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.

A senior beauty therapist who lectures at a college, told me it probably won’t grow back.

TBH if you want to go down the legal route I suspect you’d need a proper medical opinion.

As an aside, if you suspect this is a modern slavery set up, who do you think is going to pay you your compensation?

You knew what these places are like and still went.

I had never been before. I assumed people would have a standard to act to, apparently not.

Am I at risk of getting sick? They didn’t break my skin/I had no cuts, but as soon as I noticed they didn’t put them in barbicide and used them straight away on someone else, I felt sick.

Love the way you're more concerned about staff not sterilising tools than about them being slaves...

Love the way you're more concerned about staff not sterilising tools than about them being slaves...

I don’t want HIV or hepatitis. Am I not allowed to be concerned about someone using unclean tools?

How anyone can say acrylics don't do any harm to your natural nails, I don't know. Your natural nail has to be filed for starters, thus weakening it, then it is covered for god knows how long, meaning you are unable to massage anything into the natural nail to nourish it. It's bound to have an effect

My OH had a particularly nasty accident at work in which he sliced through his finger with a stanley knife, the blade went straight through his fingernail and the tip of his finger was barely hanging on, he had to have minor surgery to stitch it back on and the nail fully removed. His nail grew back fine, I would wait and see. Will take a couple of months.

Your natural nail has to be filed

Pretty sure if done correctly, you don’t have to file the natural nail. That’s only done if the place is fairly shite, like where I went.

I’ve NEVER had my nails filed for false nails before.

Suggest you visit GP nurse to have it looked at and get care instructions, or your local pharmacy. As for going legal? I wouldn't bother as its too hard to prove anything. Do report tho'.

Speaking as a nail tech, these NSS (non standard salons) are what are destroying our businesses. They use MMA liquid which costs a tenth of the amount of EMA (the safe alternative that reputable salons use). MMA was banned from use in the nail industry in the 70s but isn't banned from production as its used in dentures.

To use MMA, the nail plate needs to be filed down (using a drill) to be wafer thin as the nail will naturally reject the product. The resulting nail is very strong but will (as OP has found) take your natural nail rather than break off should you catch one with some force.

How to tell if your salon is non standard...
Product stored in plain packaging
The excessive use of drills (these should NEVER be used on the natural nail)
Cheap sets of nails (although this is not always an indicator)
No visible sterilisation of drill bits
Using files that have been used on previous clients
Excessive use of masks
Airbrushed white tips are a trademark of these salons

I could go on all day... visit these salons at your peril, I've made people aware of the risks and they still go because they are cheap...

Sorry for the long post!

www.jessicavero.com/dangers-of-mma-acrylics.html

Khaleesi thank you. That’s exactly what this salon was like. Why are they allowed?!

I've never had my natural nails filed down when I've had acrylics, just buffed. They use cuticle oil every time and I use it at home too. Like with most things, it's about taking proper care.

I’m so angry these salons are allowed to exist.

The industry needs to be regulated. They destroy the businesses of people like me who only use good quality products. Only thing is, quality products don't come cheap...

I’ve always gone to a reputable salon, this was the first and only time I’ve been to one of these. I’m surprised there’s no regulation!

Sheesh! There are a shit load of victim
blaming bitches in this thread!
If your best friend came to you in real
life with her fingernail missing due to a dodgy salon using nasty chemicals, would you be so ruthless? I’m guessing not!

A senior beauty therapist who lectures at a college, told me it probably won’t grow back.

I assumed you were going to say it was a consultant dermatologist! get a proper medical opinion first (privately as this isn't really something the NHS should sort out) as you'll need that for any lawsuit.

If your best friend came to you in real life with her fingernail missing due to a dodgy salon using nasty chemicals, would you be so ruthless? I’m guessing not!

She shouldn’tve had false nails apparently

Personally I think if you’re paying for a service, you expect them to provide it safely and in a clean manner. But that’s just me.

Google the effect that MMA can have on your internal organs and most people would not go back.

Unfortunately, I've advised many on the bad situation but they still return because "it's cheap".

I did the same to my nail a good few years ago now and it hurt so bad. It did grow back eventually but took a while.i jist used to paint my skin so people didn't notice there was no nail ..good luck i hope it grows back for u

Its a nail. Get on with your life ffs.

Any need for that aggression blue?  I’m allowed to be annoyed that something I paid for has damaged my nail and been poor quality, and is painful.

It's not aggression op - it's sheer bloody outrage that places like this exist. Plus a large helping of incredulity that your focus is still on your nail. Have you reported the salon yet?

I'm puzzled. If I had never had my nails filed down in preparation for acrylics, and I went somewhere that went to file my natural nail, I would halt the treatment and walk out.

Khaleesi I’ve had itching and migraines and a sore throat since I had them done. I wondered if it was the chemical but I’m terrified I’ve contracted something from dirty tools.

I will never go back!

It's not aggression op - it's sheer bloody outrage that places like this exist. Plus a large helping of incredulity that your focus is still on your nail. Have you reported the salon yet?

I’ll be reporting them today. Trying to find out a bit more about the salon first.