People News

Paula Abdul fights for cleaner nail salons

By Cindy Locke Jun 28, 2005, 20:46 GMT

Paula Abdul is no stranger to the effects of an unsanitary nail salon.  On Monday, Abdul appeared before the California legislators to urge safer standards for manicure and pedicure equipment in nail salons.

Abdul said in April 2004, a Studio City nail salon used unclean equipment when she had a manicure.  The bacterial infection sent her in and out of the hospital for a year and made her the butt of late-night talk show jokes.

"Being a professional dancer, I'm no stranger to pain, but this time the pain was so excruciating that even my hair touching my thumb caused me to scream," Abdul told the California Senate Business and Professions Committee in Sacramento.

The legislation would establish safety standards for the salons and rewrite state regulations mandating that nail salons follow sanitary standards.  The bacterial infection can occur if the manicurists do not properly sanitize their tools between customers.

If the bill passes as expected, it will come before the full Senate sometime in the next two weeks.

In her closing statement, Abdul said, “I was publicly humiliated.  That is why with an open heart and a selfless agenda, I implore you to pass this bill.”