In the beauty and cosmetology industry, the health and safety of both practitioners and clients are paramount. Maintaining a clean and sanitary environment is not just about appearances; it’s a legal and ethical obligation. This comprehensive guide, based on established health and safety regulations, outlines the essential Tools And Equipment For Beauty Care and the critical procedures for ensuring their hygiene. Understanding and adhering to these standards is crucial for any beauty professional to provide safe, effective, and reputable services.
Understanding Key Terms for Beauty Care Tools and Equipment Hygiene
Before diving into the specifics of tools and equipment, it’s important to define key terms that are fundamental to maintaining hygiene in beauty care settings. These definitions, often outlined in regulatory guidelines, provide a common understanding and ensure consistent application of safety protocols.
Autoclave: This is a vital piece of equipment for sterilization. An autoclave uses high-pressure saturated steam to sterilize tools, equipment, and supplies, effectively killing all forms of microbial life.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Products: In the context of beauty care, OTC products are cosmetics, barbering, or electrology items available for general public purchase without a prescription. These are typically considered safe for consumer use when used as directed.
Cosmetics: These are substances designed to enhance the appearance of the human body. The range is vast, from makeup to skincare, and proper handling and storage are key to prevent contamination.
Contaminated: This term refers to any item’s surface that has blood, potentially infectious materials, or visible debris like dust, hair, or skin. Contamination requires immediate and thorough cleaning and disinfection.
Dermis: This is the living layer of skin located directly beneath the epidermis. Understanding skin layers is important in beauty treatments to avoid invasive procedures that could cause harm.
Disinfect or Disinfection: Disinfection is the process of using chemicals to destroy harmful bacteria, viruses, and pathogens on tools and implements, making them safe for reuse. It’s a critical step in preventing cross-contamination.
Disinfectant: A disinfectant is a product registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proven to kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses. EPA registration is a key indicator of a disinfectant’s effectiveness. Disinfectants come in liquid forms for non-electrical tools and spray or wipe forms for electrical tools.
Dry Heat Sterilizer: Another method of sterilization, a dry heat sterilizer uses hot air, nearly or completely free of water vapor, to sterilize equipment and supplies. This is an alternative to autoclaving, suitable for certain types of materials.
Epidermis: The outermost, non-living layer of skin. Beauty treatments often focus on the epidermis to improve skin appearance without invasive procedures.
Electrical Tools: This category includes all tools used in barbering, cosmetology, and electrology that require electricity to operate. Examples are clippers, blow dryers, curling irons, and flat irons. Disinfection methods differ for electrical tools compared to non-electrical tools.
Foot Basin: Found in pedicure chairs, a foot basin is the open vessel filled with water where a client’s feet are placed during a pedicure. Proper cleaning and disinfection of foot basins are crucial to prevent infections.
Hot Styling Tools: Tools that use heat to style hair, such as curling irons and flat irons. While effective for styling, they also require careful handling and disinfection.
Non-Electrical Tools: These are tools that don’t use electricity, such as shears, razors, cuticle nippers, nail clippers, combs, and hair clips. Despite being non-electrical, they require stringent disinfection protocols.
Poisonous: A poisonous substance can cause sickness or death if it enters or touches the body. Beauty products containing poisonous substances must be clearly labeled and handled with extreme caution.
Sanitary: A sanitary condition is a clean, healthy condition, free from dirt, infection, or disease. Maintaining sanitary conditions is the goal of all hygiene practices in beauty care.
Soiled: Synonymous with dirty or not clean. Soiled items are considered contaminated and must undergo proper cleaning and disinfection before reuse.
Sterilize or Sterilization: Sterilization is the highest level of decontamination, removing or killing all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spore forms. Sterilization is achieved using an autoclave or dry heat sterilizer and is essential for tools used in invasive procedures like electrolysis.
Tub: Similar to a foot basin, a tub is a standalone open vessel for pedicures. Cleaning and disinfection protocols are the same as for foot basins.
Understanding these definitions lays the groundwork for implementing effective health and safety practices in any beauty care setting.
Minimum Equipment and Supplies for a Safe Beauty Establishment
Maintaining a beauty establishment that prioritizes health and safety requires specific minimum equipment and supplies. These are not just suggestions but often mandated requirements to ensure a hygienic environment for both clients and professionals.
Firstly, for establishments offering hair services, covered waste containers are essential for hair disposal. Hair must be disposed of immediately in these containers to prevent it from becoming a source of contamination and to maintain overall cleanliness.
Closed containers are necessary to hold all soiled items such as towels, gowns, smocks, linens, and sheets. These containers prevent the spread of potential contaminants and keep the workspace tidy and professional. These should be located in any area frequented by the public.
For storing clean items, closed, clean cabinets, drawers, or containers are required for all clean non-electrical tools, towels, gowns, smocks, linens, and sheets. This segregation of clean and soiled items is crucial in preventing cross-contamination.
Containers for disinfectant solution are indispensable for disinfecting tools and equipment. These containers must be clearly labeled ‘Disinfectant Solution’ to avoid any confusion and ensure proper use. Each container must hold enough disinfectant solution for the total immersion of tools to guarantee effective disinfection.
For establishments offering electrolysis services, an autoclave or dry heat sterilizer that meets specific regulatory requirements is mandatory. Sterilization is essential for electrolysis tools due to the invasive nature of the procedure.
Beyond these specific equipment requirements, it’s crucial that every beauty establishment maintains an adequate supply of disinfectant solution, mixed according to the manufacturer’s directions, and readily available for use at all times. Furthermore, the manufacturer-labeled container for the disinfectant in use must always be present in the establishment. Even if the disinfectant is depleted, retaining the empty, labeled container is important for verification and compliance purposes.
Having these minimum equipment and supplies is the foundational step in creating a beauty establishment that is safe, hygienic, and compliant with health regulations.
Step-by-Step Guide to Disinfecting and Sterilizing Beauty Tools and Equipment
Effective disinfection and sterilization are at the heart of maintaining health and safety in beauty care. The procedures vary depending on the type of tool and equipment. It is vital to follow sequential steps meticulously to ensure thorough hygiene.
Disinfecting Non-Electrical Tools
Non-electrical tools, excluding shears, require a detailed disinfection process before each client use:
- Remove Visible Debris: The first step is to physically remove any visible debris, such as hair, skin particles, or product residue, from the tools.
- Clean with Soap and Water: Wash the tools thoroughly with soap or detergent and water to remove any remaining dirt and reduce the number of microbes.
- Dry Tools Completely: Use a new, clean paper towel to completely dry the tools. Moisture can dilute the disinfectant and reduce its effectiveness.
- Total Immersion in EPA-Registered Disinfectant: Immerse the completely dried tools in an EPA-registered disinfectant that has demonstrated bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal activity. Ensure the disinfectant is used according to the manufacturer’s instructions, including proper dilution and contact time.
- Glove Use and Tongs: When removing tools from the disinfectant, licensees or students must wear protective gloves or use tongs to avoid re-contaminating the disinfected tools and to protect their skin from the disinfectant chemicals.
Important Considerations for Disinfectant Solutions:
- Disinfectant solutions must be covered at all times to prevent evaporation and contamination.
- Solutions need to be changed according to the manufacturer’s instructions or whenever they become cloudy or contain debris, indicating a loss of effectiveness.
- All tools used on a client or soiled must be placed in a container labeled ‘Dirty’, ‘Soiled’, or ‘Contaminated’ immediately after use.
- Disinfected tools should be stored in a clean, covered place labeled ‘Clean’ or ‘Disinfected’ to maintain their sanitary status.
- Avoid storing disinfected tools in containers or pouches that cannot be disinfected themselves, as this can lead to re-contamination.
Disinfecting Shears
Shears, due to their sharp blades and delicate nature, require a slightly different disinfection procedure:
- Remove Visible Debris: Begin by removing any visible debris from the shears.
- Clean with Soap and Water: Wash the shears with soap or detergent and water.
- Spray or Wipe with EPA-Registered Disinfectant: Instead of immersion, shears should be sprayed or wiped with an EPA-registered disinfectant spray or wipe with bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal activity, following manufacturer’s instructions.
Disinfected shears must also be stored in a container, pouch, or holder that can itself be disinfected to prevent re-contamination.
Disinfecting Electrical Tools
Electrical tools, such as clippers and dryers, require a unique approach to disinfection due to their electrical components:
- Remove Visible Debris: First, remove any visible debris from the electrical tool.
- Disinfect with EPA-Registered Spray or Wipe: Use an EPA-registered disinfectant spray or wipe with bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal activity to disinfect the electrical tool. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for both the tool and the disinfectant.
Disinfected electrical tools should be stored in a clean place. Soiled electrical tools, excluding hot styling tools, must be placed in a container labeled ‘Soiled’, ‘Dirty’, or ‘Contaminated’.
Procedures for Cleaning and Disinfecting Whirlpool, Pipe-less, and Non-Whirlpool Foot Spas
Foot spas and basins, especially those with circulating water systems, require meticulous cleaning and disinfection due to the potential for harboring bacteria and fungi. Specific procedures exist for different types of foot spas:
Whirlpool Foot Spas and Air-Jet Basins:
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After Each Client:
- Drain all water from the basin.
- Scrub the inside walls with a clean brush, liquid soap, and water to remove visible debris.
- Rinse the basin with water.
- Refill with clean water.
- Circulate EPA-registered hospital-liquid disinfectant (bactericide, fungicide, virucide) through the basin for at least 10 minutes, following manufacturer’s mixing instructions.
- Drain, rinse, and wipe dry with a new, clean paper towel.
- Record the procedure in a pedicure equipment-cleaning log, including date, time, and initials of the person performing the cleaning.
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End of Each Day:
- Remove the screen and any removable parts.
- Scrub all visible debris from the screen, basin walls, removable parts, and areas behind them with a clean brush, liquid soap, and water.
- Reinsert clean screen and parts.
- Fill basin with warm water and detergent, circulate for at least 10 minutes.
- Drain and rinse the detergent solution.
- Refill with clean water and circulate EPA-registered hospital-liquid disinfectant for at least 10 minutes.
- Drain, rinse, wipe dry, and allow to air dry completely.
- Record the procedure in the pedicure equipment-cleaning log.
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Weekly Procedure:
- After daily cleaning, do not drain the disinfectant solution. Turn off the unit and leave the solution undisturbed for at least 6 hours.
- Drain and rinse the basin with clean water after 6 hours.
- Refill with clean water and flush the system.
- Record the weekly procedure in the pedicure equipment-cleaning log.
Pipe-less Foot Spas:
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After Each Client:
- Drain all water.
- Remove footplate and any removable components.
- Scrub all visible debris from impeller, footplate, basin walls, and components with a clean brush, liquid soap, and water. Rinse.
- Reinsert cleaned components.
- Refill with clean water and circulate EPA-registered hospital-liquid disinfectant for at least 10 minutes.
- Drain, rinse, and wipe dry.
- Record the procedure in the cleaning log.
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End of Every Day:
- Perform the after-each-client procedure.
- Fill basin with warm water and detergent, circulate for at least 10 minutes.
- Drain and rinse detergent solution.
- Refill with clean water and circulate EPA-registered hospital-liquid disinfectant for at least 10 minutes.
- Drain, rinse, wipe dry, and allow to air dry completely.
- Record the procedure in the cleaning log.
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Weekly Procedure:
- After daily cleaning, do not drain disinfectant solution. Leave undisturbed for at least 6 hours.
- Rinse and wipe dry after 6 hours.
- Record the weekly procedure in the cleaning log.
Non-Whirlpool Foot Basins or Tubs:
- After Each Client:
- Drain all water.
- Scrub inside surfaces with a clean brush, liquid soap, and water to remove visible debris.
- Rinse with clean water.
- Refill with clean water and EPA-registered hospital-liquid disinfectant. Leave for at least 10 minutes.
- Drain, rinse, and wipe dry.
- Record the procedure in the cleaning log.
Disinfected basins or tubs should be stored in a clean, covered place labeled ‘Clean’ or ‘Disinfected’.
Disposable Foot Basin or Tub Liners:
Using disposable liners simplifies cleaning but does not eliminate it entirely:
- Single Use: Disposable liners are for single use only and must be discarded immediately after each client. They cannot be disinfected or reused.
- Basin Cleaning: After liner disposal, the basin or tub must still be scrubbed and cleaned of all visible debris with a clean brush, liquid soap, and water, then rinsed and wiped dry.
- Record Keeping: Record the cleaning procedure in the pedicure equipment-cleaning log.
- Liner Supply: Establishments using liners must maintain a supply of at least five liners per foot tub basin at all times.
Maintaining a detailed pedicure equipment-cleaning log for all types of foot spas and basins is mandatory. This log should be readily available for review by clients or regulatory representatives. Foot spas that are ‘Not in Service’ must be clearly marked as such and kept in a sanitary condition.
Sterilizing Electrolysis Tools
Electrolysis tools, due to the invasive nature of electrolysis, require sterilization rather than just disinfection.
- Cleaning Before Sterilization: Before sterilization, electrolysis tools (excluding single-use, pre-sterilized needles) must be cleaned with soap and detergent and water. Ultrasonic equipment can be used to aid in cleaning.
- Sterilization Methods: Sterilization can be achieved through:
- Autoclave: Using an FDA-registered autoclave according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- Dry Heat Sterilizer: Using an FDA-registered dry heat sterilizer according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- Chemical Indicators: Chemical (color change) indicators must be used on each sterilized package to confirm the sterilization process was completed.
- Maintaining Sterility: Sterilized tools must remain in their sterilization package until ready for use. The package must be undamaged and labeled ‘Sterilized’ or ‘Sterilization’.
- Handling Soiled Tools: Tools used on a client or soiled in any way must be placed in a container labeled ‘Dirty,’ ‘Soiled,’ or ‘Contaminated.’
- Equipment Checks: Sterilization equipment should be checked weekly to ensure it reaches the temperature required by the manufacturer.
Single-use, pre-sterilized, disposable electrolysis needles must be disposed of immediately after use in a puncture-resistant sharps container. Sharps containers should be changed when no more than three-quarters full and disposed of as biohazardous waste.
Single-Use Tools and Supplies for Enhanced Hygiene
Certain tools and supplies that come into direct contact with clients and cannot be effectively disinfected must be single-use and disposed of immediately after each client. These include:
- Buffers
- Pumice stones
- Wax sticks
- Toe separators
- Gloves
- Cotton pads
- Sponges
- Emery boards
- Neck strips
These items, once used, should be disposed of in a waste container immediately. New supplies and single-use disposable tools should be stored in a clean, covered place labeled ‘New’ to prevent contamination before use. It is also important to note that beauty professionals should not carry any tools or supplies in or on their garments or uniforms while performing services to maintain hygiene and prevent cross-contamination.
Maintaining Personal Cleanliness and Preventing Disease Transmission
Personal hygiene of beauty professionals is as critical as tool and equipment sanitation in preventing disease transmission.
Personal Cleanliness Standards:
- Clean Attire: Licensees or students serving clients must wear clean attire at all times.
- Hand Washing: Thorough hand washing with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand-cleaning product is mandatory immediately before serving each client.
Disease and Infestation Prevention:
- Prohibition of Service with Infection: Establishments and schools must not knowingly permit a licensee or student with a transmittable infection or parasitic infestation to serve clients or train.
- Client Safety: Similarly, establishments and schools must not require or permit a licensee or student to work on a client with a transmittable infection or parasitic infestation.
Examples of Transmittable Conditions (requiring exclusion until conditions are met):
- Cold, influenza, or respiratory illness with fever (until 24 hours fever-free).
- Strep throat (until 24 hours after treatment and fever-free).
- Pink eye (until cleared by a physician).
- Whooping cough (until five days of antibiotics completed).
- Chicken pox (until day six of rash or lesions are crusted).
- Mumps (until nine days after parotid gland swelling).
- Tuberculosis (until cleared by health department).
- Impetigo (until 24 hours after treatment started).
- Head lice (morning after first treatment).
- Scabies (after treatment completed).
Blood-borne diseases like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B are not considered infectious diseases for these exclusion purposes, but standard precautions should always be followed. Services should not be performed on skin that is inflamed, broken, or infected, and gloves must be worn if the professional’s hands have such conditions.
Additional Safety Regulations Related to Beauty Tools and Equipment
Beyond cleaning and disinfection, other regulations ensure overall safety and hygiene.
Neck Strips: Sanitary neck strips or towels must be used to prevent client capes from direct skin contact.
Neck Dusters and Brushes: Neck and nail dusters and manicure brushes must be cleaned before each client use by removing debris, washing with soap and water, drying, and storing in a clean, covered container. Facial, acrylic, gel, nail-art, and makeup brushes require similar cleaning using appropriate cleansing agents.
Towels, Linens, and Smocks: These must be laundered after each use, either commercially or non-commercially with hot water (at least 160°F for 25 minutes) or using a commercial laundry process with appropriate chemicals. Clean items should be stored in closed, clean cabinets.
Liquids, Creams, Powders, and Cosmetics: All preparations must be kept in clean, closed, and correctly labeled containers. Poisonous substances must be distinctly marked. Cosmetics should be dispensed to avoid contaminating the remaining product, though some exceptions exist for products unlikely to transmit pathogens (like nail polish). Pencil cosmetics must be sharpened before each use.
Prohibited Substances and Practices: Establishments must not have or use cosmetic products with FDA-banned hazardous substances, methyl methacrylate monomer, or methylene chloride. Products must be used as approved by regulatory bodies like the FDA, OSHA, and EPA.
Headrests, Shampoo Trays, and Treatment Tables: Headrests must be covered with a clean towel or paper sheet for each client. Shampoo trays and bowls must be cleaned after each shampoo. Treatment tables need to be covered with clean paper, towels, or sheets after each use, with linens laundered and paper disposed of properly.
Invasive Procedures and Skin Exfoliation: Licensees and students are prohibited from performing invasive procedures that penetrate beyond the epidermis. Skin exfoliation is limited to the epidermis and must be done with OTC products following manufacturer instructions. Razor-edged tools for callus removal and needle-like tools for blemish extraction are prohibited.
Establishment Cleanliness and Building Standards: Establishments and schools must maintain clean and well-repaired floors, walls, ceilings, furniture, and fixtures, free from waste and hair clippings. Adequate ventilation, hot and cold running water, potable drinking water, hand washing facilities, and public toilet rooms must be provided according to building codes.
Conclusion
Maintaining stringent health and safety standards through proper tool and equipment hygiene is non-negotiable in the beauty care industry. By understanding and diligently following the regulations for cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing tools, equipment, and facilities, beauty professionals can ensure a safe environment for themselves and their clients. This commitment to hygiene not only upholds legal and ethical obligations but also builds trust and enhances the reputation of beauty establishments. Prioritizing health and safety is an investment in the longevity and integrity of any beauty care practice.
By adhering to these guidelines and using the right tools and equipment for beauty care, professionals can create a safe, hygienic, and thriving business. Remember to always consult local and state regulations for the most up-to-date and specific requirements in your area.
