Nails on a chalkboard

I did a 5k road race over the weekend. Note that I didn't use the word "run" there, because I didn't run. It was more this sorry attempt at walk/jog, and it wasn't pretty. But it didn't matter, not one bit. I did it and I finished strong, mindful the whole time of the same event last year which I missed because I literally couldn't get out of bed from chemo. So yeah, just being able to do it felt pretty awesome. The endorphin high was real sweet, too.

Surprisingly my legs aren't super sore, but I think I've earned myself a pedicure. Sinking into the massage chair, the hot stones, it's too much. Must. Go. Now!

Except for the fact that nail polish is easily one of the most toxic beauty products out there. OPI's "Sweet Heart" gets a big goose egg for health from GoodGuide. Drugstore favorites Sally Hansen, Revlon and Rimmel all come under fire over at the Skin Deep Database, rounding out the worst-scoring products, and Think Dirty has no love whatsoever for Essie. Eeesh.

That's the thing here. Girl loves her mani/pedis. No, literally. According to this article at Time.com, 2012 was a record year for the U.S. nail polish industry, topping $760 million. Hell, even dudes can hit up Hammer & Nails in LA, celebrating its grand opening this week, for their very own "just for guys" MANicure.

What I didn't like reading was a statistic from market intel company Mintel estimating that as many as 92% of teen and tween girls are using nail polish and other nail products, starting as young as 9 years old. The company estimates that nearly 97% of 12-14 year old girls use nail polish.

Start 'em young! It's a bit problematic, if you think about it. Culturally, hitting the nail bar is such a natural mother/daughter bonding activity. You can even have birthday parties there! And if you're a bride, puh-lease. That pre-wedding manicure is practically a religious experience. 

But girls' bodies undergo so many changes during adolescence, and the presence of super toxic chemicals -- like those in nail polish -- can't be without consequences.

The "5" as they're called -- formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, and camphor -- are considered so hazardous that there are entire organizations devoted to protecting the rights and health of nail salon workers. 


My advice? BYO. It's one of the latest trends in the category, going "5-free". Well-Good NYC has a great listing of twelve 5-free brands that cover the spectrum of price and prestige, from Chanel to Mineral Fusion (at Whole Foods) and SpaRitual (at Ulta).

Notably missing from that list is Zoya, which staged a fun nail polish exchange for Earth Day 2013. I hope they do it again next year! Chick and Silky Polish also claim to be free of these toxins.

The point here? There are options. You don't have to settle for the stinky, head-ache inducing crap that's poisoning who knows how many nail workers. Check out a few of these brands and all their shades, and invest in a few bottles of lower-chemical polish, so that the next time you're in the mood for a mani/pedi, you know you can use something that is better for you, better for the person scrubbing your feet, and better for the environment.

-- Jazzy