Abdul, 43, testified at a California Legislative meeting about her own yearlong health ordeal caused by an unsanitary manicure to convince California legislatures that nail salons need to follow regulated health standards.
According to Abdul, a visit in April 2004 to a Studio City nail shop that used unclean equipment sent her in and out of the hospital, and left her vulnerable to late night show banter.
Abdul says, "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. I was publicly humiliated. That is why with an open heart and a selfless agenda, I implore you to pass this bill."
The legislation, sponsored by Democratic Assemblyman Leland Yee, would establish safety standards for manicure and pedicure equipment and rewrite state regulations mandating that nail shops follow sanitary practices.
Customers are vulnerable to bacterial infections if manicurists do not properly sanitize their tools between jobs.
The bill was expected to pass in committee. If that occurs, it would likely come before the full Senate sometime in the next two weeks.
