Long hours, dangerous chemicals: nail salon workers fight for industry change

Nail salon workers in New York are fighting to establish a council that would create industry standards. Photograph: Xinhua/Rex/Shutterstock

Dolma Sherpa worked as a nail technician for four years in New York City, up until the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the industry and left her with severely reduced work hours when the industry reopened.

The work was already unstable, Sherpa explained, as she often worked seven days a week during busy times of the year, and then struggled to get hours and work through the winter.