Within the Beauty industry you will come into contact with many clients, and you will carry out many different types of treatment.

Beauty Therapists will work with a large number of clients providing a large number of treatments therefore hygiene is an important part of your day.

There are many areas where the importance of hand washing is paramount in protecting both yourself and your clients from bacteria and illness. You will come into contact with, in some cases, treatments which may penetrate the skin and these can have a greater risk of spreading disease because germs can be passed from dirty hands and dirty instruments.

Types of treatments within the Beauty Industry where hand washing is required:

• Cosmetic Dentistry
• Non-surgical face lifts
• Eye brow threading / microblading
• Semi-permanent make up
• Eyelash extension / tint
• Microdermabrasion
• Thread vein treatments
• Laser skin rejuvenation
• Gel nail / Shellac
• Oxygen and Vampire facials
• Teeth whitening
• Hair removal
• Massage and aromatherapy

Hand washing on your premises

You need to have a hand wash basin that has a supply of hot water and disposable paper towels and antibacterial soap. If you do not have plumbed in water available you can use a portable sink unit.

When to wash your hands

• Before and after an intervention with each client
• After contact with any blood or body fluids
• Immediately after the removal of gloves
• After using a tissue or handkerchief
• After smoking
• After visiting the toilet
• Before and after eating
• Immediately after any other activity or contact with a client’s surroundings that could potentially result in hands becoming contaminated

Hand washing should be seen as part of your daily routine not only to protect yourself but your customers and your reputation.

To find out more please read our article regarding “Maintaining a clean salon”

Hand washing techniques