The Itchy Scalp Before a Colour
A regular client books a full-head colour and a scalp treatment. At the basin you notice flaking, redness along the hairline, and a few small crusts behind the ear. She mentions the scalp has been itchy for two weeks and that she scratched it raw last night. She had a patch test six months ago with no reaction. She asks you to 'just colour over it' because she has a function on the weekend. The salon uses a standard oxidative colour with 6% developer. Your colleague suggests applying a barrier cream and proceeding.
1. Decide whether to proceed with the colour and justify your decision using hygiene and infection-control principles.
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I would not proceed with a full-head oxidative colour today. The redness, flaking, crusting and scratching are signs of a compromised scalp barrier. Broken skin increases the risk of irritation and sensitisation to colour chemicals, and it also creates an infection-control concern because crusts and scratches can harbour bacteria.
The six-month-old patch test does not cover this situation. A patch test screens for allergy at a point in time; it does not clear broken or inflamed skin, and sensitisation can develop at any time. The colleague's barrier-cream suggestion reduces contact but does not remove the risk of colour entering scratches or of aggravating an existing condition.
My duty is to avoid harm and to refer. I would explain that I cannot safely colour today, recommend she see a pharmacist or doctor about the scalp, and offer alternatives such as a gentle cleanse, a soothing treatment without colour, or rebooking once the skin has settled. I would record the observation, the advice given and her decision on her client card.
2. Outline the hygiene and communication steps you would take at the basin and afterwards to protect the client and the salon.
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At the basin: wash my hands before and after contact, use a clean towel and cape for each client, and disinfect the basin and tools between clients. I would avoid vigorous massage over the inflamed areas and use lukewarm water. If I apply a soothing product, I use a clean spatula or pump rather than fingers in a pot, and I do not share implements that have touched broken skin without disinfection.
Communication: I would explain what I see in plain language, without diagnosing. I would say the scalp looks irritated and scratched, that colour could make it worse, and that a health professional should look at it. I would give her a written note of what I observed and when to seek advice, and confirm the rebooking.
Afterwards: clean and disinfect all tools and the basin, discard single-use items, and document the incident and advice on the client record. If another staff member is likely to see her, I would flag the note so the same decision is repeated. This protects the client, meets infection-control obligations and keeps the salon's records consistent.