Did You Know? The Air Quality in a Nail Salon is Top Priority... Here's Why

Ashley Salinas
Mar 4, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Jun 18, 2025

Legit air purifier photo credit: Ashley @ not just a manicure

When you walk into a nail salon, the first thing you will definitely notice is the strong smell of the chemicals being used. Yes, these fumes are a normal part of the nail industry, but if we are careless, they can impact not only the nail tech's health but the client's health over time. As a nail tech of 7 years, ensuring a safe a healthy nail salon visit is my top priority.

Air Quality is so important in nail salons

Nail Salons use a variety of products like acrylics, gels, polishes, and removers. There are chemicals in these types of products that contribute to poor air quality, which can lead to health issues over time.

For clients who are exposed, they might notice a slight headache or dizziness. For nail techs, since we work long hours and are usually exposed to the chemicals longer might have more severe symptoms.

Good News!

The good news is that there are a lot of different ways to reduce risk and improve air quality in your salon space.

photo credit: Ashley of not just a manicure

Improve ventilation

Try installing a ventilation system made specifically for nail salons that captures and filters out the fumes.

Dust collector

This is a direct vent at the manicure table. This helps remove dust and other harmful chemicals before they can spread.

Choose to go Free

When I mean free, I mean toxic-free. There are many gel products out there that are now non-toxic. This means the brand chose to eliminate most of the toxic chemicals in the product. I promise investing in a more higher-quality products is worth it.

Wear gloves and a mask!

This is highly important for nail technicians. We are exposed to these chemicals and dust for more than five hours a day, almost every day of the week, so it’s very important that we protect our hands from overexposure by using gloves and wearing a mask to protect ourselves from the dust in the air.

Clean Clean Clean

Keeping a clean work area is also highly important. We don’t want the dust lying everywhere, and we make sure to spray our area and our client's area with disinfectant. Regular cleaning helps to prevent dust buildup, chemical residue, and product buildup that can cause poor air quality.

Use an air purifier

Air purifiers are also a great way to help improve air quality in the salon. Just make sure you purchase a filter that is designed to trap chemicals and fumes.

Protect your health as a nail technician

Your health is important, so make sure you are taking breaks by walking outside for fresh air to give yourself a break from the dust and chemicals, and drink plenty of water.

A beautiful salon should not just focus on beautiful nails but also on creating a safe and healthy environment for yourself and for your clients. If we make our health and our clients' health a priority, we can ensure that the nail industry will thrive without harming anyone’s health.

If you’re looking for product recommendations, here are some that I recommend:

Ventilation Systems: Look for nail salon-specific source capture ventilation systems like the Aerovex Healthy Air Nail Source Capture System or the Sunflower II Nail Dust Collector.