/02/2015 15:26

I wouldn't take a baby into a salon filled with methacrylate type chemicals. The fumes are strong and can cause respiratory issues.But then I used to work in a lab. In a fumehood. I find it odd that nail salons like this carry on without adequate ventilation

GlitzAndGigglesx · 06/02/2015 15:31

It's right what KingJoffrey said! I worked in a nail bar when I was pregnant and used common sense to not sit next to someone doing acrylics. Mainly because I hated the smell and it made me nauseas when pg. I wouldn't personally take a small baby in. How are you supposed to feed them?

Flingmoo · 06/02/2015 15:32

YANBU, I can't believe some people would value having pretty nails over their baby's health, either that or they're simply thick and it doesn't occur to them that the fumes might be harmful.

FightOrFlight · 06/02/2015 15:32

Fight. Yes I do

I was just wondering what their ethnicity had to do with it and whether it added something to the story. I don't frequent nail bars but assumed they all use the same type of stuff so I wondered if their country of origin was relevant to the products they chose.

Original poster
HellKitty · 06/02/2015 15:43

I'm not biting Fight.

OP posts:
HorsesDogsNails · 06/02/2015 15:46

Mamushka, there are no fumes there are vapours. Fumes are particles carried in smoke like car exhaust fumes, values are caused by a liquid evaporating. The vapours from nail products are not harmful.

The methacrylate products used in nail products are derived from dental acrylic, so if dental acrylic can be put inside your mouth nail acrylic is perfectly safe on your nails on the outside of your body.....

Hillingdon · 06/02/2015 15:46

The ethnicity is key tbh. Aorund here (Bucks) there are 2-3 nail salons run by people from Vietnam in most towns. They seem totally un-regulated and the two in our local town take cash only. The level of English speaking is not high and I think they are using fake products. The last time I used one (and I will never use again) they did a normal pedicure instead of a gel/shellac one!

The women next to me was having cuticle work and her nails started to bleed because of the tools they were using. She asked to speak to the manager. There wasnt one and they all started panicing and speaking in their own language. I am sorry but I dont understand why these salons with their dodgy chemicals are not being investigated more carefully

SuperFlyHigh · 06/02/2015 15:49

Hillingdon - my local one is Vietnamese too.

They're very good (cash only) but the lady doing my bikini wax and eyebrow threading was a bit harsh compared to say my usual causasian salon....! I'm not even kidding! Shock the manicure was fine!

They are so cheap I can't be bothered to complain but do wonder about regulations too.

TheHermitCrab · 06/02/2015 15:56

I think YANBU.

I know what kind of salons you mean, not big salons where they do nails on the side, but tables lined up just doing nails. The technicians always wear masks, for obvious reasons!

Yes they are dealing with the chemicals all day, and you only have a 30min/1 hour exposure so you don't need to. But babies lungs are very sensitive to these kinds of things.

Depends on the age of the baby though.

Those saying "They can't leave children outside" "maybe can't get a sitter" It's a nail appointment not a doctors appointment. It isn't an essential part of life.

mindthegap79 · 06/02/2015 15:58

YANBU. No way I'd take dd into one of those places.

Hillingdon · 06/02/2015 16:01

Super - I think they are awful places, working cash in hand with people that barely speak English and might be trafficked. My real query is why no one seems to be that interested in investigating them.

You cannot just leave Vietnam, come to the Uk and start doing nails for cash without surely someone thinking its odd and the ones around here are ALL run by Vietnamese.

BTW - I have been to Vietnam. The most interesting, wonderful country but I would have thought these nail bars must fear being raided by HMRC and Immmgration.

Is it because they are cheap? Surely HMRC and co wouldnt have that as a reason why they will not look into them further

FightOrFlight · 06/02/2015 16:01

I'm not biting Fight.

Nothing to bite on, it was a genuine question! I'm a nail nibbler so have never even been inside one of these places. I have no idea if different places use different products Hmm

Hillingdon Thank you for answering my question re: whether they are likely to use different products.

Feminine · 06/02/2015 16:03

No, you are not being unreasonable.
There is no way, a smell like that can be healthy... For adults even.
I don't care what nail technicians claim.
I honestly can't understand the desire to have 'pretty' nails trumps health.

Titsalinabumsquash · 06/02/2015 16:03

I think anyone using them is BU, purely because as a qualified nail technician I cringe every time I see them using the electric drills to file nails, it's one of the worst things you can do to nails and I used to get fed up sorting out ladies with their butchered nails. BlushConfused

I used to get a really tight, wheezy chest from all the chemicals when I worked in a nail salon, I'm not asthmatic or anything either, I wouldn't take a child or baby in one.

Hillingdon · 06/02/2015 16:05

Its only my view Fight that they are fake but having been to Vietnam and used plenty of their salons I wouldnt let them touch my nails and use their equipment to poke and prod. They are however very good at massage. Espeically head and feet! A one hour massage in a Vietnam salon is about 7...

Have promised to go back in a few years.

Titsalinabumsquash · 06/02/2015 16:05

There are no 'regulations' when it comes to beauty, you don't have to have any qualifications or certificates to do anything. It's scary.

SuperFlyHigh · 06/02/2015 16:07

Hillingdon to be honest my local one has been around for at least 6 years so I think they must have HMRC and immigration checks. They don't lock dodgy apart from the cash aspect.

The thing that did piss me off like I said - was when she was harsh with both bikini and threading (I've had both done lots before). actually the bikini wasn't that bad but the threading did hurt.

Hillingdon · 06/02/2015 16:08

I feel a Panorma type documentary coming on. I cannot believe its not on someone's radar

SuperFlyHigh · 06/02/2015 16:09

Hillingdon - also to be fair they did seem very up to standard with hygiene, gloves etc so I don't think that's lacking.

Compare that with a newly opened salon (the owner) where I went for a £15 or £20 taster mani/pedicure and it was done so badly my friend said I could've done it myself. Polishes in a basket slopping around.... Owner constantly on the phone fretting about where her DD was.

sosix · 06/02/2015 16:09

Agree op, fumes and babies not good.

ClumsyNinja · 06/02/2015 16:13

Horses you're quite wrong.
methacrylate is nasty stuff.

Just google images of 'allergic reactions to methacrylate' and then try to argue it's perfectly safe.

Hillingdon · 06/02/2015 16:15

The places seem popular and full, cash is realy dodgy. It got Greece in lots of toruble. When we went there a few years ago they said they would give us 15-20% off prices if we paid cash. And this included restaurants. One place said he wouldnt be able to give us a receipt because he had run out of till roll!

I have had many massages and the ladies in the Far East have hands of steel, the smaller and more delicate they are the stronger they press. At one point I had to ask for a 'soft' massage. They told me there is not such thing!

All this talk about Vietnam makes me want to go back.... Going to my local nail bar wont be the same thing just in case anyone is wondering. They actually say very little I guess because of the language barrier.

Actually how do you come to the UK, with little English and start working on nails taking cash only. Surely when you enter the UK you have to say what the purpose of your visit is??

icelollycraving · 06/02/2015 16:16

I think it's entirely up to individual parents to make that choice. Taking a sleeping baby for a walk along a main road with car fumes wouldn't be great but no one would think anything of it. I took ds to the salon when I was having my hair coloured.
It's not like the manicurist had a baby strapped to her.

Hillingdon · 06/02/2015 16:20

Ice - good point, part of London are horrible and those car fumes are vile.

HorsesDogsNails · 06/02/2015 16:23

Trading Standards is the place to go if you have an issue with a Nail Salon. There is no formal regulation for nails, hair or beauty.

Methyl Methacrylate which 'those' salons use is a low grade, cheap product but it is not dangerous to your health by sitting in a salon.

I am not just 'claiming' that nail products are safe to use, there is on-going rigorous testing. Most of the major product manufacturers are in the U.S. where there is tight licencing of nail technicians and all products are licenced by the FDA.