A manicure is typically a form of relaxing self-care, but for one Oregon woman, it quickly became a nightmare that led her to court! On Monday (Oct. 19), a 31-year-old woman filed a lawsuit against PDX Nails and Lashes in Portland. Documents reportedly claimed she contracted genital herpes following manicure services at the nail salon—the second customer to do so.
RELATED: Geico Could Pay $5.2 Million To Woman Who Says She Caught An STD In A Man’s Car
Herpes…From A Manicure?
That’s right, roomies. You read that right. KPTV reports that the woman went to PDX Nails and Lashes salon in August 2025 for acrylic nail treatment. Her technician reportedly didn’t wear gloves during the service. At first, the woman was satisfied with her manicure.
Then, the day after her manicure, the woman, per her lawsuit, began feeling “an unusual burning and stinging sensation along the lateral side of her right hand and pinky finger.” Also, the area reportedly felt itchy and a “fluid-filled blister began to form” by the second day after visiting the nail salon. The woman visited a primary care clinic on August 12, 11 days after the manicure, to get treated. Health professionals later determined the blister was from the genital herpes virus (HSV-2). The woman reportedly did not have herpes prior to her nail appointment.
Stay Connected
Subscribe to updates from The Shade Room
More than a year later, the woman’s lawsuit alleges she still experiences symptoms periodically during flare-ups. At this time, there is no known cure for (HSV-2). The woman is reportedly seeking up to $2.5 million in damages from the nail salon, with an additional $2.5 million from Oregon for failing to investigate the first infection incident and not taking steps to prevent a reoccurrence. The nail salon and its reported owners Salon owners Tam and Hai Nguyen reportedly refused to provide comment to Fox12 when contacted.
A Previous Infection & Lawsuit
As mentioned, PDX Nails and Lashes has previously faced a similar allegation. In 2024, a then-23-year-old woman sued the same nail and lash salon after contracting genital herpes following an acrylic nail manicure in June 2023, per KPTV. Similar to the latest allegation, the technician allegedly did not use gloves and after the appointment the woman began feeling sick and experiencing an inflammation on her right index finger. Also, she suffered redness around her nail and cuticle. After getting swabbed at an urgent care, she tested positive for genital herpes. Like the most recent victim, this young lady claimed she also didn’t have herpes before visiting the nail salon. She sought $1.75 million. The lawsuit was settled out of court in May 2025 for an undisclosed amount.
