Tools, Equipment and Salon Implements: Identification, Use and Maintenance
What this domain tests
You must identify salon tools, explain their use and state how to maintain them safely. Expect shears, clippers, combs, brushes, dryers, hood dryers, steamers, trolleys, stools, capes and towels.
Core rules
- Shears cut hair only. Keep them oiled, tensioned and sharpened; never cut hairpins or plastic, which nick the blade.
- Clippers need blade oil and regular cleaning. Remove hair from the blade, disinfect the casing and follow the manufacturer’s lubrication schedule.
- Combs have specific jobs: wide-tooth for detangling, tail comb for sectioning, fine cutting comb for control.
- Brush choice follows the task: round brush for tension and volume, paddle brush for smoothing, vent brush for faster drying.
- Electrical equipment must match the salon voltage. Inspect cords, keep water away and never immerse motor housings.
- Maintain a daily, weekly and monthly cleaning log; report damaged tools rather than using them.
Worked example
A client wants a smooth blow-dry with volume at the roots. Reasoning: choose a round brush with a mix of boar and nylon bristles and a dryer with a concentrator nozzle. The brush creates tension, the concentrator directs airflow, and sectioning keeps the cuticle smooth. A paddle brush would give less lift.
Traps
Do not use clipper oil on shear pivots as a substitute for shear oil; do not immerse clippers in disinfectant; do not use a broken plug; do not sharpen shears on a household stone.