The Salon Industry In California and throughout the United States, the beauty industry is booming. “Manis and pedis” are becoming more popular as customers want to be pampered with the latest nail designs, colors, and styles. Over the last twenty years, nail salon services have tripled and cosmetology is now the fastest growing profession in California. There are an estimated 8,510 nail salons in California in 2015. Nail salons generated $8.54 billion with a 37.7% increase in sales from 2010-2014. While demand for salon services has grown, little attention has been paid to health impacts associated with workplace chemical exposures related to beauty and nail products.

The California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative was established by Asian Health Services in 2005 out of growing concern for the health and safety of the nail and beauty care workforce. We work together at the intersection of workers rights, health justice, environmental and reproductive justice and health, and Asian American community health. Our members include nail salon workers and owners, community organizations, advocates, and researchers.

The Collaborative’s mission is to improve the health, safety, and

rights of the nail and beauty care workforce to achieve a healthier,

more sustainable and just

industry.

Lisa Fu 213-385-5834 Julia Liou 510-986-6830 x267 info@cahealthynailsalons.org www.cahealthynailsalons.org Facebook: “CA Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative” Twitter: @CA_HNSC

“You can’t imagine how many chemicals are being used by workers in nail salons every day.”– Connie Nguyen, Nail Salon Worker

DID YOU KNOW? There are approximately 129,015 nail technicians and 312,215 cosmetologists in California. Up to 80% are estimated to be Vietnamese immigrants, and more than 50% are of childbearing age. Nationally, up to 51% of nail salon workers are of Vietnamese descent. The average annual income for manicurists is $22,500 and for cosmetologists is $27,940. On a regular basis, they work with chemicals known to and suspected of causing illnesses including cancer, respiratory problems, skin problems, and reproductive harm on the regular basis. There is little government regulation of the chemicals used in salon products. Of the over 10,000 chemicals used in personal care products, 89% have not been independently tested for their impacts on human health. Salon workers encounter greater risk for health issues related to their work because of various challenges such as language and cultural barriers and lack of access to health care.

POLICY ADVOCACY and REGULATORY CHANGE Advancing policy advocacy and regulatory changes, which improve the health, safety and rights of nail salon workers.

MOVEMENT BUILDING Supporting movement building opportunities at the local, state and national levels to raise the profile of salon workplace health, safety, and rights; to connect and leverage the resources of diverse groups; to advocate for safer products; and to secure policy changes and greater regulatory protection of salon workers nationally.

WHAT WE DO: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT Building the leadership, decision-making, and power of California salon workers and owners invested in improving their working conditions and workplace health and safety through outreach, education and organizing. RESEARCH Advancing research and data collection efforts and effectively utilizing the expertise of a national Research Advisory Committee to support the Collaborative and National Healthy Nail and Beauty

Salon Alliance’s work.