Ashley Christmas, a Pennsylvania woman, went to a nail salon for a regular manicure. What should have been a simple self-care visit turned into a medical nightmare. She ended up losing the tip of her finger after getting a severe infection at the salon.
Christmas is a popular TikTok creator who is now sharing her story to warn others about salon safety. According to The Daily Dot, she recently posted a video that was originally recorded a year ago. Her goal is to spread awareness about the risks that come with getting your nails done.
After the amputation, the nail salon offered Christmas $5,000 as a settlement. She quickly turned it down. She is now looking into other legal options against the salon because she feels the money doesn’t come close to covering the trauma and permanent loss she went through.
The infection spread dangerously fast and required immediate amputation
At first, Christmas didn’t think the infection was serious. But her finger quickly became “extremely swollen and painful,” so she went to the emergency room. Doctors gave her antibiotics and tried to drain the infection, but nothing worked. The infection just kept getting worse.
Hand specialists then removed her nail surgically and made several cuts in her finger to try to clear the infection. When she went back to the specialist a few days later, the infection was still there and was described as “very aggressive.” The doctor had no choice but to admit Christmas to the hospital and amputate the tip of her finger.
Hearing that news was devastating for Christmas. She said she was shocked by the doctor’s decision. In her video, she explained that she loves feeling confident and pretty. “I love to get my nails done and I like to get my hair done,” she said. “When he told me that… My confidence instantly was shot.” Like other salon appointments gone completely wrong, this experience left her shaken and traumatized.
Despite losing part of her finger, Christmas is thankful things didn’t get worse. She pointed out that the infection “could have spread. I could have lost my arm.” It’s a scary reminder of how fast bacterial infections can spread through your body.
While Christmas’s story is extreme, getting an infection from a salon is more common than you might think. A 2017 study from Rutgers University found that 52% of people who visit salons three or more times a year suffered from skin infections.
That’s a shockingly high number for something that should be routine. These bacterial infections, usually caused by staph or strep, happen because of dirty tools, poorly cleaned footbaths, bad hygiene from nail technicians, or damage to the skin from cutting or filing too hard. If a technician files your cuticle too roughly and breaks the skin, bacteria can easily get in.
Stories of public meltdowns over minor issues pale in comparison to serious health risks like this. Christmas’s main message is clear: “Make sure these nail salons are sanitizing their stuff when you go get your nails done.” Next time you visit a salon, take a moment to look around. Check that tools come out of sealed packages or sterilization pouches. If you see poor sanitation practices, it’s better to leave. Your safety and health are worth more than a manicure.
Published: Jan 28, 2026 02:03 pm