Sanitation, Hygiene, and Client Safety
Sanitation, Hygiene, and Client Safety is the exam domain that tests infection control, safe tool handling, and client screening. Expect questions on cleaning versus disinfection, single-use items, patch testing, and when to refuse or reschedule a service.
Core rules
- Cleaning removes visible soil; disinfection kills most pathogens on nonporous surfaces; sterilization destroys spores and is not a makeup-station procedure.
- Clean metal spatulas and tweezers, then disinfect with an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant for the label contact time. Porous items such as mascara wands, sponges, and lip applicators are single-use or client-specific and cannot be reliably disinfected.
- Follow the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard for blood or body-fluid exposure, and use gloves when contact is likely.
- Wash hands before and after each client, use a fresh barrier, and never double-dip into a shared product.
- Patch-test lash adhesive and other skin-contact adhesives 24–48 hours before use; ask about allergies, active infection, and recent facial procedures.
Worked example
A client arrives with tingling and a small blister at the lip border before a lip application. Reasoning: this suggests active herpes simplex, which is contagious. Do not apply lip color over the lesion. Reschedule, refer to a health professional, discard the disposable lip wand, and remove any brush that touched the area from service until cleaned and disinfected per its manufacturer; retire it if unsure.
Traps
Wiping a brush on a towel is not disinfection. Alcohol is not a hospital-grade disinfectant for every pathogen. Double-dipping is not made safe by wiping the wand. Patch tests are not only for clients who call themselves sensitive.