Air filtration in a studio that does manicures and pedicures is crucial. Many states are now requiring studios who provide these services to prove that the air quality will remain high despite the use of products that off-gas chemicals into the air. Here are some things to consider when deciding on the best filtration for your salon.

Adjustable Rate of Filtration—Some days and times during the day there is a need for more rapid filtration because of the number of manicures and pedicures that are being done. Typically the heaviest days are on the weekends, and the busiest time of the day is most probably in the evenings.

Having a filtration system that can stay ahead of the volatile organic chemicals that are evaporating into the air is important. This keeps the air quality high despite increase in chemical fumes being generated. Even though technicians and customers are no longer able to smell the fumes after they have been exposed to them for a while, customers entering your studio will enter a salon that has air that smells fresh and clean.

Filter Specifically Designed to Remove Chemicals—Carbon-based filters are well known for their ability to absorb gaseous pollutants such as odors and fumes. However, carbon alone is no match for the VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) that off gas from many of the products used in nail studios.

The carbon filter must have an additive that is specifically designed to remove airborne chemicals and noxious gases that result from many of the products used in the nail industry. Potassium iodide has been proven to be the most effective at removing these types of chemical fumes.

Particle Filter—-Grinding, sanding, and buffing at high speeds results in hundreds of pieces of nails being sent into the air. Multiply this number by the number of manicures and pedicures done by each technician in a day, and the amount of particles is incredibly high. This nail dust is not good to breathe. And even though technicians sometimes wear masks, which do not protect the client or the technicians once their mask are removed.

A high efficiency particle arresting (or HEPA) filter is an essential component for any filtration process to have. This type of filter is the most effective at removing airborne particles as small as.3 microns.

This means it can remove big particles that you can see such as hair, dust, and lint. And it can also remove finer particles that are invisible to the human eye such as smaller particles of nail dust, as well as bacteria and viruses.

Particle pre-filters that are made of material similar to cotton balls is also an excellent indicator that both the carbon-based and HEPA filters will have a substantially longer filter life than those systems that do not have them.

Portability—-Unless you own the space where your studio is housed, it is often not cost effective to install a filtration system that is part of the central air conditioning and heating. These systems are often expensive to install, maintain, and repair.

A better solution is to opt for portable units that can be moved within the shop as the need arises, and that can be taken with you should your shop’s location change. Units with heavy duty casters will make any change in location easier.