Many Nail Technicians believe that nitrile gloves offer protection against nail product chemicals that can cause allergies. The truth is not so simple.

The British Association of Dermatologists has today issued a warning that (meth)acrylate chemicals, the key ingredients in acrylic nails, gel nails and gel polish nails, are causing a contact allergy epidemic in the UK and Ireland.

Chemists recommend that you use the UV lamp supplied by the gel manufacturer. If you don't, in addition to less reliable nails, there is a risk of heat spikes and there is also a greater risk that you can develop an allergy.

The ‘Russian’ manicure – a variation on high-speed microderm- abrasion with e-files, is seen as an effective contemporary method of removing unwanted living skin as part of the prepa- ration process of a nail service. It is seen to negate the need for clipping, removers or wooden sticks. However, there are many concerns surrounding this method.

Nail salon clients who are pregnant can continue to enjoy nail enhancements because the amount of exposure to nail product chemicals during a service is miniscule. Nail technicians who are pregnant may want to take additional precautions.

If you are looking for a professional ventilation system for your salon, there are two main possibilities. Either you buy a system that vents the air to the outside, or you buy a recirculating filter system that cleans the air and returns it to the room. Recirculating filter systems have the advantage that they are not a fixed installation, so you can move them around the room or to a new salon if required later. Fixed systems that vent the air to the outside can be less expensive if you have many nail stations, but the running cost are higher, it is expensive to change your room layout and if you move to a new address it usually not economic to take the ventilation system with you.