Your Heaven in Hygiene

While looking forward to beautiful nails and all things associated with pampering one self, did you know that you may be putting yourself in danger by not choosing the right salon? 


We don't mean choosing a salon in terms of style or cosmetic preference, but one that ensures the highest standards of hygiene safety. At The Mobile Spa, we cannot emphasise enough, the importance in good implementation of first class hygiene (and hence, safety). So much so, that we've decided provide you, our valued clients and would be customers, with some essential tips on what to look out for:

As the ONLY mobile salon in Bahrain to use disposable tools and the autoclave, a medical grade device used to sterilise equipment in hospitals and dental clinics, The Mobile Spa prides itself in giving you the best in overall hygiene...not only because you deserve it, but because you are entitled.

With that, on visiting any other salons, we suggest you you take with you the following pointers:


1. Observe

Arrive 15 minutes earlier than your scheduled appointment. This will allow you to sit and watch your therapist prepare for your chosen treatments. Ensure your equipment has been cleaned accordingly and look out for any actions/bad habits that may put you at risk.


2. Look & Feel

Does your salon look sanitary? Are the floors clean? The manicure tables neat and tidy? Are the towels freshly washed (to the scent), neatly stacked away from other clients and work stations? Are used towels changed immediately between clients? Does the therapist wash/sanitise her hands pre-treatment? Does she wash/sanitise your hands/feet pre-treatment? Is your salon using disposable foot rasps?


3. Sterilisation

Are the implements packed in individual sterilisation pouches? Ask your therapist: do they disinfect or sterilise? Are you aware of the differences between sanitising, disinfecting and sterilisation?


Let's break it down:
Sanitation is simply another word for 'cleaning'. Washing hands, brushing teeth, or rinsing any object with soap and water are all examples of sanitation.


Disinfection means to 'reduce the microbial load on an object'. By disinfecting, you then reduce the chances of transmitting infection. However, because the number of micro-organisms have only been reduced, and not fully eliminated, there is no guarantee of optimum safety.


Sterilisation is absolute: ALL micro-organisms have either been removed or killed. A sterile object has NO viable microbial cells present. The best way to sterilise is to use an autoclave (pressurized steam sterilisation) to sterilise all implements, as done in hospitals for surgical tools.


4. Watch where your feet go

Footbaths can harbor germs if the water isn't changed between customers, or if the footbath isn't disinfected after it's emptied. Make sure the pedicure tub is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to your treatment. Foot spas should be emptied and filled again with water to which hospital grade disinfectant has been added. This should be let to sit for 10 mins, then emptied, wiped and dried using paper towels, which should then be discarded. This needs to be done after each and every client.

5. Beware of the little things

The steps that clients typically use (with their bare feet) to position themselves for spa pedicure treatments should also be cleaned and disinfected. Once your feet are in the tub, a safer and guaranteed solution is the use of individual disposable liners. 

Prior to the customer setting their feet into the spa pedicure tub, a plastic disposable liner shouls placed in the tub, the water is turned on into the liner, and the nail technician is ready to do the spa pedicure. Upon completion, the liner is removed and disposed. You, as the customer, should never touch the surface of the tub with the liner as a barrier.


6. Question:
Don’t be afraid to ask your therapist or the spa manager questions regarding what's fundamentally important: your safety!


To conclude...

Most salons do have in place some form of is opropyl alcohol-based germicide - the most common being the familiar Barbicide^®. Unfortunately, there are few controls on how diligently it might be employed or replenished. Moreover, any such disinfectant (and that is what all these formulations are) will not kill spores. That requires true sterilization, generally effected by pressurized steam (autoclaving).


In short, it's unfortunate that most salons only disinfect implements. Now, is that enough for you? Remember how celebrity Paula Abdul had contracted a fungal infection from an upscale nail salon, triggering a yearlong medical ordeal: Click here for the full story

Did you also know that you're still not safe even if you bring your own manicure/pedicure kit? Your kit has to be sterilised too! Accumulation of skin and debris even on your own implements can build up into an infection hazard.

The Mobile Spa ensures that we provide a safe and healthy environment at all times. Here's how:

- We are the FIRST and ONLY salon to use an AUTOCLAVE for sterilisation in Bahrain.

- We use disposable tub liners. We use disposable foot rasps. Even our paraffin treatment is a single-use disposable alternative to the communal paraffin tub.

The Mobile Spa firmly believes that a hygienic and safe environment is your right! Never, a matter of choice.

Deena & Souha, The Mobile Spa Founders