Protecting the Health of Nail Salon Workers

Nail Files: A Study of Nail Salon Workers and Industry in the United States, 2018

Read the Full Report Here

Manicures, once considered a high-end luxury, are now readily accessible to people at most income levels. Today, there are more than 55,000 nail salons in the U.S., the majority of which are “mom and pop” businesses. More than half of the nail salon workforce is Vietnamese, with women making up the majority.

But there has been a price to pay—mostly by workers who have been exposed daily to toxic chemicals used in nail products without adequate ventilation. A growing body of research has examined the significant links between the work of nail technicians and health outcomes, such as respiratory, neurological, and musculoskeletal effects, as well as the impact on reproductive health. Known as the “toxic trio,” three chemicals—dibutyl phthalate, toluene, and formaldehyde—have been associated with serious health issues. Plus, salon workers face other issues, including workplace hazards, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, workplace violence, and low wages.

California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative

Founded in 2005 in the Bay Area, the California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative is a statewide grassroots organization that addresses health, environmental and reproductive justice, and other social issues faced by its low-income, female, and Vietnamese immigrant and refugee workforce. The organization advocates for healthy, safe, and better working conditions in the nail salon service industry by calling for policy changes at the federal, state, and local levels. The Collaborative has grown nationally, including activity in Georgia.