ethical mani pedis?

[jadelennox]

So in light of the deeply distressing NYT piece "The Price of Nice Nails" about manicurists and wage theft, does anyone know of some places around here where we know for a fact the manicurists are treated at least with the legal minimum of tipped employee wages, OSHA regulations, etc?

Sigh.

Comments

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

Posting to be sad about the demise of Square Nail in Davis, which as far as I could tell existed for the purpose of being the opposite of all these dangerously chemical slave labor places... but their prices were high and they went out of business. I *think* the salon that's across the street from me, which was my replacement, is okay (I've known the owner, Lisa, and her employee, also her sister, for years, and there are no obvious signs in their salon of any of the abuses the article describes). But... a feeling isn't knowing.

I'm even more troubled by the NYT's follow-up article about Perfect Nails Poisoned Workers. God, it's horrible, it's like the radium girls. I always pick OPI polishes, which are 3-free, but there's still nail polish remover... I could take my polish off myself before going so they don't have to do that part... but I mean at some point I have to start questioning whether or not it's possible to get my nails done "ethically" at ALL.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/11/nyregion/nail-salon-workers-in-nyc-face-hazardous-chemicals.html

[jadelennox]

Yeah, I'd heard great things about Square Nail.

And yeah, the whole thing is awful. I don't even know.

[alphacygni]

I miss Square Nail so much. I still haven't found a good replacement. I had been thinking about just making do and going ~anywhere, and then those articles happened, and my resolve to find something at least as decent is strengthened again. I will follow this thread with great interest.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Right. At home all I use is 5-free polishes, but that's me, and they are in all that solvent and chemicals all day. There's no part of an acrylic nail that I can consider ethical right now.

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

Yup.