A woman claims an Indiana nail salon used dirty tools on her nails, ignored her concerns, and damaged her natural nails. Then, they charged her $95.
On Aug. 5, a woman (@kenn.291) posted a video sharing an update on her experience with Fancy Nails in South Bend, Indiana, which has amassed over 93,000 views as of Friday.
What Happened At The Nail Salon?
The woman initially posted her concerns in a viral video that she has since taken down, but she returned with an update on her painful nail salon experience.
She said the technician used dirty tools and refused to switch them after she raised concerns.
“She used dirty tools on my fingers, which can obviously lead to infection,” she said. “I asked her about it, and she told me, like, no, she’s not changing it as she kept going.”
She said the appointment became increasingly painful as the technician drilled into her natural nails.
“She was just damaging my nails so much, and it was hurting so bad,” she said. “I asked her politely if she could do it the correct way, and she basically just laughed at me.”
After returning home, she removed the manicure and attempted to fix her nails herself. She showed one finger that she said the technician drilled “super far down.”
She reported the salon to state regulators, left reviews on Yelp and TikTok, and thanked private nail technicians who offered to help.
“If you were there, you would have been crying, too,” she said. “It was genuinely such a stressful experience.”
How Dangerous Are The Nail Salon’s Alleged Actions?
Cleanliness is one of the most important safety issues in a nail salon because contaminated tools can spread bacteria, fungi, and, in rare cases, bloodborne viruses if they are not properly cleaned and disinfected. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says reusable instruments must undergo appropriate cleaning and disinfection or sterilization to reduce the risk of infection.
The American Academy of Dermatology warns that aggressive filing, drilling, or cutting around the nail can damage the nail plate and surrounding skin. Broken skin creates an opening for bacteria and fungi, increasing the risk of painful infections. People should avoid salons that reuse disposable tools, fail to disinfect metal instruments between clients, or perform services with visibly dirty equipment.
Consumers can reduce their risk by checking state inspection records, looking for clean workstations, confirming that technicians open sterilized tools or disinfect reusable ones, and avoiding services if they have cuts or open wounds on their hands. If redness, swelling, worsening pain, pus, or fever develops after a manicure, experts recommend seeking medical care promptly because untreated nail infections can become more serious.
@kenn.291 i know some salons aren’t good but this one had decent reviews and made the bad reviews seem like it was the customers fault.. when it wasn’t which i learned the hard way. guys i really just wanted to get my nails done stop bashing me for going to a salon. i never asked or encouraged anyone to make negative reviews not based off of their own experience. if you have, please go delete it so they can have a chance at a fair rating. – – #badreviews #badnailexperience #fyp ♬ original sound – Ken B
For violating the health regulations alleged by the TikTok user, it is possible that salons could face investigation by Indiana regulators for violating state sanitation rules. Penalties can range from fines and mandatory corrective action to probation, license suspension, or license revocation, depending on the severity and any prior violations. If a customer suffers an injury or infection because of unsanitary practices, salons could also face a civil lawsuit seeking damages.
Subplot reached out for comment to @kenn.291 via TikTok direct message and the TikTok comment section, and Fancy Nails via Instagram direct message.
