Twenty-three year salon veteran, Gloria Haley, MNT, celebrates new credential
Gloria Haley shows off her new Medical Nail Tech (MNT) Certification
Medical Nail Tech (MNT) certification awarded by Nailcare Academy
In 2014, a new client came to Gloria Haley for a manicure and pedicure service—turns out she was another nail technician and salon owner nearby in Sebring, FL, and she was looking to retire. She told Haley about her training as an ANT/MNT and Haley was galvanized! She purchased the salon and moved her business to the new location where she is a sole practitioner who specializes in safe, healthy hand and foot care. She immediately enrolled in the Advanced Nail Technician (ANT) Certification Program and began her study of ten-modules of comprehensive “Safe Salon” training. The clients in her new business expected nothing less, and her clients that moved with her were very impressed with her new focus.
“Most of my clients are elderly or have certain health conditions: I take care of High-Risk clients that have Diabetes, neuropathy, cancer, etc,” Haley shares. “They are very loyal because they know no one else will take such good care of them.”
In recent months, Haley has enrolled in and completed her second tier of advanced safety training, the Medical Nail Tech Certification Program (MNT). This program is another ten-module comprehensive training program that incorporates a 40-hour internship in a medical foot care setting. It delves more thoroughly into the special considerations those with chronic health conditions must keep in mind when having salon services. She is thoroughly trained to recognize the commonly presented foot (and hand) conditions that she sees in her practice. She can then make an informed decision about whether to proceed with a cosmetic service, and if so, any modifications that might be necessary. For example, a person with Diabetes that is well controlled might have a pedicure if strict aseptic techniques are followed the way Haley does. She adjusts her “traditional” pedicure to allow for the fact that some Diabetics have neuropathy by reducing the temperature of the water and keeping a light, even pressure in her hands, being on high-alert to prevent breaking the skin in any way.
For those clients who have conditions that contraindicate having a pedicure, Haley refers them to Olga Luepschen, DPM, of Gentle Foot Care Center. “Dr. Luepschen is wonderful to work with. I did my internship with her and she is good about seeing my clients when I send them to her” Haley shares. “Taking the Internship really put all my training into perspective–it all snapped into place,” she says.
Haley with her autoclave
As an MNT, Haley works a little differently than traditional salons, “I make sure everyone washes their hands before we start. They fill out the New Client form so that I know more about their medical history. I’m cautious about checking their feet and legs for signs of skin problems such as plantar warts. And I use an autoclave for my stainless steel implements,” she states.
In one case, she noted a dark streak in the middle of her client’s toe. “I nagged her about it until she went to a doctor and he was concerned enough to perform a biopsy. Her test came back negative, but she was grateful I’d persisted. If I hadn’t taken the ANT/MNT I wouldn’t have known to look for this condition.”
As a side note, Nailcare Academy Co-Founder Janet McCormick knows Haley personally, “She’s my pedicurist,” shares McCormick. “I am very comfortable with her due to her knowledge and training, and I’m lucky she finds time for me in her schedule!”
If you would like to contact Gloria Haley, her phone is 863-368-1386
If you would like to know more about the ANT or MNT training programs, contact Janet McCormick at [email protected] or just use the “contact” link on the website at www.nailcare-academy.com
Safe Salon Updated Privacy Policy
/in Safe Salon /by masteradminSafe Salon Privacy Policy
Claudio Barbieri www.page1ranking.com
Safe Salon cares about the privacy and security of all the users of the website. The website itself is hosted on robustly-protected, secured servers owned by web design and development guru, Claudio Barbieri, Page1 Ranking of Cape Coral, Florida.
Co-Founder Karen Hodges shares “Over the last few weeks, Claudio has been working hard to migrate his clients’ websites over to new, super-secure servers. He’s added additional layers of security with cutting edge technology. That’s one of the things we love about working with Claudio—he keeps refreshing his equipment, software and protocols with the very best he can find.”
In compliance with the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) which was put into place in 2016, Safe Salon has put into place several security measures to safeguard its website visitors from the potential for security breaches. For example, “We do not actually collect credit card payment information from our students,” states Hodges, the company’s designated Data Protection Officer. “Instead, we utilize third party credit card processors who have data security measures of their own in place. This is just one way in which our students’ information is safeguarded.”
What is the GDPR?
In April 2016, the Parliament of the European Union adopted data protection regulation for every company that does business with its citizens. They created specific requirements which must be in place effective May 25, 2018.
Any company that stores or processes personal information about EU citizens within EU states must comply with the GDPR, even if they do not have a business presence within the EU. Specific criteria for companies required to comply are:
These regulations carry the force of law and incorporate very stiff fines for those who play fast and loose with website user data they gather. Some of the requirements are that the website must have and post a privacy policy explaining what data is collected, what is done with it and whether or not if it’s shared with third parties. You can read Safe Salon’s Policy Statement here at this link.
Demonstration of Safe Salon Concepts
/0 Comments/in Safe Salon /by masteradminMay 9, 2017 – Fishkill, NY Local salon owner, Lisa Franzen is the owner/operator of Nail Solutions, LLC, a Certified Safe Salon. Franzen has pursued advanced education and has obtained her credentials as an Advanced Nail Technician (ANT)TM Her clients are fortunate to have her care and concern in providing safe, healthful nail and foot care services. If you are interested in finding this for yourself, she will show you some specific things to look for in your salon in this short video.
It takes less than 5 short minutes to learn important information for you and your friends who need nail or foot care.
Click the “play” button at the bottom left to begin the video.
Always Learning
/0 Comments/in Safe Salon /by Karen HodgesTwenty-three year salon veteran, Gloria Haley, MNT, celebrates new credential
Gloria Haley shows off her new Medical Nail Tech (MNT) Certification
Medical Nail Tech (MNT) certification awarded by Nailcare Academy
In 2014, a new client came to Gloria Haley for a manicure and pedicure service—turns out she was another nail technician and salon owner nearby in Sebring, FL, and she was looking to retire. She told Haley about her training as an ANT/MNT and Haley was galvanized! She purchased the salon and moved her business to the new location where she is a sole practitioner who specializes in safe, healthy hand and foot care. She immediately enrolled in the Advanced Nail Technician (ANT) Certification Program and began her study of ten-modules of comprehensive “Safe Salon” training. The clients in her new business expected nothing less, and her clients that moved with her were very impressed with her new focus.
“Most of my clients are elderly or have certain health conditions: I take care of High-Risk clients that have Diabetes, neuropathy, cancer, etc,” Haley shares. “They are very loyal because they know no one else will take such good care of them.”
In recent months, Haley has enrolled in and completed her second tier of advanced safety training, the Medical Nail Tech Certification Program (MNT). This program is another ten-module comprehensive training program that incorporates a 40-hour internship in a medical foot care setting. It delves more thoroughly into the special considerations those with chronic health conditions must keep in mind when having salon services. She is thoroughly trained to recognize the commonly presented foot (and hand) conditions that she sees in her practice. She can then make an informed decision about whether to proceed with a cosmetic service, and if so, any modifications that might be necessary. For example, a person with Diabetes that is well controlled might have a pedicure if strict aseptic techniques are followed the way Haley does. She adjusts her “traditional” pedicure to allow for the fact that some Diabetics have neuropathy by reducing the temperature of the water and keeping a light, even pressure in her hands, being on high-alert to prevent breaking the skin in any way.
For those clients who have conditions that contraindicate having a pedicure, Haley refers them to Olga Luepschen, DPM, of Gentle Foot Care Center. “Dr. Luepschen is wonderful to work with. I did my internship with her and she is good about seeing my clients when I send them to her” Haley shares. “Taking the Internship really put all my training into perspective–it all snapped into place,” she says.
Haley with her autoclave
As an MNT, Haley works a little differently than traditional salons, “I make sure everyone washes their hands before we start. They fill out the New Client form so that I know more about their medical history. I’m cautious about checking their feet and legs for signs of skin problems such as plantar warts. And I use an autoclave for my stainless steel implements,” she states.
In one case, she noted a dark streak in the middle of her client’s toe. “I nagged her about it until she went to a doctor and he was concerned enough to perform a biopsy. Her test came back negative, but she was grateful I’d persisted. If I hadn’t taken the ANT/MNT I wouldn’t have known to look for this condition.”
As a side note, Nailcare Academy Co-Founder Janet McCormick knows Haley personally, “She’s my pedicurist,” shares McCormick. “I am very comfortable with her due to her knowledge and training, and I’m lucky she finds time for me in her schedule!”
If you would like to contact Gloria Haley, her phone is 863-368-1386
If you would like to know more about the ANT or MNT training programs, contact Janet McCormick at [email protected] or just use the “contact” link on the website at www.nailcare-academy.com
What is an ANT?
/0 Comments/in Safe Salon /by masteradminThe Advanced Nail Technician (ANT) Certification is a credential your
nail technician has earned through extraordinary efforts to know more so s/he can give more care to you…the client who can’t afford to risk an infection in a salon.
This nail technician is a licensed professional who has completed 10 modules of comprehensive training far beyond the minimum requirement of your state’s cosmetology board. S/he has learned a higher standard of practice than taught in any school where the ANT course is not offered. S/he knows more about these topics:
This nail technician does more in daily practice to safeguard clients than non-certified technicians will ever know. Typical foot care treatments with an ANT include these extra considerations:
If any out-of-normal conditions are observed during your services, s/he will talk to you about seeing the appropriate medical provider.
Look for this logo – proudly displayed by graduates of Nailcare Academy
This nail tech stays strictly within Scope of Practice and will not be talked into performing medical treatments during a manicure or pedicure.
If you are seeking safe, careful care of your hands and feet, you are in good hands with a Certified Advanced Nail Technician. The ANT’s training is far above and beyond what can practically be taught in a standard curriculum. The required dedication and hard work required to achieve the ANT status is an indication of a technician who cares more and of his or her dedication to excellence.
The Entire Salon is on Board!
/0 Comments/in Safe Salon /by masteradmin14 Staff Members Certified as Safe Salon® Professionals
Lacquer Salon in Austin, Texas, has just achieved certification of the entire staff of service providers in their downtown (Guadalupe Street) location. Janet McCormick of Nailcare Academy has just conducted a certification training for 14 of the Lacquer staff in how to work with clients in a safe, healthful way. All members went through the training modules and were individually tested in order to achieve their certification.
“We are excited to have Lacquer be our first whole-salon certification participants,” shares McCormick. “This is a program we will be implementing in salons across the U.S. as more owners become aware of the need for safe salon services in their communities.”
“Safe Salon” is a trademarked concept developed by Nailcare Academy to help set benchmarks of excellence in salons so patrons who are seeking care can be assured of the use of aseptic techniques for their protection. This is especially important to those who have chronic health conditions such as diabetes, circulatory issues or immune deficiencies.
Salon owner, Carla Hatler is excited to be able to provide this career-enhancing program for her technicians and therapists. “We work hard to team build as a group, and this is a wonderful new program for us,” Hatler states. New pedicure protocols, as well as procedures throughout the salon are now in place which reflect the Safe Salon Concepts. “We invite Austin to visit us and experience this higher level of service soon,” she adds.
If you are a salon looking for this certification, contact us at (863) 273-9134.
How Do I Become a Safe Salon Professional?
/0 Comments/in Safe Salon /by masteradminTo earn the designation of “Safe Salon” which is a trademarked term used to describe those salons who follow the Safe Salon Concepts, you must take a safety training course, pass an exam and agree to follow the principles set forth in the program:
The Safe Salon Professional must also embrace the Safe Salon philosophy which can be summarized as:
In no circumstance should the technicians of a Certified Safe Salon®perform any service that does not fall within these guidelines and those of their state regulations. They must stand firm in their conviction and beliefs that the safety of the client or the technician must not be put in jeopardy for a cosmetic service.
How to Become a Safe Salon Professional
In order to become a Safe Salon Professional, you must take the Safe Salon Concepts course offered by Nailcare Academy at www.nailcare-academy.com. This course is offered as an add-on to the Advanced Nail Technician (ANT) Certification Program, or may be taken separately. “Many nail technicians find they desire the in-depth training they receive in the ANT program,” states Janet McCormick, Co-Founder of Nailcare Academy.
In addition, nail techs may receive second-tier training with Nailcare Academy as a “Footcare Nail Technician” (FNT) or a “Medical Nail Tech” (MNT). The FNT training takes the ANT foundation and intensifies the knowledge gained about “out-of-normal” conditions of the feet as well as how to work safely with clients who have special health considerations. The MNT prepares nail technicians who want to pursue working in a medical setting providing cosmetic foot care.
If you have a desire to step up your nail career, contact Nailcare Academy at [email protected]
Safe Salons Can Come to You
/0 Comments/in Safe Salon /by masteradminIn some states, mobile nail care services are sanctioned by state cosmetology boards. Tina Porter is one such nail technician who is taking safe, healthful foot care to her clients in their homes and living quarters.
Porter has more than 34 years behind the table and six years as an educator for her local beauty schools. In her years as a nail technology instructor, she embraced a philosophy of “safety and sanitation first.” Her background lead naturally to this emphasis as she is also a Certified Medical Assistant and an Emergency Medical Technician. These roles have prepared her for her next career in the salon: she is also a recent graduate of NA’s Footcare Nail Technology. This advanced training program provides a broader understanding of the health and condition of the feet and nails for those with chronic illnesses.
Porter is taking her new training on the road.
She will be performing on-site routine foot care and cosmetic pedicures for diabetics and others who have chronic health conditions. Her training and background are ideal to support safe, healthful foot care for clients who truly need her services. An example would be someone who is home-bound or in an assisted living facility. Her promise of aseptic practices will assure clients they will be well taken care of.
For example, clients with Peripheral Artery Disease or PAD may not receive massage during foot care appointments. Diabetics may be at risk for a foot soak, due to neuropathy, and the danger of waterborne pathogens with their inability to heal normally. The elderly require specific training for their foot care, as the skin is friable and easily damaged, bruising is a real issue with the common use of blood thinning agents, their joints may be susceptible to injury by someone pulling on them, and so forth.
This niche of foot care clients is growing – approximately 1/4th of the US population has been identified as baby-boomers and many have passed retirement age, with more soon to be doing so. In 2000, the CDC estimated that approximately 12.1 million diagnosed cases of diabetes existed in the U.S. In 2014, that number had nearly doubled at 22 million.(1) More persons needing foot care provided by trained and aware nail technicians is a growing need, and Tina Porter is ready to step up for her community.
“We are so thrilled to have an educator of Tina’s caliber join our ranks,” shares Janet McCormick, co-founder of Nailcare Academy. “We have been seeking out excellence and Tina embodies the passion and drive necessary for success in our industry.”
For information about receiving safe foot care in your location, contact Tina Porter, FNT, at (951) 282-0740.
To follow Tina on social media, watch for the tag #nailtechtrainer.
(1) http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/prev/national/figpersons.htm
What is a Safe Salon®?
/0 Comments/in Safe Salon /by masteradminThere is a Safe Salon Certification Program, written and trademarked by Janet McCormick and Karen Hodges–experts in aseptic practices in the salon.
Karen Hodges and Janet McCormick
McCormick’s background in dentistry highlighted the lack of sanitation and disinfection in salons and spas when she changed careers in the ’80s. She began teaching and writing articles and books about safety practices. One of her students, Hodges learned to work aseptically from the beginning of her 18-year career. She observed two interesting facts in her years providing beauty services:
Together, McCormick and Hodges have created an online educational platform called Nailcare Academy and their programs have their basis is the principles of a “Safe Salon.” Their students learn:
What are some of these “obviously safe” things to look for?
Though they are rare and hard to find, the nail technicians that observe these safe practices are in salons with more joining the ranks weekly. You have to do your homework to find them, and they may not be down the street on your corner, but their care and training will be exactly what you need for safe healthy cosmetic foot care.
Do You Have Special Health Considerations?
/0 Comments/in Safe Salon /by masteradminThe CDC, World Health Organization and countless others exert a lot of effort estimating the impact of chronic illnesses on today’s world population. How do these issues affect YOU? One direct impact is the care of your feet.
Routine Foot Care – is defined by Medicare as the activities of trimming of nails, thinning thickened nails, reducing excess calluses and application of moisture. This sounds just like a pedicure–minus the nail polish!
Did you know there are nail technicians who are trained to safely perform the activities of Routine Foot Care (RFC)…and more! They are also trained to recognize any “not normal” conditions of your feet and lower legs and make appropriate referrals to physicians when needed.
Who are these trained nail technicians? There are hundreds of nail technicians all across the U.S. and Canada who have taken advanced training in foot care. One such programs is the Advanced Nail Technician (ANT) certification program. Written by Janet McCormick in 2008, her program is now available through her online training program at www.nailcare-academy.com. Her students are very well trained in safe, aseptic cosmetic foot care. You just have to find them.
How do I find these ANTs?
One way, of course, is looking on this website, but in the event that trained technicians in your area have not yet registered their information, you can search for “advanced nail technician ANT” with your city name in your browser.
A salon where all of the technicians are individually certified may also display this logo. This “gold star” salon will offer you safe, healthful cosmetic services.
To Glove or Not to Glove?
/0 Comments/in Safe Salon /by masteradminQ: Why should your technician wear gloves?
A: For her protection AND yours against the transmission of infection.
Did you know any person may be “colonized” with any number of pathogens (germs) and be unaware they are a carrier? These pathogens can be passed along person to person with no one the wiser until they come into contact with someone who has a health issue.
You technician should “glove up” every time they touch your skin…whether for manicures, pedicures, facials or waxing. To do so only takes moments and will provide protection against transference of many illnesses and diseases.
A caring professional will guard your (and his/her) health through the wearing of gloves. When inquiring about services in a new salon, ask “Do you wear gloves?”