Self-Care—But at What Cost?

While enrolled in a labor studies class at UCLA, I began learning about various worker's industries, one being nail salon workers. The nail salon industry, an 11 billion dollar global industry, markets towards relaxation and self-care, while simultaneously negatively impacting the health and wellbeing of many of its workers. In 2018, UCLA's Labor Occupational Safety and Health Class published Nail Files which found that eight out of ten nail salon workers are classified as low wage, and are predominantly immigrants with low English proficiency. They are exposed to hazardous chemicals on a daily basis with little to no protection. Nail polish workers are frequently misclassified by employers as independent contractors, resulting in denied access to sick time, overtime, and workers compensation. 

Workers in other industries that are exposed to the same chemicals are provided with more protection. Healthcare workers and nail salon workers are both historically  known to be exposed to the chemical formaldehyde, known to cause cancer and other respiratory disorders. However, hospitals provide staff with chemical exposure training and strict safety procedures/gear. Nail salon workers have poor ventilation and air quality and lack chemical safety training. Other conditions range from respiratory disorders (i.e. breathing complications, asthma, skin rashes), diseases (i.e. thyroid cancer, lung cancer), and reproductive disorders. Similarly, another study has shown that nail salon workers who regularly apply nail polish have ten times greater risk of contracting lupus than other workers (National Institute of Health, 2010). 

Our mission at You're a Gem is twofold: one, to elevate the health of our customers and two, to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those facing barriers to health and wellness. Therefore, we donate 3% of all proceeds towards California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative (CHNSC). CHNSC uses its funding to provide access to resources and services for workers themselves. These include educational resources where individuals from the organization provide information to workers through workshops in their desired language on worker's labor rights, workplace advocacy, and low-cost medical services. Funding also goes towards policy advocacy and living expenses. Healthy Nail Salon Recognition Program is an initiative that provides nail salon owners with a recognition award for excluding toxic ingredients and providing workers with personal protective equipment. I'd like to expand upon this cause by sharing the stories of workers themselves on my website.