For many busy mothers, a nail salon is a quick getaway spot from their family and their never-ending chores at home. They want to enjoy a great time by letting other people pamper them with a manicure or pedicure. For mothers who decide to take their kids to a nail salon and the kid’s age range can be from infants to teenagers, some initial planning will be beneficial before going.
Generally, taking your kid to a nail salon is preferably based on their age:
- Under five years old: kids should stay at home.
- Under ten years old: they can come for special occasions like birthdays, good behaviors, etc.
- Under 15 years old: she can come for special occasions like birthdays, dance nights, or graduation.
The following sections will cover the above age ranges in depth so you can make a better decision to answer the question “should I take my kid to a nail salon” which is suitable to your situation and help you prepare or prevent any uncomfortable conditions that may arise in a nail salon.
Kids under five years old in a nail salon
NO: if you can leave the kid at home with your husband, grandparents, or someone you trust, do so. Do not feel guilty. The time at the salon will be your recharge time. You will come home to your family in high spirits. Many mothers say they feel like humans again after looking at their finished manicures
or pedicures.
YES: if you can not find anybody to leave your child with and to take them with you is the only option, and you desperately want some nail service, what you should do is:
Do:
- Plan to get one service done, be it a manicure or pedicure, never both, since it will be too long. Even if they can be done simultaneously, do not go for it because you will be easily distracted. Unless getting many services done in the least amount of time is your goal, your primary purpose of being there is relaxation and being pampered.
- Call for an appointment and request the least busy time at the salon, usually in the morning and beginning of the week. There is a chance that you are the only customer, so if your child does something inappropriate, you will not be too embarrassed. Also, this is when the nail salon has the least chemical fumes and dust.
- Bring their favorite foods, different toys, and workbooks, so if your child is bored with one, there will be a different one to keep them busy a little longer. Remember that if your kid is bored, they will not sit still and will move around. Instead, they will run into something, break, or knock something down.
Don’t bribe your kid with a manicure or pedicure to keep her quiet or stay put because she can not sit still for the service, and she is more likely to ruin the polish before it completely dries. Furthermore, doing a little kid’s nails is even more demanding than doing adults’ nails because it might take longer to do repairs and repeat touch-ups.
Kids under ten years old in a nail salon
NO: It will do your sanity a lot of good to get away for an hour or so from your precious child, who can overwhelm you with activities and ever-growing inquisitive questions. You will appreciate some peaceful time alone.
YES: If you have to take your kid with you to your nail appointment, what you should do is:
- Plan to get one long or two short services done only; try to time it under one hour and 30 minutes.
- Pick the least busy time at the salon, usually at the beginning of the week.
- Ask your child to bring their favorite foods, different toys, and workbooks, and let them know that you will be in the same room with them, but you will not be at their side the whole time.
- If your daughter is older, use your judgment to reward her with a quick polish on her nails. Kids do not need a full manicure or artificial nails at this age range, so a polish change with nail trimming will make her happy. A regular polish will be sufficient and is also one of the least expensive services.
Kids under 15 years old in a nail salon
NO: At this age, your kids should be able to be alone at home, so going nail salon is a luxury for you, time-wise. You can enjoy your favorite services alone for a couple of hours.
YES:
- If it is your son, then it is simple. He will know that this is mom’s time. He will do his own thing and can sit in the waiting area until you are done.
- If it is a girl, then your daughter at this age will want the same thing her mom has. Here are a few things you should know before you give her your approval on what products or services she should get:
Manicure with regular polish: this is a simple and less expensive service, but it will make your kid feel like a big customer. The polish only lasts a few days, but it is alright since she will lose interest in her nails soon.
Manicure with gel polish: This service is one step above manicure with regular polish in terms of price, and the polish will last up to two weeks on your daughter’s nails. Do take into account her activities at home and school.
SNS, dipping nails, or acrylic nails: these nail enhancements will involve nail extension. They are expensive and unsuitable for your young daughter’s everyday activities at home and school. If you decide to give your daughter this service, keep in mind her activities in the gym and the sports she plays before you let her get artificial nails longer than she is comfortable with.
Being a mother with young kids, you do not have much time for yourself. So it would be best if you planned which services you want to get. One good way to do that is to tell your nail tech to get what you want ahead of time.
Additional topics on kids in a nail salon
This section covers the additional aspects of a salon and whether it is a suitable environment for your little kids.
With better regulations protecting public health, nail salons have come a long way in proper sanitation, cleaning maintenance, and safety.
Check out chemical fumes in a nail salon:
You should check out a salon near you before you decide to come in for service with the thought that you might have to bring your child.
You should come in when the salon is busiest, usually Fridays after work hours or on Saturdays, and ask for a business card to get the salon number to call and make an appointment later. At this time, you should be able to determine if the salon is well-ventilated and clean.
Since the people who work in nail salons are there all day, they are the ones who will be exposed to the chemical fumes longer than customers who are there for one or two hours.
If the salon owner does not do an excellent job on ventilation, then it is safe to say they do not care about employees’ well-being, much less yours. Therefore, you should take your business somewhere else.
A competent nail salon manager/owner should try to keep up their salon image by keeping a clean working environment even when the salon is busy, and good ventilation is one indication.
Observe dust build-up in a nail salon:
If it is your first time at the salon, you should be able to tell the salon you are in if it is dusty. If it is dust everywhere, it is a sign that cleaning is neglected. Dust is created inside a nail salon every day due to nail filing, but you can always tell if it is old dust or new one, and you can decide for yourself if it is tolerable.
Kid-friendly nail salons:
To avoid an uncomfortable situation when you and your kid go through the salon door only to find out that the salon is not a friendly place for your kid, ask the manager/owner if kids are allowed the first time you come in to check it out.
The slippery floor in a nail salon:
Due to state regulations, nail salons must have non-porous flooring to sanitize or disinfect them effectively. They can be ceramic tiles, linoleum, etc., which are slippery when wet. Manicures and pedicures require water. Sometimes there will be water spillage on the floor. Slippery floors and active kids do not mix well.
Active kids in a nail salon:
Many nail salons do not allow kids inside because they do not want any accidents caused by very active kids. These kids can run into things and might break or knock something down. Remember that many products in a salon are unsafe chemicals for little kids, like alcohol, acetone, and acrylic products, for example.
Also, since glass and ceramics are suitable for keeping nail chemicals, breakable glass or ceramic containers are used in a typical nail salon.
Nail salon liability:
All salons must have business insurance before opening their business doors. Liability is a big thing in the US. Insurance companies are constantly closing all the so-called loopholes or making it difficult for an injured person to win a claim.
It is the same thing with nail salon liability protection. Most of the insurance policies for nail salons only protect their customers. Their definition of who a customer is very narrow and limited. Your kid in a nail salon without receiving any services may not fall into this customer classification.
Any kid can cause an accident at any moment, anywhere, not just yours. For example, you can decide whether your young child will be safe in a nail salon while you are being waited on for an hour or so.
Conclusion
Going to a nail salon for service is a relaxing moment for many busy mothers. Keep that in mind before you consider taking your kid with you. Not only can you get pampered with a long-overdue personal service, but it can also be a much-needed recharge before you return home, where your never-ending chores await.
Now you know all the aspects of kids in a nail salon subject. So it is only you who can answer the question “Can I take my kid to my nail appointment” most appropriately.
Considering all the above factors, your decision about taking your kid with you to a nail salon should involve all the people while you are there, and in this order: you, your kids, other customers, and workers at the nail salon.
From the memories of bringing along toys to keep your little princess busy in a nail salon to watching her sit at a station getting her nails done for prom or graduation, your thoughts will race through the times has gone by. Your local nail salon is one of the unique places to have those sweet moments with your child’s life.
Related readings:
Wonder what to surprise your mother with a thank you gift that she could use and does not cost a lot? Buy her a gift certificate for a pedicure. It is the best pampering gift for her that she will enjoy.
Do not overpay for a pedicure at your local nail salon; instead, read about the average cost of a pedicure in the US.
