To avoid nail fungus after pedicure visits, choose a clean, licensed salon that uses a new file, buffer, and pumice for you, disinfected or sterilized metal tools, and a foot spa that is properly cleaned between clients. Come with healthy, unbroken skin, and keep your feet clean and dry afterward. If a toenail turns thick, discolored, or starts to lift, see a dermatologist.
Key takeaways
- The fungi that cause nail fungus spread easily from person to person, including through shared tools and towels.
- A clean salon opens a new file, buffer, and pumice for each client and uses cleaned, disinfected metal tools.
- In California, foot spas must be cleaned after every client and logged. Without a liner, that includes at least 10 minutes of hospital disinfectant.
- Don’t shave right before a pedicure, and reschedule if you have cuts or athlete’s foot.
- Watch for thick, discolored, split, or lifting nails, and see a dermatologist early.
How nail fungus spreads
Nail fungus is an infection of the nail caused by fungi. The CDC describes fungal nail infections as common infections that can make the nail discolored, thick, and more likely to crack and break. The CDC also notes that small cracks in your nail or the skin around it can let these germs in.
The fungi that cause nail fungus like warm, damp places. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), they spread easily from person to person. You can pick them up from:
- Shared nail tools, like clippers, that weren’t cleaned and disinfected
- Unwashed towels, shoes, and other personal items
- Wet floors in locker rooms, gyms, spas, shared showers, and pool decks
- Athlete’s foot, a fungal skin infection that can spread to the toenails
A pedicure brings several of these together: warm water, bare feet, and tools that touch many clients a day. That doesn’t mean pedicures are unsafe. It means the salon’s cleaning habits matter a lot.
What a clean salon does to prevent nail fungus after pedicure visits
The CDC advises choosing a salon that is clean and licensed by your state’s cosmetology board, and that sterilizes instruments after each use. In California, state rules spell out exactly how salons must handle tools and foot spas. Here’s what that looks like at the chair.
1. New files, buffers, and pumice for every client
Files, buffers, and pumice stones are porous. They can’t be disinfected. California’s salon rule 16 CCR § 981 says tools and supplies that can’t be disinfected, including buffers, pumice stones, toe separators, and emery boards, must go in the trash right after use on one client. New supplies must be stored in a clean, covered place labeled “New.”
Many salons make this easy to see by opening a sealed disposable pedicure kit in front of you. If you’re curious why salons can’t keep these items, read can nail files be reused?
2. Metal tools that are cleaned and disinfected
Clippers, nippers, and pushers are metal, so they can be cleaned between clients. California’s rule 16 CCR § 979 says these tools must be cleaned with soap or detergent and water, dried, and then fully soaked in an EPA-registered disinfectant that kills bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Clean tools must be kept in a covered container labeled “Clean” or “Disinfected.” Used tools go in a container labeled “Dirty,” “Soiled,” or “Contaminated.”
Tools lying loose on the counter, or pulled from a drawer, are a warning sign.
3. A foot spa that is cleaned after every client
This is the big one. Under 16 CCR § 980.1, after each client a California salon must do the following for a whirlpool foot spa:
- Drain all the water from the basin.
- Scrub the inside walls with a clean brush, liquid soap, and water.
- Rinse the basin.
- Refill it with clean water.
- Run an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant, labeled as a bactericide, fungicide, and virucide, through the basin for at least 10 minutes.
- Drain, rinse, and wipe it dry with a new, clean paper towel.
- Write it down in the pedicure equipment cleaning log.
The same rule adds a deeper clean at the end of each day, with the screen removed and scrubbed, and a weekly step where disinfectant sits in the unit for at least 6 hours. You can ask to see the log. Our post on the pedicure spa cleaning log shows what one looks like.
Many salons also use a disposable spa liner in the tub. A fresh liner is a nice extra, but it does not replace cleaning. California’s liner rule (16 CCR § 980.4) still requires the tub to be scrubbed with a brush, liquid soap, and water, rinsed, dried, and logged after every client.
4. Fresh towels and clean hands
The AAD warns against sharing unwashed towels. Look for a clean towel for each client and a tech who washes their hands before starting.
Clean salon checklist
| What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Posted state licenses | The CDC advises choosing a salon licensed by your state’s cosmetology board. |
| A new file, buffer, and pumice opened for you | These can’t be disinfected, so they’re single-use. |
| Metal tools from a covered “Clean” container or sealed package | Shows tools were cleaned and disinfected or sterilized after the last client. |
| Foot spa drained and scrubbed before you sit down | Required between every client in California, with or without a liner. |
| A pedicure cleaning log near the chairs | California salons must log each cleaning. |
| Fresh towels for each client | Unwashed towels can spread fungi. |
The AAD says most salons take care to clean tools and foot baths for each client. Still, it pays to watch. If you don’t see it happen, the AAD suggests asking for it before your service.
What you can do before your appointment
Your own skin is part of the defense. Germs get in more easily through small breaks in the skin.
- Don’t shave your legs right before. Shaving can leave tiny nicks you can’t see. Read should you shave before a pedicure for the details.
- Reschedule if you have cuts, scrapes, or open bug bites on your feet or lower legs.
- Treat athlete’s foot first. The AAD says signs include cracked, scaly, or peeling skin, or itching, burning, or stinging, often between the toes. Athlete’s foot fungi can spread to your nails.
- If you think you already have nail fungus, see a dermatologist before your next pedicure. The fungi spread easily to other people.
- Talk to your doctor first if you have diabetes. The CDC notes diabetes can damage nerves and affect blood flow in the feet, which raises infection risk.
Calluses that crack can also open the skin. Our guide on how to get rid of calluses on feet covers safe at-home care.
Foot care after your pedicure
Good daily habits help keep nail fungus after pedicure appointments from getting a foothold. These come from the AAD and CDC:
- Keep feet clean and dry. Wash them every day and dry them fully, including between the toes.
- Change your socks every day, and again if they get sweaty. Moisture-wicking socks help.
- Let your shoes dry out. The AAD suggests giving shoes 24 hours to dry before wearing them again.
- Wear breathable shoes, like canvas or mesh.
- Wear sandals or shower shoes in locker rooms, gyms, spas, shared showers, and on pool decks.
- Keep toenails short and clean. Trim straight across. See how to prevent ingrown toenails for trimming tips.
- Don’t share nail clippers or towels, even at home.
Signs of nail fungus and when to see a doctor
Check your toenails now and then. The AAD lists these signs of a possible infection:
- Thickening of the nail
- Splitting
- Discoloration (a change in the nail’s color)
- The nail lifting away from the skin
If you see any of these, make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist. The AAD says nail fungus is better prevented than treated. Treatment can take about a year and often needs prescription medicine. When it’s caught early, it may clear with treatment applied to the nail.
See a doctor right away if the skin around a nail turns red, warm, swollen, or painful, or starts to drain, after a pedicure. That can be a sign of a different kind of infection that needs care. This article is general information and isn’t a substitute for medical advice.
FAQ
Can you get nail fungus from a pedicure?
You can if tools, towels, or foot baths aren’t properly cleaned. The AAD says the fungi that cause nail fungus spread easily from person to person, including through shared nail tools and unwashed towels. Choosing a clean, licensed salon and watching how it cleans lowers your risk.
How do I know if my pedicure gave me nail fungus?
You can’t tell for sure where an infection came from. Watch for a nail that gets thicker, changes color, splits, or lifts. If you see these signs, see a board-certified dermatologist, who can check the nail and tell you what’s going on.
Should I bring my own tools to a pedicure?
You can if it makes you more comfortable. But a clean salon should already open a new file, buffer, and pumice for you and use metal tools that were cleaned and disinfected. Bringing your own tools doesn’t fix a dirty foot spa, so the salon’s cleaning still matters most.
Is it safe to get a pedicure if I have toenail fungus?
It’s best to see a dermatologist first. The fungi that cause nail fungus spread easily from person to person, and the AAD notes that nail fungus caught early may clear with treatment applied to the nail. Your doctor can tell you when it’s okay to go back to the salon.
Does a spa liner prevent nail fungus?
A liner adds a layer between your feet and the tub, but it doesn’t replace cleaning. In California, the foot spa still has to be scrubbed, rinsed, dried, and logged after every client, liner or not.
Bottom line: you can lower your risk of nail fungus after a pedicure by choosing a clean, licensed salon, coming with healthy skin, and keeping your feet clean and dry afterward. Salon owners can stock single-use items in our pedicure kits and gloves and sanitation categories. Questions? Call +1 (669) 696-7724 or reach us through our contact page.
