Beauty Care (Skin) NC II cheat sheet

Service sequence: greet within 30 seconds of entry, offer seating, confirm appointment details, then begin consultation.

Professional address uses the client's surname and preferred title until the client invites first-name use.

A complaint is acknowledged first, restated in the client's own words, then resolved or escalated; never debated at the treatment chair.

Telephone standard: answer within three rings, state salon name and your name, and record caller name, contact number, and service requested.

Confidentiality rule: client information is shared only with staff directly delivering the service or with the client's written consent.

Non-verbal cues (crossed arms, avoiding eye contact) indicate discomfort; pause the service and ask a clarifying question.

Written client instructions take precedence over verbal instructions when the two conflict.

Referral rule: questions about medical conditions, prescriptions, or diagnosis are referred to a physician, not answered by salon staff.

Material Safety Data Sheet (SDS) sections cover identification, hazards, composition, first aid, firefighting, accidental release, handling, exposure controls, physical properties, stability, toxicology, ecology, disposal, transport, and regulatory data.

Wet floors require a warning sign placed at the entry point of the hazard, not inside the wet area.

Electrical equipment must be unplugged by the plug body, never by the cord; cords are kept clear of water sources and walkways.

Chemical splash to the eye: flush with clean running water for at least 15 minutes, then seek medical attention.

Fire extinguisher use follows PASS: Pull the pin, Aim at the base, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side.

Waste segregation: general waste, recyclable waste, and hazardous waste (chemicals, contaminated disposables) are stored in separate labeled containers.

Blood or body fluid spill: absorb with disposable material, disinfect the area with a freshly prepared disinfectant, and discard waste as hazardous.

Ergonomic rule: work surface height is near elbow level when standing, and the client's head is positioned to avoid sustained forward bending.

Cleaning removes visible soil; disinfection reduces pathogens on inanimate surfaces; sterilization destroys all microorganisms including spores.

Single-use items (razors, cotton, spatulas, lancets) are discarded after one client and never reprocessed.

Implements contacting skin or blood must be cleaned, then disinfected or sterilized before reuse; porous items that cannot be cleaned are discarded.

Hand hygiene: wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use alcohol-based sanitizer when hands are not visibly soiled.

Disinfectant contact time is the labeled wet time; a surface wiped dry immediately has not been disinfected.

Clean-to-dirty workflow: clean implements, then used implements, are kept in separate labeled trays to prevent cross-contamination.

Towels and linens are single-client use and laundered between clients; stored clean linens are kept covered and separate from soiled linens.

Sharps are placed in a puncture-resistant, labeled sharps container immediately after use and never recapped by hand.

Skin types: normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive; skin conditions (acne, dehydration, pigmentation) are separate from type.

Fitzpatrick scale I–VI estimates sun response and guides treatment intensity; higher types carry greater risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Contraindications requiring deferral or physician clearance include active infection, open lesions, recent chemical peel or waxing, isotretinoin use, and pregnancy for certain modalities.

Patch test is performed 24–48 hours before a new tint, dye, or product with known sensitizers.

Skin analysis sequence: cleanse, observe under magnification, assess hydration and oil balance, palpate texture, then document findings.

Treatment plan records goal, products, technique, duration, expected outcome, and recommended home care interval.

Informed consent is obtained in writing before the first treatment and renewed when the treatment plan changes.

If a lesion is asymmetrical, has irregular borders, varied color, or is changing, the client is referred to a physician without diagnosis.

Standard facial sequence: consultation, cleansing, skin analysis, exfoliation, extraction (if indicated), massage, mask, toner, moisturizer, sun protection.

Cleansing uses upward and outward movements; the eye area is cleansed with light pressure from outer to inner corner.

Exfoliation is limited to the indicated time; over-exfoliation presents as redness, stinging, and tightness.

Extraction is performed only on comedo-type lesions with skin prepared and softened; inflamed or cystic lesions are not extracted.

Facial massage direction follows lymph flow toward the lymph nodes; effleurage, petrissage, and tapotement are the basic movements.

Mask selection: clay for oily and congested skin, hydrating gel for dehydrated skin, cream for dry or mature skin.

Product application order follows thinnest to thickest consistency, with sun protection applied last in the morning routine.

Treatment is stopped and the area rinsed if the client reports burning, and the incident is recorded.

Surfactants lower surface tension and enable cleansing; humectants attract water, emollients soften, and occlusives reduce water loss.

Alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic, lactic) exfoliate at the surface; beta hydroxy acid (salicylic) is lipid-soluble and suits oily, congested skin.

Product label order lists ingredients by descending concentration; ingredients below 1% may be listed in any order.

Patch test on the inner forearm or behind the ear; a positive reaction is redness, itching, or swelling within the observation period.

Steamer distance is approximately 15–20 inches from the face with the vapor directed away from the eyes and mouth.

High-frequency and galvanic equipment is checked for intact cords, correct settings, and client contraindications before use.

Products are stored away from direct sunlight and heat; expired or separated products are discarded and logged.

Equipment is cleaned and disinfected after each client, and the preparation checklist is completed before the client is seated.

Body treatment sequence: consultation and consent, skin assessment, exfoliation, massage or wrap, rinse or removal, moisturizer.

Body scrub exfoliates with upward strokes toward the heart; pressure is adjusted to client tolerance.

Body wrap products are timed per manufacturer instruction; the client is monitored and the treatment stopped if discomfort occurs.

Waxing: hair length of about 6 mm (quarter inch) is needed for effective removal; wax temperature is tested before application.

Wax is applied in the direction of hair growth and removed against it while the skin is held taut.

Contraindications for waxing include sunburn, varicose veins over the area, recent exfoliation, and use of retinoids on the area.

Post-wax care includes soothing lotion and advice to avoid heat, friction, and sun exposure for 24 hours.

Massage is avoided over areas of inflammation, injury, or known circulatory conditions without medical clearance.

Professional boundaries: no diagnosis, no prescription, and no claim of medical results; scope is limited to cosmetic skin care.

Personal grooming standard: clean uniform, hair secured away from the face, short unpolished or neutral nails, no strong fragrance.

Hand jewelry is removed before service because it harbors microorganisms and can scratch the client.

Client autonomy: the client may decline any step, and the service continues with the remaining agreed steps.

Conflict of interest: staff do not pressure clients toward products in which they hold a personal financial interest without disclosure.

Appointment book records client name, service, staff assigned, start and end time, and price quoted.

Opening and closing checklists cover equipment function, stock levels, waste disposal, and security of records.

Gossip about clients or coworkers in the service area is a breach of professional conduct.

Client record contains contact details, consent form, skin analysis, contraindications, products used, treatment dates, and outcomes.

Records are retained for the period required by local regulation and stored securely with access limited to authorized staff.

Corrections to records are made with a single line, initials, and date; erasure or correction fluid is not used.

Adverse reactions are documented with the product name, batch if available, time of onset, signs, and action taken.

Quality assurance uses scheduled audits of disinfection logs, equipment checks, and record completeness.

Incident reports are completed for injury, chemical exposure, and equipment failure, and are reviewed to prevent recurrence.

Client feedback is recorded and trends are reviewed at set intervals to identify service or training gaps.

Inventory records track product name, batch or expiry date, quantity received and issued, and reorder level.