Manicures: no longer stuck in the 1950s. [LAC PA-193038 3618537, via Wikipedia]

When asked about "green beauty" choices, most people think of their everyday routines: makeup and hair, showers and soap.  While it's easy to choose an eye shadow made with natural ingredients or a lotion created close to home, there's one section of the beauty industry that is often forgotten among the green movement: nail products, and nail salons.

Nail polishes and removers are some of the most toxic beauty products out there - so toxic, in fact, that they have to be specially disposed of to avoid poisoning our landfills, fish and wildlife.  (The most toxic of these chemicals are toluene, formaldehyde, DBP or phthalates, and camphor.)  As the green movement continues forward, some companies have created options for disposing of old polish, and in some cases offered a discount on new polish for doing so.  These disposal methods slowly chip away at the belief that nail polish has to be toxic to be viable, but there are still other parts of the nail industry left unchecked.

How do today's nail salons stack up in the green marketplace?  Not well.  Most nail salons are still behind the times when it comes to eco-friendly beauty: major chains like Gene Juarez use gallons of water for their pedicure services, and mainstream polishes like China Glaze and OPI contain those typical toxins that make nail polish so bad for the environment.

There are a few natural and eco-focused salons within Seattle, though, and a number of them are in or close to downtown:

• Butter London (SODO) features their own nail polishes, free of toluene, formaldehyde and phthalates (or "3 Free").  They offer walk-in appointments for on-the-go nail services, including a waterless pedicure.
• Julep Nail Parlor (Downtown) is an up-and-coming eco-friendly nail salon in the Pike-Pine corridor.  They also feature their own three-free nail polishes, and are known for their fantastic customer service and great specials for both groups and solo ladies on their lunch hour.
• Mimisan (Queen Anne) offers facials and waxing as well as their menu of nail treatments using non-toxic polish.  They even have a kids menu!

If you're in need of a bit of pampering and haven't tried non-toxic nail polish or an eco-friendly pedicure, make an appointment at one of the above locations near the downtown core.  It's a great way to be relaxed while knowing you are one step closer to creating a greener earth.