Infection Control Practices for CosmetologistsCopyright © 2018 Sophia C. Taylor

Use a new orangewood stick with each client.

Keep all products from touching the skin·. They may cause sensitivities.

Keep alcohol nearby in case the acrylic gets hot from the

chemical action of the product. Because it evaporates

quickly, alcohol has a cooling effect.

Soften the edges on your abrasive. A new file can etch a

groove in the nail during filing.

If you accidentally touch the nails after ·you apply

antiseptic, you must clean them again and reapply.

When working with primer, put on safety glove and safety

glasses. Offer safety glasses to your client.

Check primer for clarity on a re gular basis to make sure

it is not contaminated which bacteria. If bacteria is

present, the primer will appear cloudy.

Use primer sparingly. It can cause irritation or primer

burn if it couches the skin.

If you accidentally spill primer on your clothing, remove

the soiled garment immediately.

Acrylic applied too thick near the cuticle or touching the cuticle will lift.

Do not use a nipper to clip away loose acrylic. Nipping

may make the lifting problem worse and can damage the

nail place. If lifting is excessive, soak off the acrylic and

start fresh with a new nail application.

Make sure bottles are tightly capped when not in use.

Do not store acrylic products near heat o near an open flame.

Do not apply acrylic to injured or inflamed skin.

Make sure that your work area is well ventilated.

Blood spills occur when the stylist or the client are accidentally cut with

a sharp implement during a salon service. Every attempt must be made

to ensure that salon products or implements do not come in contact

with the skin or an open wound. Any material that makes contact with

the blood or an open wound is considered contaminated. All

contaminated materials should be discarded by double bagging the

contaminated materials and marked with a biohazard label or have

biohazard clearly printed on the outside bag with permanent ink.

If the Stylist or client sustains a cut, they should:

1. Stop the service immediately and clean the injured area.

2.Put on gloves and Apply an antiseptic to the injured area and cover

with a Band-Aid.

3.Disinfect all affected surface areas with a hospital grade disinfectant.

4.Discard all disposable contaminated objects such as wipes or cotton

balls by double-bagging (place the waste in a plastic bag and then in a

trash bag).

5.Use a biohazard sticker (red or orange) or a container for

contaminated waste. Deposit sharp disposables in a sharps box.

6.Remove your gloves. Wash your hands with soap and warm water

before returning to the service.

7.All tools and implements that have come into contact with blood or

body fluids must be disinfected by complete immersion in an EPA.

registered, hospital-grade disinfectant that kills HIV-I and Hepatitis B

Virus or in a tuberculocidal disinfectant. Be sure to mix and use the

disinfectant according to the manufacturers' directions.

The Client Consultation is the most important aspect of your client’s visit to your salon. This tells the client that you are interested in meeting

their hair care needs and desires. This is also helpful for the stylist because it gives you information about your client, their hair and hair habits,

which will allow you to recommend the best products and services for them.

Following these simple steps will ensure a successful visit for you and your client.

REVIEW

Ask your client to complete a Client Card. Your card should ask questions about their desired

service, products used, and any medications they may be taking. This will give you a great

platform to base your current services as well as find out what other services they might be

interested in.

ASSESSMENT

Take note of the clients style, overall appearance and hair color. Once you have reviewed the

Client Card, you will be able to make suggestions about their service or additional services.

PREFERENCE

Your client needs your professional input to obtain the look they desire. This is your opportunity

to help them with their dislikes about their hair and offer changes that may be more appealing.

ANALYZE

Always perform a hair analysis to determine the density, texture, porosity and elasticity of the

hair. This assessment will guide you in chemical selection, processing time and selection of

styling aids for your client. Assess the texture, thickness, quality and manageability of the clients

hair.

LIFESTYLE

Your client’s day to day habits should be considered before selecting a haircut or style. You don’t

want to give your client a haircut or style that doesn’t fit their lifestyle or consumes too much of

their time.

SHOW, TELL & SUGGEST

Point out hairstyles that would look good with your client’s facial shape. Help them select a color

based on their skin tone. Pay close attention to their selection and suggest choices based on

their hair, limitations with their hair, and body shape.

UPKEEP

Your client is walking advertisement for your business. Therefore, to help your client maintain

their look, consult with them on maintenance products, how to prevent damage and hair

treatments for future appointments.

RE-BOOK

Be sure your client doesn’t have any questions. Review everything you have discussed. Prior

to your client leaving the salon, book their next appointment to ensure they maintain their new

look.

Perform hair and scalp analysis to check for abrasions and hair damage. Do

not proceed with the service if redness, swelling, or skin lesions are present.

Perform a client consultation prior to service to check for possible issue with

relaxing the clients hair. Examine the hair for signs of breakage, damage, and

extreme dryness. Do not proceed with service if these conditions are present.

Do not apply a any type of hydroxide relaxer on hair that has been previously

treated with a thio relaxer, soft curl perm, or permanent wave.

Do not apply a thio relaxer or soft curl perm on hair that has been previously

treated with any type of hydroxide relaxer.

Do not chemically relax hair that has been treated with a metallic dye, such as

Henna and box colors made by Nice & Easy and Feria. .

Do not relax hair that has been highlighted or decolorized with bleach.

Do not shampoo the client prior to the application of a hydroxide relaxer.

Apply a protective base cream throughout each section and sub-section to

avoid scalp irritation. Avoid allowing getting the relaxer on Do not allow

chemical relaxers to accidentally come into contact with the client’s ears, scalp,

or skin.

Wear protective gloves during the relaxer application and when rinsing the

chemical from the hair.

Do not process hair longer than indicated by the strand test and the

manufacturer’s recommended timing.

During the relaxer application be sure to relax only the “new

growth”. Overlapping the relaxer onto hair that has been

previously relaxed will lead to hair damage and breakage.

The hair analysis will help you to determine the proper relaxer

strength for your client’s hair type as recommended by the

manufacturer to avoid hair breakage.

Thoroughly rinse the relaxer from the hair using tepid water.

Failure to rinse properly can cause skin irritation, reversion and

possible hair loss, breakage, and damage.

Use a neutralizing shampoo to guarantee that the hair and scalp

have been restored to their normal pH.

Always apply a conditioner and comb through using wide-tooth

comb after a relaxer service. It is always a good idea to use a

protein conditioner to help preserve the elasticity in the hair.

Be sue to keep accurate and detailed client records of the

services performed and the results achieved to ensure proper

time lapse between services.

Have the client sign a release statement indicating that he or she

understands the possible risks related to the service.

If any solution accidentally gets into the client’s eye, flush the eye

immediately with cool water and refer the client to a doctor.

Conduct periodic strand tests during the service to monitor the

hair’s progression.

Please advice your client to avoid scratching, brushing or

combing the hair to the scalp at least 24 hours prior to the relaxer

application.

Disinfectants are powerful professional strength tools that can be hazardous if

used incorrectly. You should always use caution when handling these types of

chemicals and always follow the manufacturers instructions.

1. Wear gloves and safety glasses when mixing disinfectants to avoid contact

with the skin and eyes.

2. Keep all disinfectants out of the reach of children an pets.

3. Use tongs or a basket to remove implements from disinfectants.

4. After mixing disinfectants, place any remaining disinfectants in a labeled

container.

5. Add disinfectant to water when mixing rather than adding water to a

disinfectant to prevent foaming, which could result in an incorrect mixing ratio.

6. Keep all disinfectant jars covered but not airtight.

7. All multi-use items can be cleaned, disinfected and used on more than one

person. These items must be non-porous.

8. All single use items cannot be disinfected and must be discarded because they

become damaged during cleaning and disinfecting.

Please follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the safe use, handling

and storage of electrical equipment.

All the electrical appliances you use should be UL certified.

Do not leave your client unattended while connected to an electrical device.

When adjusting or cleaning equipment that is not in use, SWITCH OFF the

power and pull out the plug – do NOT pull out by the cord .

Keep all electrical plugs off the floor and away from people’s feet to prevent

them from tripping and falling.

Electrical equipment must be checked and maintained in good repair to avoid

risk of injury by conducting regular equipment checks.

Clean up liquid spills as soon as possible. Electrical equipment must be kept

away from water.

Do not touch equipment with wet hands or use a wet cloth to clean sockets.

Store and operate equipment away from damp areas.

Avoid standing on a wet floor while using any electrical equipment.

Use power boards instead of double adaptors.

Do not touch two metal objects at the same time if either is connected to an

electric current.

Do not allow electrical cords to become twisted; it can cause a short circuit.

Do not attempt to repair electrical appliances unless you are qualified.

Do not leave electrical cords dangling in busy works areas creating a hazard.

The risk of electrical shock can arise from exposed wires, the presence of water

and electricity in the area in which equipment is used and wet hands while

turning on the power.

Help the client to relax by speaking in a quiet and professional manner.

Explain the benefits of the products and service, and answer any

questions the client may have.

Provide a quiet atmosphere, and work quietly and efficiently.

Maintain neat, clean, sanitary conditions in the facial work area with an

orderly arrangement of supplies.

Follow systematic procedures.

If your hands are cold, warm them before couching the client's face.

Keep your nails smooth and short to prevent scratching the client's skin.

Another guideline you muse always be sure to follow is to perform an

analysis of your client's skin. After the client is draped and seated on the

facial table (also called bed), you should inspect the skin to determine

the following:

Is the skin dry, normal, or oily?

Are there fine lines or creases?

Are comedones or acne present?

Are dilated capillaries visible?

, Is skin texture smooth or rough?

Is skin color even?

The results of your analysis will determine the produces to use for the

massage, what areas of the face need special attention, how much

pressure to use when massaging, and what equipment should be used.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap. and warm water before and

after every facial and makeup application.

Properly drape the client to protect their clothing. Use a headband or a

towel to keep the hair out of the face during a facial. You may use a

hair clip to secure the hair during makeup application.

Use a shaker type container for loose powder.

Using a chair liner for your facial chair or disposable facial bed sheets

for each client.

Be sure that your implements and brushed have been properly

sanitized.

Keep your fingernails smooth to avoid scratching the client's skin.

Use an antiseptic on the tweezed areas of the eyebrows to avoid

infection.

Be sure to follow all disinfectant safety precautions by properly

disposing of all single use items such as sponges, cotton pads,

spatulas, and applicators after each client.

Do not use your finger to remove facial or facial makeup products from

their containers. Always use a spatula or pour the product from the

container.

Never apply lip color directly from the container to the client's lips. Use

a spatula or disposable applicator to remove the product from the

container, and then use a brush to apply.

Place all towels, linens, makeup capes, and other items that can be

washed and sanitized in the proper containers.

Keep your work station sanitary, neat and well organized.

Accidents must be reported immediately. Even if they seem to be minor, it must

be reported to your instructor. Your instructor will be sure the proper accident

report is filed, and seek medical attention if necessary.

Wear proper salon clothing (scrubs, no open toe shoes, sleeveless tops etc.)

No running, loud talking, throwing, squirting water, and playing in classroom or

lab area.

Leave your work area clean and orderly daily.

Always use the right tool for the right job.

Keep tools and equipment in good working order

Keep all tools and instruments out of your pockets.

Read all directions before applying any product to the hair.

Always analyze the scalp before proceeding with any service.

Keep a record card on all patrons receiving a chemical service.

Keep all disinfectants labeled and stored properly.

Tools should be kept sanitized when not in use.

Clean and sanitize all equipment and implements before returning to their

proper place.

Keep all wires, plugs and cords away from heated equipment.

Do no handle electrical appliances with wet hands

Keep all containers labeled and covered.

Learn the location of the emergency exit in the classroom/lab.

Follow emergency evacuation procedures precisely

Always practice good personal hygiene.

Be sure to have your client complete a Client Card and perform a client

consultation prior to waxing to ensure your client does not have any

contraindications to a waxing service.

Always wash your hands before and after each service.

To prevent burns, always test the temperature of the heated wax before

applying to the client's skin.

Use a professional wax heater for warming wax. Never heat wax in a

microwave or on a stovetop. Wax can become overheated and burn the client's

skin.

Avoid application of heat to the waxed area for 12 10 24 hours. This includes

hot baths, sauna, and steam baths.

Use caution so that the wax does not come in contact with the client’s eyes.

Do not apply wax over warts, moles, abrasions, or irritated or inflamed skin. Do

not remove hair protruding from a mole, as the wax could cause trauma to the

mole.

Avoid applying highly fragranced products to the waxed area. This includes

perfume, scented body lotions, anti-perspirants, cosmetics or feminine hygiene

sprays. Only use the professional products recommended by your stylist.

Redness and swelling sometimes occur on sensitive skin. Apply an aloe gel to

calm and soothe the skin.

The skin under the arms is sometimes very sensitive. If so, use cold wax.

Avoid using harsh abrasives or exfoliators in the waxed area. This includes any

AHA (glycolic acids) products. The only exception is an AHA products

recommended by your stylist. If you are prone to ingrown hairs, loofah mittens

or exfoliant scrubs can be used once the hair has begun to grow back.

Any redness of the skin should disappear within 6 to 8 hours after the waxing

treatment. Slight redness is normal and indicates that the hair was removed

from the root; rather than superficially broken off, as in shaving.

Perform a parch test 24 to 48 hours prior to each application of aniline-

derivative hair color. Apply hair color only if the patch test is negative.

Always wash your hands before and after each client service.

Do not apply hair color if scalp abrasions are present.

Do not brush the hair prior to applying color to prevent scalp abrasions.

Always read and follow the manufacturer's directions before beginning any

chemical service.

Use sanitized applicator bottles, brushes, combs, and towels. Protect your

client's clothing with proper draping.

Perform a strand test for color prediction, breakage, and/or discoloration. This

will also help you to determine the desired color for your client.

Use an applicator bottle or bowl for mixing the hair color.

Do not mix hair color until you are ready to use it; discard any leftover hair

color.

Never mix different hair color products together.

Do not apply hair color if a metallic or compound hair color is present.

Do not permit the color to come in contact with the client's eyes. Spilling hair

color into the eye by accident could also cause permanent damage.

Do not overlap hair color onto previously color treated hair during a color

retouch service. This could cause over-processing and hair damage.

Rinse your scalp thoroughly with water and use a mild shampoo after the color

service. Alkaline shampoos are harsh and may strip the color and cause

dryness.

Don't leave the color on the hair longer than recommended by the

manufacturer.

Wear gloves when applying hair color to protect your hands & skin from

chemical burns and skin irritations.

Never color eyebrows or eyelashes using hair color that is manufactured for the

hair. An allergic reaction to certain color chemical can cause swelling or

increase risk of infection around or in your eyes. This could cause blindness.

Always cross check your haircut for accuracy by using parting opposite from

which you use to cut it.

Wash hands with soap and water before and after each service

Conduct a consultation prior to cutting

Be sure to properly drape your client prior to beginning the service.

Always perform a hair and scalp analysis prior to shampooing the client to

ensure there are no scalp issues or scalp diseases present.

Keep the client’s face free from hair clippings.

Never cut beyond your safety zone of your fingers (passed the second knuckle

of your index and middle finger)

If you drop a comb or pair of scissors on the floor, clean them, and sanitize – or

– get a new pair before you continue cutting

Ensure your own posture and position of your client while working. It helps

minimize fatigue and risk of injury.

When using clippers, check the plug, cord, casing and other parts to ensure

they are in good working condition. If you think they might be broken, don’t use

them and report the issue to your Instructor.

Always palm the shears and your razor when combing or parting the hair. This

keeps the points of the shear closed and pointed away from the client while

combing, which prevents you from cutting yourself or your client. Palming the

shears also reduces strain on the index finger and thumb while combing the

hair.

When cutting around the ears, or in the case of shorter haircuts, take extra

care not to accidentally cut the ear. Cuts on the ears can produce large

amounts of blood!

When cutting bangs (fringe), or any area close to the skin, balance the shears

by placing the tip of the index finger of your left hand (right hand if you cut left·

handed) on the pivot screw and the knuckles of your left hand against the skin.

This helps prevent clients from being accidentally poked with the shears if they

move suddenly. This also helps to balance your shears and cut a more defined

line.

When working with a razor, learn with a guard. Never practice holding, palming,

or cutting with the razor without a guard unless directed and supervised by your

Instructor.

Take extra care when removing and disposing of the razor blade. Place the

blade in its original sleeve, or wrap it in a paper towel, double bag and mark the

bag before placing in the trash.

Sanitize work station after each service

Make sure all hair is swept up immediately after you have finished the cut and,

preferably, before you start blow-drying. Dispose of hair in a covered container.

Properly clean and sanitize all tools, implements and equipment before and

after each service. Store your shears in a protective case for sanitary purposes

and to protect your blades from damage.

BLOWDRY STYLING

1. Be careful not hold the blow dryer in one place for too long.

Move the blow dryer in a constant back-and-forth motion unless

you are using the cooling button to cool a section to prevent

burning the client.

2. Always direct the hot air away from the client’s scalp and towards

the ends of the hair to prevent burning their scalp.

3. The flow of air from the blow dryer should be in the direction in

which the hair is wound on the brush. This ensures that the

cuticle layer is not rough and frizzy, but smooth.

4. Never blow dry relaxed or chemically treated hair from a complete

wet state to a dry state. You may partially dry the client by

placing them under a cool dryer until the hair is at least 20% dry.

1. Keep thermal irons clean, especially if hairspray is used before

curling the hair.

2. Do not overheat thermal irons. This can damage the ability of irons to

hold heat uniformly.

3. Test the temperature of the iron using a white cloth or white paper. Do

not inhale fumes of irons.

4. Handle thermal irons carefully to prevent burning yourself or your

client.

5. Place hot irons in a safe place to cool. Do not leave them where

someone might accidentally come in contact with them and be

burned.

6. When using a conventional iron heater, do not place the handles too

close to the heater. Your hand might be burned when removing the

iron. Make sure the iron is properly balanced in the heater or it might

fall and be damaged or injure someone.

7. Use only hard rubber or non-flammable combs when thermal curling.

Celluloid or plastic combs must not be used in thermal curling, as they

are flammable.

8. Do not use metal combs They become hot and can burn the scalp.

9. Place a comb between the scalp and the thermal iron to prevent

burning of scalp.

10. Hair must be clean and dry prior to curling the hair to prevent

singeing the hair.

11. In order to prevent fishhooks, do not allow the hair ends to protrude

over the iron.

12. Curling hair that has been lightened, tinted, or relaxed hair requires

the use of a lower heat setting.

13. Always apply a thermal protectant to the hair to prevent heat damage.

Keep all containers covered and labeled.

Handle sharp or pointed implements carefully and avoid dropping them.

Dull very sharp cutting edges with an emery board.

Bevel a sharp nail edge with an emery board.

Do not file too deeply into nail corners.

Do not use a sharp, pointed implement to clean under the nail.

Avoid excessive friction in nail buffing .

Immediately apply an antiseptic if the skin is accidentally cut.

Apply alum powder or solution to stop the bleeding from a small cut. Never

us a styptic pencil. Styptic pencils cannot be disinfected, therefore the

possibility of passing on infections is great.

Avoid too much pressure at the base of the nail so that you do not damage

the nail matrix.

Do not work on a nail if the surrounding skin is inflamed or infected.

Always practice proper disinfection procedures and dispose of all single use

items properly.

If bleeding occurs during the service, stop the service and follow the

procedure for Blood Spills

Always disinfect your implements properly after each service to prevent

possible contamination of your other implements

To prevent infection, never cut or forcefully push back your cuticles. If

you must push them back, only do so gently after a shower or bath.

Shave your lower legs after getting a pedicure, not before. That means

not shaving your lower legs for at least 24 hours before you get a pedicure.

If you nick yourself while shaving, a pedicure could put you at risk for an

infection.

Always protect your client's clothing by using the proper draping. Use a

shampoo or chemical cape, and double drape with towels to absorb

accidental spills.

Always wash your hands before and after each service.

Do not save any opened, unused waving lotion neutralizer. These

solutions may change in strength and effectiveness if not used in a timely

manner.

Do not give a permanent to a client who has experienced an allergic

reaction to a previous permanent wave service.

Always perform a hair and scalp analysis before the perm service. Do not

proceed if there are any skin abrasions, or signs of scalp disease.

Do not perm hair that is excessively damaged or shows signs of

breakage.

Do not attempt co remove more than 80 percent of the natural curl.

Thoroughly rinse the solution from the hair prior to neutralization. Failure

to rinse properly can cause excessive skin irritation and hair breakage

Always follow the manufacturer‘s instructions for optimum results. Do not

dilute or add anything to the waving lotion or neutralizer unless specified

in the manufacturer’s instructions.

If your client is suffering from hair breakage or damage, apply a series of

reconstructive conditioning treatments until the condition of the hair

improves and the damaged hair can be cut off.

Always perform a test for metallic salts to ensure the hair has not been

previously colored with a metallic hair color.

Do not attempt to permanent wave hair that has been previously treated

with a hydroxide relaxer.

Replace cotton and towels that have become saturated with solution.

Always wear gloves when apply chemical solutions to the hair.

Always apply protective barrier cream around the client’s hairline and ears

prior to the service to prevent chemical burns.

The Client Consultation is the most important aspect of your client’s visit to your salon. This tells the client that you are interested in

meeting their hair care needs and desires. This is also helpful for the stylist because it gives you information about your client, their hair

and hair habits, which will allow you to recommend the best products and services for them.

Following these simple steps will ensure a successful visit for you and your client.

REVIEW

Ask your client to complete an Client Card. Your card should ask questions about their

desired service, products used, and any medications they may be taking. This will give you a

great platform to base your current service as well as find out what other services they might

be interested in.

ASSESSMENT

Take note of the clients facial features, eyebrow shapes and if they wear makeup.

PREFERENCE

Your client needs your professional input to obtain the look they desire. This is your

opportunity to help them with their dislikes about their overall cosmetic appearance and offer

changes that may be more appealing.

ANALYZE

Always perform a skin analysis to determine the condition of the skin, skin type and if there

are any visible skin conditions that may need to be addressed.

LIFESTYLE

Your client’s day to day habits should be considered before selecting cosmetic services. You

don’t want to give your client a cosmetic look that doesn’t fit their lifestyle or consumes too

much of their time.

SHOW, TELL & SUGGEST

Point out cosmetic looks that would look good with your client’s facial shape. Help them

select a color palette based on their skin tone. Pay close attention to their selection and

suggest choices based on their facial shape, skin condition and skin tone.

UPKEEP

Your client is walking advertisement for your business. Therefore, to help your client maintain

their look and consult with them on maintenance products.

RE-BOOK

Be sure your client doesn’t have any questions. Review everything you have discussed.

Prior to your client leaving the salon, book their next appointment to ensure they maintain heir

new look.