Can I recover damages from a nail salon who ruined my nail permanently?

[VioletteValentia]

I’ve always work false nails until recently due to somewhere I was studying being against them. I recently went to a wedding and my partner’s mom booked me in to have a full set. I’d never been to the salon before. It was a “Chinese” salon, and I’ve since heard horrible things about these, but hadn’t had any experience before.

I was immediately uncomfortable because I noticed after cutting my skin the instruments weren’t sterilised. I’m a clean freak and that made me feel sick (and I’m now paranoid about all sorts of viruses).

Anyway, the nails looked fine when they were done. A couple of days later, I caught one of them. It lifted my nail off. My actual, natural nail. There was loads of blood and it was incredibly painful, and I’ve had it looked at by an expert who thinks it’ll never grow back because it’s damaged the nail plate. A friend of mine who’s a nail tech said they use a cheap, crap acrylic that isn’t meant for nails, since it’s too strong and ruins them.

I’m really upset by this, I know it’s only a nail and nothing serious but I’ve always enjoyed having my nails done and my one nail is ruined.

Can I do anything legally? I’ve googled and the chemical is banned in the US but not here.

Pics attached.

We’re you the person who visited a&e for a false nail falling off?!! I remember reading about that in the ‘most ridiculous reasons people have visited a&e in 2017’ or something.

No, I visited because my entire hand swelled up and I couldn’t bend my last two fingers, as well as my one finger pouring of blood. 👍🏼

That shouldn't happen with acrylics. I wear them at the moment, and I'm always breaking them ( because I used to bite my nails they're super short and not really that strong - then the acyrlics get a bit top heavy and start to lift off). My natural nail bends and will sometimes break if it's at the tip but the acrylics snap/crack off even if it's at the base. I feels like it pulls a bit but the glue/acrylic is always weaker than the desire of my nails to stay attached to me.

So how do you know that that didn’t cause nail to fall off? Struggling to see the link between a&e visit and nail?

nikkylou yeah it shouldn’t. I’m surprised many think it’s normal.

So how do you know that that didn’t cause nail to fall off? Struggling to see the link between a&e visit and nail?

The point is that the acrylic should’ve broken, not ripped my nail off. Had it been done properly, it would’ve snapped without removing my nail.

I’m not complaining the nail broke, that’s due to the accident. I’m complaining it ripped my natural nail, which shouldn’t happen if done properly.

Were they freshly on? They're at their strongest when new.

My DH is a builder and he's always ripping his nails off

They always grow back. The length of time depends on how quckly your nails grow i guess.

DD4 asks did they use an e file near the cuticle? (she's a nail tech) Best to stay away from cheap salons in future.

Would never go there again.

Don't just never go there again, report them. If only for the women.

Perfect Nails, Poisoned Workers

I think it’s highly highly unlikely you will recover damages worth having for a nail falling off. Especially with an a&e report for another trauma to you hand around the same time.

They were about 4 days old. And yeah, they used an e file on my whole nail. I’ve not seen that done at a normal salon either.

Don't just never go there again, report them. If only for the women.

Where should I report it to?

My advice would be if you want to recover damages, you need to speak to someone in the legal profession as you want to sue this nail salon for (what it sounds like) actual bodily harm. I would get their advice and some medical advice as to whether or not your nail will grow back.

Personally, I wouldn't be lifting the nail from the nail bed and I'd be wearing plasters on that finger for a long long time. I'd also hazard a guess that if the nail is still attached at the crescent moon on your finger, it may be possible for the nail to grow back in time but I have zero experience in this area and could be talking complete rubbish. I hope it does grow back for you.

Thanks Whatcha. I have some legal knowledge and I know people have had successful ABH claims for less, I’m just unsure of any precedent with this.

The salon is really busy and I worry for other girls having their nails done like this, as well as the ethics issue of the potential slavery going on.

My partner wants me to sue them, I’m just unsure whether we will be successful.

With all the problems you've had, now maybe is the time to grow your own nails and stop the false nails

That weakens the natural nail if it's done too heavy handedly.

Some good salons do use e files to remove acrylic, but only the very very top layer, just to speed things up. (DD refuses to use them at all and does it all 'by hand') Then the rest of the removal should be done by hand so as not to touch the natural nail.

I think under your specific circs. you wont be able to claim damages. It would be a costly nightmare to prove negligence. The people that run these cheap arse salons are very savy and know the ins and outs.

One thing to look for if you're having acrylics put on - if the powder is being used out of a random little pot, rather than the branded bottle or jar, you should be wary. Cheap salons will mix a cheap powder themselves adding god knows what to the mix.

One thing to look for if you're having acrylics put on - if the powder is being used out of a random little pot, rather than the branded bottle or jar, you should be wary. Cheap salons will mix a cheap powder themselves adding god knows what to the mix.

Yep, it was an unlabelled container. The false nails I usually have are gels so I hadn’t seen this done before.

With all the problems you've had, now maybe is the time to grow your own nails and stop the false nails

My own nails break. And have done before I’ve even had false nails. I’ve tried strengthener, vitamins, but it doesn’t work. Usually I have no problem with false nails, but they’re usually gel extensions and done by a professional.

For God's sake, don't take advice from AIBU. People will queue up in here to tell someone black is white, and to berate them for not seeing how obvious this is.

Post in legal, but take some proper real-life legal advice. It sounds like you may well have a case but you need a specialist and expert opinion, not the rantings of some embittered souls on the internet who just want to contradict everybody for the hell of it.

Two of my daughters are nail/beauty techs both have their own business (one mobile one salon) and they have so many clients come to them with weak damaged nails from going to crap salons.

My DDs do my nails obvs. and my natural nails are longer and stronger than they've ever been in my life, protected by an acrylic layer on top. I have it all OFF for special occasions because my natural nails are lovely and long and strong now. That's how it should be.

Having gels and/or acrylic on your nails correctly should do no more harm than a layer of good old fashioned nail varnish :)

Whisky I may post this in legal for some more expert advice. I’m surprised the amount of people who think this just goes with having false nails - it doesn’t.

Where should I report it to?

Start with the Citizen's Advice Consumer line. Detail not only the bad work, but also that you believe illegal and/or dangerous work practices are being used and that you're unsure if the nail salon workers are adequately protected. They will be able to help you along further.

My own nails used to break too. However, I tweaked my diet, worked hard on applying the right products on to them to strengthen them, and haven't looked back. It did take a long long time but worth it.

Having gels and/or acrylic on your nails correctly should do no more harm than a layer of good old fashioned nail varnish

I agree. If done properly, and mine have been in the past, it shouldn’t damage your nails. The problem is shit salons doing things like this!

Start with the Citizen's Advice Consumer line. Detail not only the bad work, but also that you believe illegal and/or dangerous work practices are being used and that you're unsure if the nail salon workers are adequately protected. They will be able to help you along further.

Thanks! I’ll do that.

Trading Standards - although i think last time I phoned them it was a phone line run by CAB so may well be the same thing