Being a hair stylist is rewarding but it also comes with some responsibilities. Customers expect their stylist to exercise hygienic practices because no one wants to get a haircut, facial, or nail work done at a salon that harbors bacteria, organisms, and germs. Hair stylists should follow a professional and ethical regime when it comes to hygiene within the salon. This protects the stylist and customers from any unwanted consequences.
Stylists should wash their hands in front of customers prior to each treatment. This means a thorough cleaning with disinfectant soap, not just running the hands under water. If the treatment is interrupted due to the stylist taking payment from another customer or going to the bathroom, a follow-up hand washing is required. Single use drying equipment or disposable paper towels should be used because germs can breed on a reusable towel.
Though it is convenient to remove scrub, wax, lotion, or cream from containers using the fingers, it can be unsanitary. Even the cleanest hands contain microscopic germs, which get into the containers when hands are dipped inside and eventually end up on the customer. Instead, stylists should use a sterilized spatula or spoon to remove these products from their containers. There should be no double-dipping in sugar, wax, or other solutions used for hair removal and these products should never be reused.
Nail fungal infections can be transmitted via a toenail or nail file. Files should only be used once, then disposed or provided to the customer. If a portion of products like scrubs, exfoliants, masks, or conditioners are taken and not used, the excess should be discarded, not returned to its original container. Harmful bacteria can grow on sponges, cotton balls, and cotton swabs. Each of these items should be disposable and discarded after being applied.
All brushes and combs should be thoroughly disinfected and cleaned for each customer. Beauty brushes used on the eye area, like eyeliner or mascara brushes, should be disposable. Customers can easily develop itchy or infected eyes after unclean eye brushes are used. When an eye pencil is applied, it should be fully sharpened before using on each customer.
Stylists should wear single-use gloves when performing a skin penetration procedure. For any treatment, including haircuts, they should wear a clean overcoat or other covering garment. Every stylist should implement these basic hygiene practices and keep the salon clean and sanitized so customers have an enjoyable, not regrettable, beauty experience.
