Personal Hygiene
This section covers Personal Hygiene. The exam tests daily habits, hand hygiene, dress and grooming rules that prevent cross-infection in a salon.
Daily routine
Shower daily; use deodorant; brush teeth and maintain fresh breath. Keep hair clean and tied back so it does not fall into products or onto a client. Keep nails short, filed and clean; long or chipped nails harbour dirt and can scratch skin. Wear a clean uniform and closed, comfortable shoes. Remove rings, watches, bangles and dangling jewellery because they trap dirt and can injure a client. Cover cuts with a waterproof dressing and change it when wet.
Hand hygiene
Wash hands with soap and water before and after every client, after toilet use, after removing gloves, and after contact with blood or body fluids. Use the seven-step handwash or an alcohol-based hand rub when hands are not visibly soiled. Dry with a disposable towel. Do not wear nail polish if it is chipped; in many salons polish is discouraged for therapists.
Worked example
A therapist has a small cut on the index finger and a client arrives for a facial. The therapist should cover the cut with a waterproof dressing, perform hand hygiene, wear gloves for the service, and avoid contact with the client's blood or lesions. If the dressing cannot stay dry or the cut is infected, the therapist should not perform the service. Reason: broken skin is a route for infection in both directions.
Traps
Strong perfume can trigger allergies. Chewing gum, eating at the workstation, and touching the face or phone during service are marks-losing habits. A clean uniform does not replace handwashing.