To ask for a face mask when I go to the nail bar?

[Bumbleclat]

The staff always wear them and Im 6 months pregnant and worry about the fumes... probably doesn't make much difference but the were a bit huffy with me when I asked!
AIBU?

Surely nail technicians wear surgical masks to keep the dust from the nail prep out of their lungs. Simple surgical masks won't do much to stop anyone breathing in the chemicals or taking them in through their skin. You can buy your own cheaply or to be extra safe during pregnancy skip the nail salon

Errm yes of course YABU!

If you're genuinely worried about fumes, why would you go anywhere near a nail bar?

Either buy your own to take or stop getting your nails done if you're genuinely worried. Seems a bit of an odd request when it's your choice to go there or not...

It's not the chemicals they are guarding against it is the dust from filing.

YOU asked for a mask? HAHAHAHAHA. Don't be so utterly ridiculous! Jeez.

Hah, sigh. Dust masks are for dust. It won't protect you from fumes any more than people wearing them at airports will be protected from catching illness or people wearing them in cities will be protected from pollution. Filters in face masks are big, airborne particles and fumes are very small. YABU to think a face mask will protect you. Probably made yourself look a bit silly there.

shut up!!!

Lol, looks like IWBU.

The chemicals do smell very strong though, I worry about the risks for the workers in these places, can't be right can it?

Actually this isn't ridiculous at all and the reason workers in cheap nail salons are wearing masks is because they're most likely using toxic chemicals like MMA in their acrylics solution. Best to steer clear in general.

IWouldLike dust masks cannot physically protect against fumes, they are not designed for that. You would need a respirator or fume hood to protect from fumes.

As has been said they only protect against the dust from the filing.

I stopped going to these nail bars when I found out I was pregnant.

I don't imagine they are great protection but probably better than nothing and a full on boiler suit would no doubt scare off the customers.

If you're that worried why go to a nail bar in the first place?

YANBU - I'm kind of surprised people say you are but if your s paying customer I'd think asking for a mask is fairly reasonable. I agree with other posters if your worried about fumes why not stay away all together but that's your choice.

I'm surprised at these responses. I'd ask.

yes it's for the drill /emery dust (mainly drills)
I'm weird as love the smell of nail bars!
Probably not healthy, no. Would get headache if worked there
Mask would do nothing, if worried do your own

I thought you weren't meant to have acrylics when you're pg. but I might have imagined that.

I imagine at least some of the workers will believe that the masks protect them from the fumes - masks are worn in Asia for illnesses, car fumes, air pollution etc. I was under the impression that they did protect from particles like coal? They may be big particles though ??

YANBU to want to wear one, although it's polite to bring your own.

I don't mean to sound sanctimonious but I avoid any nail salon that smells of chemicals, both for my own sake and the workers'. This is based on salons in New York rather than UK but I imagine there's plenty of places here that aren't too dissimilar: www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/nyregion/at-nail-salons-in-nyc-manicurists-are-underpaid-and-unprotected.html?_r=0