Getting a manicure is supposed to be pleasurable (and it can be!), but brushing on a coat of nail polish filled with formaldehyde, toluene and phthalates is not something we feel relaxed about.
When you get your nails done, or when you do them yourself, consider what’s being rubbed on your hands, painted on to your nails, and inhaled by both you and the estheticians. Remember: [inlinetweet prefix=”” tweeter=”” suffix=”via @bordenteam”]If it’s on you, it’s in you.[/inlinetweet]
Here’s a helpful summary of the common, dangerous chemicals found in nail polish that you can avoid simply by choosing better brands and better spas. Skip the gel manicure altogether, and watch out for nail polish removers too – what is in it and how is it stripping?
If you’re going to get a manicure, choose non-toxic spas and nail polishes.
Choose salons and spas that are non-toxic and polishes that are water based. In Toronto, we love Alma Natural Spa for manicures and pedicures as they’re lovely, local, and only use nontoxic products (we interviewed owner Katie Grennan a while back). They even let you bring in your own nail polish, as long as it is also non-toxic too.
Click here for more eco-happy Toronto spas, and enjoy these tips and products for pampering yourself at home.
