Safety, Sanitation and Sterilization in the Salon
This section covers Safety, Sanitation and Sterilization in the Salon. The exam checks whether you can separate cleaning, disinfection and sterilization, and apply the correct process to tools, surfaces and spills.
Core definitions
- Cleaning removes visible dirt, product and organic matter with soap or detergent. It must happen before disinfection or sterilization.
- Disinfection reduces most harmful microorganisms on surfaces and many tools; it does not reliably destroy bacterial spores.
- Sterilization destroys all microorganisms, including spores. Autoclaving is the standard method for heat-stable metal tools such as cuticle nippers and extractors.
Salon rules
Use single-use items where possible: blades, needles, orange sticks and tissues. Porous items such as nail files and buffing blocks are difficult to disinfect and should be single-client or discarded. Store sterilized tools in a clean, dry, covered container; a UV cabinet is storage or low-level disinfection, not a substitute for an autoclave. For blood spills, wear gloves, absorb the spill, clean, then apply a freshly prepared sodium hypochlorite solution at the label's recommended strength. Never mix bleach with ammonia. Use colour-coded bins for general, biomedical and sharp waste. Check electrical cords and keep liquids away from sockets.
Worked example
A metal cuticle nipper touches a client's bleeding cuticle. The therapist stops, wears gloves, cleans the nipper of visible blood, then sterilizes it in an autoclave before reuse. If no autoclave is available, the tool is removed from service. Reason: blood contact requires sterilization, not a quick wipe with disinfectant.
Traps
Calling a UV cabinet a sterilizer, skipping cleaning before disinfection, and using expired disinfectant cost marks.