We expect a certain standard of sanitation in many other industries, from food service to hospitals, why do so many people choose to ignore it in the beauty industry? When you are in close contact with more than one person, there should always be a level of sanitation in place to protect everyone from communicable disease.
In various salons in the area, I have seen files being used on more than one client without cleaning them in between. I have seen techs using electric files cut patrons, draw blood, and use the same bit on the next client. Metal implements are no better in the hands of these techs... nippers are frequently seen out on tables amidst the dust and filings from who knows how many previous clients -- all done on the same paper towel. Ick!
There have been specials on 20/20 about the poor sanitation in discount salons. There have been headlines about diseases that people have contracted from shared implements that have not been properly cleaned. Why is the level of sanitation so poor in these salons? For one thing, time is money. A lot of techs do not want to take the time to clean their area, their implements, or even their own hands. It is all about speed in the discount salons. Also, the state-mandated use of EPA registered disinfectants can be quite pricey. In order for them to keep costs down to make a profit, they need to cut out *something*. My question to the consumer is, however: is saving a few dollars really worth contracting a disease? The picture to the right is the leg of a client that contracted a form of tuberculosis of the skin from a salon in Watsonville, California (see clipping at the top of the page). Over 100 clients had similar symptoms -- all because the salon implements and equipment were not sanitary!
I always meet, and in some cases exceed, Colorado's laws regarding sanitation in the beauty industry:
6.03 A. Any multi-use article, tool or product which can not be cleansed or sanitized is prohibited and shall not be used upon a client unless it is discarded after its initial use.
All products that I use on my clients have the ability to be sanitized or disinfected (except for cotton balls, foil, paper towels and the like -- which are thrown away). I follow Colorado's laws about disinfecting implements not only because I should, but because I want to. I am sickened by some of the things I have seen out there! My table is sanitized, and towels are changed between each and every client.
6.03 B. Tools, implements, linens, and multi-use articles shall be cleaned, sanitized or sterilized prior to use upon each client. Tools and implements, except those which have come in contact with blood or body fluids shall be disinfected by complete immersion in an Environmental Protection Agency registered, hospital grade, bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal disinfectant that is mixed and used according to the manufacturer’s directions. Tools and implements which have come in contact with blood or body fluids must be disinfected by complete immersion in an Environmental Protection Agency registered, hospital grade and tuberculocidal disinfectant that is mixed and used according to the manufacturer’s directions.
I use two EPA registered disinfectants - Ultronics and Lets Touch. I use them to disinfect and store my metal implements and my scrub brushes, and to cleanse and prepare my table between each client. Because I do not share any items with other nail technicians (like one community scrub brush. Ewww!), my implements and brushes are always allowed to soak between client use for at least twice the amount of time recommended to kill pathogens. I require all my clients, as well as myself, to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before any service is performed.
For more information and articles on Sanitation in salons, please visit BeautyTech.info's Sanitation Section.
Amy Lunde-Provines - NailzByAmy - Operating at: Ahhhtistry Hair and Nail Salon, 6001 South Willow Drive Studio Twenty Three, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 - Phone: 303-246-1367