Today we want to raise such an extremely important topic as sterilization of tools for manicure. During the procedure, the master works directly with the client's hands - with the skin, nail plate, cuticle. And even the slightest microcracks or damage can become a "gateway" for infections, if the tool was improperly prepared. Sterilization is not just about cleanliness and hygiene. It is about guaranteeing safety, showing professionalism and a sign of respect for each client. Without it, a manicure procedure can have negative consequences, even if everything looks flawless at first glance.
What is sterilization
During a manicure, scissors, clippers, files and other accessories are in direct contact with the skin, cuticle and nail plate. On their surface accumulate particles epithelium, residues of cosmetics, dust, and sometimes even blood. If the tools are not treated properly, they turn into a potential source of infection for subsequent clients as well as the master himself.
Sterilization is the final and at the same time one of the most important stages of preparing tools for work. It involves the complete elimination of all pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses and their spores. In addition to its hygienic function, sterilization also extends the service life of instruments. After all, contaminants that remain on the surface, over time cause corrosion and impair their functionality.
Stages of treatment of manicure tools
The processing of manicure tools should consist of three main stages, namely disinfection, cleaning and sterilization. Each of them is important and cannot be skipped.
Disinfection
Disinfection is the first and mandatory step in the treatment of instruments. It is aimed at destroying most bacteria, fungi and viruses that may have remained on their surface after contact with skin or nails.
To do this, the instruments are immersed in a special solution (for example, based on Lysoform, Gigasept, etc.). At this stage, it is very important to observe the proportions, temperature regime and dwell time. This information is always indicated in the instructions for the product.
In professional salons, ultrasonic baths are most often used. They not only disinfect, but also effectively remove skin residue and dust from hard-to-reach places.
Cleaning
The next step is mechanical cleaning of the instruments from residues of biological materials and agents. After disinfection, they should be washed in warm water with a special detergent. A brush with a stiff pile is used for this purpose. Special attention should be paid to hinges and hard-to-reach places. After rinsing, the accessories should be thoroughly dried. This should preferably be done with a clean paper towel or sterile tissue.
Sterilization
Sterilization is the final and most important step. Dry heaters, autoclaves, quartz or UV devices are used for this purpose. Instruments must be completely dry before they are put into the sterilizer. Kraft bags can be used as an option. They preserve the sterility of the manicure supplies until the bag is opened.
How an instrument behaves after sterilization
After sterilization, the instrument may partially change its appearance, such as darkening, staining or loss of shine. These changes are most often caused by overheating or improper care.
To avoid such situations:
- adhere to the temperature and duration of the sterilization cycle;
- use professional instruments made of medical grade stainless steel;
- do not put too many manicure tools in the sterilizer;
- after treatment, store the instrument in a dry place with a moderate level of humidity.
Tool storage
After completing all processing steps, it is very important to store the instrument correctly. After all, even qualitatively performed sterilization is of no use if the accessories will be in contact with surfaces or air.
Kraft bags are used to store manicure tools. In them they are sterilized and stored until they are used. The bag is only opened in front of the customer. Alternatively, UV boxes can be used. These are special cabinets with ultraviolet radiation that maintain the sterility of the instrument for a certain period of time.
Lubrication of instruments
In addition to the fact that manicure tools need to be sterilized regularly, they also need maintenance. One of its key stages is the care of the hinge joints, because after repeated cleaning, the factory lubricant is gradually washed out of them.
To prevent friction and seizure, you should treat the moving parts of the tool with a special lubricant at least once a week. Sewing machine oil is best suited for this purpose. It does not react chemically with metal and does not leave a sticky residue.
To lubricate the tool, you need to:
- drop 1-2 drops of oil on the hinge (joint);
- open and close the tool several times to ensure that the lubricant is evenly distributed;
- remove any residue with a dry, clean cloth or lint-free cloth.
Please note! Lubricate the tool should be after sterilization, because due to high temperatures, the oil can boil, which will negatively affect the functionality of the joints.
Sterilizers for manicure tools
In order for sterilization to be really effective, it is important to use quality equipment capable of destroying all types of microorganisms. Below we will consider the main types of sterilizers that are used for processing manicure tools.
Dry oven
The dry oven is the classic and most reliable sterilization method, which came to the nail industry from medicine. It destroys bacteria, viruses, fungi and their spores by prolonged exposure to high temperatures (160 to 200 °C).
Only metal instruments that can withstand high temperatures can be sterilized in the dryer. For this purpose, it is best to put them in Kraft bags. These bags have several advantages:
- they are labeled, so you can clearly see the sterilization time and the composition of the kit;
- they keep instruments sterile for up to 20-30 days if stored correctly.
On average, a full cycle of sterilization takes from 30 minutes to 2 hours - depending on the model of the dry heater. Therefore, for convenience, it is better for the master to have several sets of manicure tools. While some are being sterilized, others are at work.
Autoclave (steam sterilizer)
Sterilization in autoclave is carried out by hot steam under pressure generated from distilled water. The temperature inside the chamber reaches up to +135 °C and the process itself takes approximately 20-30 minutes.
Thanks to the combination of steam and pressure, the autoclave effectively destroys bacteria, fungi, viruses and their spores. It is an ideal option for salons with a high flow of clients, because sterilization is faster and the result is reliable. The only disadvantage is the higher cost of the equipment compared to dry heaters.
Quartz sterilizer is a flask with quartz balls
A quartz sterilizer is a flask with heat-resistant quartz balls. The principle of its operation is simple. Metal instruments are partially immersed in balls that are heated to a temperature of +160-250 °C. Sterilization is instantaneous - in just 15-20 seconds. However, it should be understood that it is not possible to completely immerse a large instrument in the quartz flask. This equipment is often used to treat the blades of clippers, scissors or tweezers. Therefore, this method is not suitable as the only sterilization option. Rather, it is an additional method for maintaining the hygiene of instruments during the day.
UV sterilizer
An ultraviolet sterilizer is a convenient and affordable device. It uses UV rays to kill microorganisms, which kill bacteria, fungi and other pathogens. The main advantage of UV sterilizers is their versatility. They are suitable not only for metal instruments, but also for accessories with plastic and rubber elements. However, it should be borne in mind that the UV sterilizer will not achieve deep disinfection. It is best used for storing clean instruments between treatments.
Ultrasonic sterilizer
An ultrasonic sterilizer is a device that generates high-frequency sound waves (usually 20-40 kHz). These are transmitted in a reservoir through a special liquid (water or disinfectant solution). These waves create microscopic bubbles that remove dirt, grease, blood, bacteria and other contaminants from the surface of the instruments. This method is not sterilization in the full sense of the word. However, it is excellent for deep cleaning of manicure tools before heat treatment in an autoclave or dry heat oven.
Means and solutions for disinfection of manicure tools
As we said earlier, one of the important stages of processing manicure tools is disinfection. For its implementation, special professional means are used. They can be ready-to-use or concentrated, which must be pre-diluted with water in the exact proportions specified in the instructions.
Let's consider how disinfection is carried out on the example of two popular means that are most often used in salons:
- Surfanios - an effective concentrated agent that is suitable for disinfection and cleaning of manicure tools. To prepare a 5% solution, it is necessary to add 50 ml of Surfanios to 950 ml of water (the concentrate is always poured into the water, not vice versa). Then the instruments should be immersed in the prepared solution and kept in it for 60 minutes.
- Lysoform Active is another powerful disinfectant that destroys almost all known pathogens (tubercle bacillus, hepatitis B and HIV, fungi, spores, avian and swine flu viruses). To prepare an 8% solution, pour 80 ml of concentrate into 920 ml of water. Then immerse the pre-cleaned instruments in the solution and keep them there for 60 to 90 minutes.
In addition to disinfecting tools, the salon should always have special antiseptic sprays or wipes. The work table, armrests, lamp, milling machine and all surfaces in contact with the client or the technician can also become a source of infection. That is why they should be thoroughly cleaned after each treatment.
Recommendations for the care of instruments
In conclusion, we have put together some basic tips for you on sterilizing and caring for your manicure tools:
- Perform a complete cleaning and sterilization cycle of your manicure tools after each use.
- Observe safety rules and be sure to follow all steps of sterilization of manicure tools.
- When using solutions and sterilizers, clearly follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding proportions, temperature and processing time.
- At least once a week, lubricate the hinge joints of manicure instruments with a special lubricant.
- Have the cutting edges of the tools sharpened regularly by a specialist.
- Do not touch the cutting edges with your hands or foreign objects.
- Store accessories in a dry place, preferably in kraft bags or special sterile containers.
Manicure and coating nails with gel-lacquer in Kievin Kiev is a very popular procedure. And only thorough disinfection, cleaning and sterilization of tools is a guarantee that it will be of high quality and safe for the client. This should be remembered by every master and salon, for which its reputation is valuable.