Salon Business, Safety, and Infection Control
The sanitation hierarchy
This domain tests salon operations plus safety and infection control. Cleaning removes visible debris with soap and water. Disinfection destroys most pathogenic organisms on nonporous surfaces using an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant. Sterilization destroys all microbial life, usually by autoclave. Implements must be cleaned first, then completely immersed in disinfectant for the label contact time. Porous items are single-use. Blood or body-fluid exposure requires gloves, stopping the service, cleaning the area, and using a tuberculocidal disinfectant; contaminated sharps go in a sharps container.
Safety systems
OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens standard covers exposure control, hepatitis B vaccination, gloves, and reporting. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) explain chemical hazards, first aid, and storage; they do not replace the product label. Electrical safety means no cords near water, no overloaded outlets, and unplugging before cleaning. Fire safety includes knowing extinguisher locations and keeping flammable products away from heat. Ventilation matters with monomers, aerosols, and relaxers. Store chemicals closed, labeled, and away from food.
Business basics
A salon needs proper licensing, client records, informed consent, insurance, inventory control, and pricing that covers rent, supplies, taxes, and payroll. Consultation records document formulations, patch tests, and adverse reactions. Marketing must be truthful; before-and-after images need consent.
Worked example. A razor nicks a client during a haircut. Reasoning: stop, put on gloves, cleanse the area, and dispose of the blade in a sharps container. Clean and disinfect the workstation with an EPA-registered tuberculocidal product, document the incident, and follow the salon’s exposure plan. A UV cabinet is not a substitute for disinfection.
Traps that cost marks. “Sanitize” is not the same as disinfect. UV cabinets do not reliably disinfect. Do not skip cleaning before immersion. Do not store chemicals in unlabeled bottles. Do not use a disinfectant beyond its contact time or dilution. Blood exposure requires a tuberculocidal product, not a standard quat spray alone.