Is your self care routine putting you at risk?

I started thinking about this question more when I became pregnant. Thankfully, I never had the nightmare experience of contracting a fungus, or infection, while visiting a standard nail salon... but I certainly always thought about the negative implications more when I became preggo. As a business traveler, and beauty connoisseur, one of my favorite things to do was pamper myself when I traveled for work. Instead of going out to luxe dinners on business trips, I started trying out every upscale spa and nail salon I could find in DC, NYC, Baltimore, San Francisco, and wherever else my work took me.

Living in Charleston for over 6 years, I have come to realize that we are still missing so much of what other large metro areas have to offer in the beauty industry. Part of this is due to very low unemployment, and labor shortages, but that's a convo for a different day:) When I created Mylkbar, I wanted to not only bring a cleaner, more upscale neighborhood nail salon to town -- my goal was to educate my clients, and employees, on the negative health implications found in some salons.

Top Risks in Nail Salons:

• Nail fold infections from overly aggressive drilling, filing, or trimming techniques.
• Contact Dermatitis resulting from the use of harsh chemicals, glues, and adhesives.
• Cancerous tumors from excessive use of UV lights.
• Warts, fungus, and bacterial infections resulting from jetted tubs that are not properly cleaned (the jets may feel nice, but that is where all the bacteria live).
• Asthma, respiratory disease, and difficulty breathing for clients, and technicians, exposed to acrylic monomer powders and adhesive fumes.

What is a gal (or guy) to do?! Mylkbar Eco Nails + Beauty was created with all of the above risks in mind. While it is impossible to completely eliminate every health risk, we take extra precautions and approach nail care in a more sanitary way. Having spent years in healthcare sales, I understand the importance of having strict procedures in place to keep my studio sanitary and clean.

• Our technicians approach the client with the natural nail in mind. We do not over-nip the cuticles or aggressively cut and file near the skin, thus avoiding cuts and microinjuries.
• We dispose of ALL files, buffers, callus remover blocks, and any other implement that is not stainless steel. Every client gets a new, sealed set and is given the option to keep them after his, or her, service.
• We use low heat LED lights for gel manicures. These lights require longer curing times, but are much safer than pure UV lights.
• We follow a double sanitation method for hand washing and the cleaning of pedicure tubs. Technicians wash hands before, and after, each service. Clients are asked to wash their hands before, and after each service as well. Pedicure tubs are unplumbed, thus eliminating the risks that jetted tubs pose. We also manually empty and clean the tubs and treat them with a Barbicide wash and soak. Our service turnover takes longer than the traditional salons, but we believe in quality over quantity.
• All of our stainless steel implements are mechanically cleaned and then immersed in Barbicide for at least 30 minutes before being packaged in a sterile box for the next client's use.
• We are one of the only nail salons in the USA with a set "standard" for our polishes and nail care products. Each line of polish is hand selected, and vetted, by our team. We require that any polish we carry be "6 free" or better, which means that chemicals such as petrochemicals, parabens, DPB, TPHP, toluene, camphor, xylene, formaldehyde, and formaldehyde resin are omitted.
• All lotions, sugar scrubs, oils, and spa products are naturally derived and most are 100% organic. We have many clients with eczema, psoriasis, and inflammatory diseases; my Mother falls into this category and was able to receive her first mani/pedi at 61 years old!
• We do not permit the use of acrylics, fake nails, "dip" gel, or SNS powder as all of these products have been proven to contribute to chronic disease and respiratory failure.

We hope more consumers are in the market for a safe place to get pretty (or handsome) and relax! Please DM me if you have questions or are interested in future franchising opportunities.

xx,

Katie