These manicurists, make up artists and nail artists who have suffered while beautifying us didn't have to and won't have to suffer in vain. We do our nails or get them done to feel good.. To relax.. To treat ourselves.. For our look.. These hard working manicurists have bills to pay and they want us enjoy our treat.
PERFECT NAILS, POISONED WORKERS
("Perfect Nails, Poisoned Workers", New York Times)
The fumes you smell when you open a bottle of nail polish should be a warning enough that there is something toxic inside. Nothing in nature smells like your average nail polish. However, the smell goes away when they dry. The residue is washed off, we hope. When we look at the beauty of the art, we can forget about the chemicals. We eat with our fingers, touch mucous membranes with nails, touch other people with nails. Gel use can be just as dangerous especially if you don't use sunscreen and use UV instead of LED.
*The Toxic Threesome*
The three chemicals in nail products that are associated with the most serious health issues are dibutyl phtalate (currently banned in the European Union and Australia starting this June), toluene and formaldehyde (popular for embalming; cosmetic use will be 7banned in the European Union in 2016).
Obviously, if these ingredients were safe, Australia and the European Union wouldn't ban them.. Unless they ban things that are healthy.
As for the United States, regulations of chemicals in nail products are dictated by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938. This law has, which hasn't been updated in seventy-seven years, states that cosmetic products and ingredients do not need F.D.A. premarket approval.
The F.D.A. has further mentioned,
“Neither the law nor F.D.A. regulations require specific tests to demonstrate the safety of individual products or ingredients.”
So.. If someone tries to tell you that the same chemicals that they use to preserve dead people are completely safe for your nails; they're probably a lobbyist or someone trying to sell you their nail polish.
*How To Polish Safely*
We don't have to stop painting our nails. Just play safe..
· Use 3/5 free, vegan and/or cruelty-free polish
· Use sunscreen when getting gels
· Try out nail stickers, foils, stamps (pictured)
· Tell nail polish companies you won't support animal testing
· Ask for ventilation and safer practices for manicurists
· Avoid toxic ingredients whenever possible
· Don't eat polish off nails!
A great many of nail polish companies have voluntarily removed certain chemicals from formulations. In 2006, several prominent brands had announced their products would no longer contain any of the three. The new products were labeled “3-free” or “5-free,” meaning they did not have the "Toxic Threesome" and/or less other toxins.
*Thank California And Pay It Forward, Nail Salons!*
California passed a measure that required cosmetics companies to disclose certain hazardous chemicals to the California Department of Public Health. These California advocates introduced a grass-roots program that officially recognizes “healthy nail salons,” which that carry “greener” products, are safer and that ventilate. The New York City Council held a hearing this month on a measure that would establish a similar voluntary program.
Today, 55 salons in California are in this program. Let's try to encourage more salons to do this! A lot of manicurists and nail artists are told by their doctors to wear gloves and masks, yet they can't because people say it doesn't look pretty. They need to! And it might be a little drafty in the salon, however they are inhaling all of these chemicals to make us feel good and look pretty. We can bundle up a little so that they won't cough. The one featured in the New York Times article is Lulu Nail Spa, a tiny salon with a dusky rose wall and white-leather pedicure chairs in Burlingame, California and it has 5 stars on Yelp! So if you're there, check them out and keep up the good, ethical work!
I will keep you in the loop about healthy cosmetics and salons and remember to treat your bodies with love!
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