Nail-biting
(Courtesy of The Age online: http://blogs.theage.com.au/lifestyle/beautybeat/archives/2008/02/nail_biting.html)
Are you concerned the ingredients in nail polish may be harmful? Is it enough to make you shun manicures and leave your nails bare? Nail polish is notorious for containing chemical nasties and artificial nails have the worst reputation – the nail bar technicians work in face masks, after all.
Consumers are increasingly calling for a ”healthier approach to nails”, according to Elmien Scholtz, founder of Bio Sculpture Gel, which positions itself in the world market as being ”100 per cent free from phthalates, formaldehyde and toluene”. ”It is a safe option not only for our technicians but consumers including pregnant women,” she said on a training visit this week to Australia, where 4000 salons use her gel nails.
Is doing your nails so very dangerous? While I’ve never considered artificial nails (ick), I’ve always worn nail polish, even when pregnant (even in the delivery room). Without it I not only feel ungroomed and underdressed (even in the delivery room!) but I find my nails are not as clean and certainly not as strong. I weigh the miniscule amounts of chemicals in nail polish against the exhaust fumes, smoke and processed food that I do avoid and choose and enjoy my DIY red toes. Is this being pragmatic or foolhardy?
Do you believe that nail polish poses a genuine health risk or is being concerned about it just part of the raging greener-than-thou trend?
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