Having to give up your fake nails because you work with children. Since last summer, this has been the rule for employees of crèches, after-school care centers and playgroups. It makes the employees themselves angry, but many nail stylists also do not understand the ban. “I sometimes see hands of people without fake nails that are less well cared for,” says nail stylist Thea Tsamalaswili from Veghel.
After the RIVM tightened the hygiene rules last summer, employees in childcare, playgroups and after-school care are no longer allowed to wear fake nails, nail polish and nail decorations. There are more bacteria under artificial nails, so the nails must be short from now on.
This led to employees of childcare organization Korein in Eindhoven starting a petition. It was signed by more than 500 colleagues. They think it is unfair that they are not allowed to have well-groomed nails. And they understand that all too well in the salons where the nails are done.
“If you’re not clean yourself, it doesn’t matter whether you have fake nails or not.”
“I think that rule is nonsense, but I partly understand it,” says nail stylist Daisy Madina from Eindhoven. “Some girls have long stilettos on their nails. I wouldn’t like that either as a parent.” But if you keep the nails short and they don’t extend just above the fingertips, she says it shouldn’t be a problem. “Then you can’t hurt children and you still have well-groomed nails.”
Thea Tsamalaswili of Lovely Lashes from Veghel agrees. “If you’re not clean yourself, it doesn’t matter whether you have fake nails or not. I sometimes see hands of people without fake nails who have dirt under their nails,” she says. “And there are just as many people with long nails who wash their hands very often and keep them very clean.”
“I would find it more disgusting if people touched my baby with their gnawed nails.”
Nannie Vo from VN Nails from Tilburg has many customers who work in childcare. Those people only visit her when they are on holiday. “So I only see them once or twice a year. And they are all very happy that they finally have well-groomed nails again,” says Nannie. “It makes them more confident and some say they dare to talk more with hand gestures.”
The three nail stylists also have many customers who bite their nails. According to them, fake nails are actually more hygienic in that case. “I would find it more disgusting if people touched my baby with their gnawed nails,” says Daisy. “Sometimes nail biters have wounds and skin around their nails,” Nannie adds. “Once they are filed short and neatly, people tend to take better care of their nails and no longer put them in their mouth.”
“I understand in the operating room, there you work with open wounds.”
Thirty percent of Daisy Madina’s customers work in healthcare or childcare. But so far they all still visit regularly. “They say they stop when their nails have to be removed,” says Daisy. “I place the nails on some people so naturally that the owner doesn’t even notice. So luckily I haven’t lost anyone because of that rule.”
Nannie thinks the rule is outdated. “In the past, everyone had normal nail polish and it flaked off quickly. But nowadays you can go to a nail salon,” she says. “I would like to talk to that policymaker. I understand in the operating room, there you work with open wounds. But in a childcare center, come on.”
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Childcare workers are starting a petition against the ban on fake nails