Manicure causes year of pain for Abdul

Paula Abdul

American Idol judge Paula Abdul has urged Californian authorities to force nail salons to clean up their act, saying she's had a year of ill-health after an unsanitary manicure.

Abdul said a trip last year to a nail shop that used unclean equipment resulted in her being in and out of hospital and made her the butt of jokes on late-night talk shows.

"The pain was so excruciating that even my hair touching my thumb caused me to scream," Abdul told a California Senate committee, which could introduce safety standards for manicure and pedicure equipment.

Customers are vulnerable to bacterial infections if manicurists do not properly sanitise their tools between jobs.

"I was publicly humiliated," Abdul said. "I implore you to pass this bill."