Beauty salons are generally seen as places where you can have yourself pampered with a nice manicure or haircut, but the sad truth is that they're often linked to infectious diseases. Before you commit to a beauty shop, be sure that it's squeaky clean.

Before heading to your beauty salon for your appointment, call in advance to see if your stylist is running on time. If they're behind, you shouldn't waste your time sitting in the salon when you could be doing something else, or just hanging out at home.

Every beauty salon is required by the local health department to display its establishment license. Why does this matter to you? Because it means that the salon has complied with all the local and state health and safety procedures, and had been given the legal right to operate.