Sanitation and Sanitation Regulations
What this domain tests
This domain focuses on the Board’s housekeeping and implement rules: what must be cleaned, what must be disinfected, how linens and waste are handled, and what inspectors look for. Natural hair care uses combs, brushes, clips, scissors, clippers, and extension hair, so the rules must fit those tools.
Core rules and concepts
- Wash hands with soap and water before and after each client and after glove removal; hand sanitizer is not a substitute when hands are visibly soiled.
- Implements: remove hair, wash with detergent and water, rinse, dry, then completely immerse in an EPA-registered disinfectant at the labeled dilution and contact time. Clean and disinfect scissors and clipper blades according to manufacturer instructions.
- Porous items that cannot be disinfected must be single-use or given to the client. Neck strips, capes, and towels must be clean for each client; launder with detergent and hot water and store clean and dirty linens separately.
- Shampoo bowls, chairs, and work surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected between clients. Floors should be free of hair, and waste belongs in closed containers; blood-contaminated waste goes in a biohazard container.
- Chemicals must stay in original labeled containers, with SDS available, and service areas need ventilation. Do not eat or drink in the service area.
- Inspectors may check the posted license, sanitation practices, and records.
Worked example
A braiding comb falls on the floor. The floor is a reservoir, and wiping the comb on a towel does not disinfect it. Use a clean spare while the comb is washed, rinsed, dried, and immersed for the full contact time. If the comb is cracked or porous, discard it.
Traps that cost marks
Topping off disinfectant; skipping the wash step; storing clean tools in a dirty drawer; reusing extension hair; disinfecting only visible soil; forgetting contact time.