Hairdressing and barbers hygiene standards

Last updated: 01 October 2003

Standards for hairdressers and barbers

Hairdressers and barbers do not carry out procedures that deliberately penetrate the skin. However, some procedures can damage the skin and knowledge about infection control and minimum hygiene standards is necessary to keep both clients and hairdressers safe from infection. The following recommendations are made to help achieve these standards.

Premises

• All hairdressing salons or barber shops that carry out skin penetration procedures including waxing must be registered with the local council. The register is to be made available for public viewing.
• The premises must be kept in a clean and hygienic condition at all times.
• The construction of the premises should meet with local council requirements.
• The finish on all surfaces within the salon should be made of materials that are easily cleaned.
• Adequate lighting is recommended.

Premises that carry out skin penetration procedures require:

• A hand basin with hot and cold running water. It is recommended that the hand basin be in the treatment area.
• Soap or another hand cleaning substance is required to be at the hand basin.
• Paper towel or other single use hand drying equipment is required to be at the hand basin.

Personal Hygiene

• Hairdressers and barbers must wash their hands before and after attending a client.
• A clean garment should be worn at all times during work.
• If a hairdresser or barber has a cut or open wound on their hands or fingers especially, they should cover it with a water proof dressing.

Equipment

• ALL equipment should be cleaned between uses, including combs, brushes, rollers, streaking caps, clippers, scissors.
• It is not recommended to use manual clippers with non-detachable blades as they can not be easily cleaned.
• Detachable blades on clippers must be cleaned before being re-used.
• Equipment should not be soaked in solutions of disinfectant unless specified by the manufacturer's instructions. Cleaning the equipment in warm water and detergent and allowing it to air dry should be sufficient.
• Disposable razors are recommended for shaving. They should be used once and then thrown out.
• If the client and/or the hairdresser/barber is accidentally cut, the wound should be tended, then the scissors, clippers, hook or other equipment which caused the bleeding should be cleaned in warm water and detergent. If equipment can not be immersed in water then remove all visible blood and wipe the equipment with a 70% alcohol swab and leave to air dry.
• Capes and gowns used for the protection of the client during a treatment do not have to be cleaned between each use unless visibly soiled, provided clean neck towels or single use neck towels are used on each client.

Procedures

• Single use gloves should be worn (if not already wearing them) when skin is accidentally cut, punctured or penetrated.
• To control bleeding from an accidental cut or penetrated, matchstick styptic applicators can be used but for one client only. Liquid styptic can be applied to a single use cloth and then applied. Chap stick and roll-on style applicators are not recommended.

After Treatment

• All equipment must be cleaned after it has been used.
• A management plan should be in place to deal with accidental skin penetrations and all members of staff should know the details of the plan.
• All waste should be bagged and disposed daily.
• All surfaces within the salon should be cleaned at least daily.

Related links

• Guidelines for skin penetration  http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/resources/publichealth/environment/general/guidelines_skin_pen.asp
• Skin penetration code of best practice  http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/resources/publichealth/environment/general/code_of_practice.asp