NEWS

Healthy Nails

Last month, I went to a new nail salon to get a manicure. My manicurist wore a cute little face mask while she carefully buffed and trimmed my nails. I assumed she was protecting herself against the fumes that she must encounter everyday. Even my husband complains about the smell of my nail polish wafting through the house when I paint my nails at home.

When the masked manicurist finished with the final coat she pulled out a formidable aerosol can and proceeded to spray my fingers and hands.

The smell of my newly painted nails coupled with the row of women donning newly painted nails beside me and the toxic cloud of nail fixative pushed me over the edge. “Ten minutes!” my manicurist chirped as she slid away and left me choking in her wake.

I hate to say it – my nails didn’t chip for two weeks. They were beautiful and impenetrable and no amount of picking and washing could alter my nails’ gleaming dark red surface. But maybe my husband has a point.

The three big bad guys of nail polish are toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate. Toluene causes headaches, dizziness and “drunken” behaviour. Formaldehyde is carcinogenic and may also cause headaches if fumes are inhaled. Dibutyl phthalates are traditionally used to soften plastics and have been linked to reproductive issues in both men and women.

There are options Honey Bee Gardens, Zoya and Spa Ritual all produce formaldehyde, toluene, and dp free nail enamel.

This weekend I will be trying Spa Ritual’s formaldehyde-free, water based nail polish. I will update you on how my natural polish holds up against the ravages of dish washing, a birthday party and last-minute book club baking. -stan byrne