Hygiene and Infection Control in the Salon
The chain of infection
Infection control is built on breaking the chain of infection: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry and susceptible host. In a salon the key transmission routes are contact (tools, hands, linen), droplet (sneezes, coughs) and, rarely, airborne. Standard precautions apply to every client because you cannot tell who is carrying a bloodborne virus.
Cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation
These are different. Cleaning removes soil and most microorganisms with detergent and water. Disinfection kills most pathogens on surfaces and tools using a chemical registered for that purpose. Sterilisation destroys all microorganisms, including spores, and is rarely required for routine salon tools. Non-porous implements such as metal shears, combs and clips are cleaned, then disinfected. Porous items that cannot be cleaned, such as single-use files or razor blades, are discarded. Electrical items follow manufacturer instructions and are wiped, not immersed.
Practical routines
- Wash hands before and after every client and after removing gloves.
- Wear gloves for colouring, chemical services and any contact with blood or broken skin.
- Use fresh towels and capes per client; launder linen at high temperature.
- Keep clean and dirty trolley zones separate; never place clean tools beside used ones.
- Disinfect basins and chairs between clients and keep surfaces dry.
- Dispose of sharps in a rigid sharps container, never in general waste.
Traps in questions
Questions often test the difference between cleaning and disinfecting, or ask whether a tool needs sterilising (usually no). Do not say gloves replace hand washing, and do not reuse single-use items.
Rule of thumb
If an item touches skin or blood and cannot be cleaned and disinfected, it is single-use.