Health, safety and hygiene procedures are critical to protecting both artists and clients - enforcing such procedures will reduce the risk of transmission of infections. Transmission of infections such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, bacteria, viruses and pathogens can be passed through accidental penetration of the skin or the mucous membrane. Infections, bacteria, viruses and pathogens can be transmitted even if they are not visible on furniture, equipment, tools and surface areas. It is vital to maintain a “clinically clean” environment to protect clients and ourselves as trained professionals. The following are recommendations of NALA or requirements set out by The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care in Ontario. All requirements must be met to pass a Health Inspection in Ontario.
AIRBORNE AND CONTACT PATHOGENS
Pathogens are infectious agents that cause disease – bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Pathogens can be transmitted through the respiratory tract (nose, mouth) and/or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth and ears). There are two types of pathogens: airborne and contact.
Airborne pathogens are tiny microbes which are suspended in the air. Pathogens become suspended when an infected individual discharges it via coughing, sneezing, and breathing.
Contact pathogens are tiny microbes which are transmitted through direct contact with the infected person (shaking hands, touching) or contaminated environment (tables, beds, pillows).
As you are working near the mucous membrane, it is essential to ensure that your products, tools, environment, and procedures do not expose the client to pathogens. Implementing health and safety policies and protocols will minimize the risk to you and your client.
Whether home-based or salon-based, it is essential to implement policies and procedures to protect yourself and your client. The goal is to create and maintain a clinically clean environment. The following are recommendations of NALA or requirements set out by The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care in Ontario. Please note that requirements will vary based on region. We recommend referring to your local regulations for the most up-to-date requirements.
HAND HYGIENE
Proper hand hygiene will prevent the transmission of contact pathogens. Infectious diseases, such as salmonella and respiratory infections, can be spread by contaminated hands. Proper handwashing can prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses that cause disease. Hands must be washed before and after every client.
Hand Washing and Sanitation:
1. Wet hands with clean, warm water.
2. Apply soap and lather for at least 20 seconds.
3. Rub hands together and clean between fingers and under fingernails.
4. Rinse hands with clean, warm water.
5. Dry hands with a clean paper towel.
6. Sanitize hands with alcohol-based sanitizer (60-90% alcohol).
7. Put on gloves.
Gloves eliminate skin-to-skin contact, preventing the transmission of potentially infectious diseases between client and artist. It is recommended to use nitrile gloves due to common latex allergies. Gloves are not a replacement for washing hands! Hands must be washed first before putting gloves on. Gloves must be disposed of after every single client – they are not reusable.
FACE PROTECTION
Proper face protection will prevent the transmission of airborne pathogens. During an appointment, an artist can be very close to the client’s face. It is important to wear a mask to create a barrier – to prevent the artist from breathing on a client and to prevent the transmission of infections, bacteria, viruses and pathogens. A regular surgical mask is sufficient for catching respiratory droplets that transmit diseases, bacteria, viruses and pathogens.


WORKSPACE
Environment Safety & Hygiene
Workspace must be kept safe and hygienic for both artist and clients to prevent injury and transmission of diseases. Workspace must be cleaned after every client to ensure that the environment is safe for the Artist and Clients. Artists should be maintaining a clinically clean environment. The following are recommendations of NALA or requirements set out by The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care in Ontario.
Sterile Eyewash
All chemicals used during application contain a high concentration of irritants and/or chemicals that are not meant to be applied to the skin or come into contact with the eyes. Should any chemicals seep into the eye, it is important to flush it out immediately to prevent injury. Always keep “single use sterile eyewash” (sterile saline solution) nearby for easy access. We recommend single use eyewashes, as they are more hygienic - these can be purchased at the local drugstore.
Pets in Workspace
Pets are prohibited in the workspace for both safety and hygiene reasons. Injury can arise from pets attacking/biting a client or unsupervised actions during an appointment (e.g. knocking a light over). Pets can also carry diseases, dirt, feces and urine through their mouth, paws and fur. Having a pet in the workspace can lead to contamination of the floor, counters, linens, tools, etc. Some clients may have allergies to pet fur, triggering allergy symptoms that can make the appointment uncomfortable for the client and difficult for the artist. Lastly, not everyone is an animal lover – some clients may dislike or be afraid of animals.
Children in Workspace
Clients should not be allowed to bring children to their appointments for safety reasons. Injury can arise from the child playing in the area, as they could potentially knock lights over, humidifiers, tables, chairs, sharp tools, etc. Children may also feel restless as their attention spans may run short. Any injury to the child is a business liability.
Cleaning and Prepping Service Room
Beds and pillows must be well protected to prevent contamination and cleaned after every client to ensure that each client is provided a clean surface area to lay on. It is recommended to use a plastic/vinyl cover on top of these surfaces, so they can be easily wiped down with disinfectant after every client.
Beds can be used with or without a cover. If a cover is not used, the surface area must be cleaned with soap and water or a disinfectant cloth (e.g. Lysol wipes). Covers such as linens or examination paper can be used on top of the bed. Linens must be changed after every client and examination paper must be disposed of after every client. Linens must be stored in a manner where it prevents contamination.
Pillows must be protected with a plastic/vinyl cover or dental bib to prevent moisture from being absorbed. The plastic/vinyl cover must be cleaned with soap and water or a disinfecting cloth after every client; a dental bib will be disposed of after every client. A pillow case or towel can be used on top of the vinyl cover and must be changed after every client.
Blankets must be changed after every client. It is recommended to avoid using fuzzy blankets as they are prone to trapping dirt and dust. Blankets must be stored in a manner where it prevent contamination.
Surface areas and lights should non-absorbent and be wiped down daily with soap and water and/or a disinfectant wipe to ensure it is dirt and dust free.
Tools & Room Set Up
Disposable tools must be stored in an enclosed space to ensure that they do not get contaminated during storage.
Non-disposable tools must be stored in sterile pouches to ensure that they do not get contaminated during storage.
All chemicals such as adhesive, oils or conditioners must be dispensed in a manner where it does not contaminate the source bottle -the wands that come into contact with the source bottle must be clean.
Sink must be present within 1 meter of where sterile supplies are stored and accessible while performing a service. It must supply sterile potable hot and cold water. Soap in a disposable container and single-use hand towels must be present. Washroom hand sinks (not public washrooms) are acceptable if it satisfies the above requirements. The sinks can be used for hand washing and cleaning of supplies if it satisfies the above requirements.
PRODUCTS
Disposable tools must be stored in an enclosed space to ensure that they do not get contaminated during storage. They must be disposed of after every client.
Non-disposable tools must be stored in air-tight pouches to ensure that they do not get contaminated during storage.
Liquids must be dispensed in a manner where it does not contaminate the source bottle. The liquid should be dispensed onto a clean wand or a clean working surface area. The spout of the product should never come into contact with a contaminated wand or surface, as this will contaminate the source container – no double-dipping!
Sterile eyewash must be easily accessible at all times. All chemicals used during application contain a high concentration of irritants and chemicals that are not meant to be applied to the skin or come into contact with the eyes. Should any chemicals seep into the eye, it is important to flush it out immediately to prevent injury. Always keep “single-use sterile eyewash” (sterile saline solution) nearby for easy access.
First aid kit should be available on-site in case of an incident! Should it be a serious injury, always refer or contact a medical professional. Artists are not medical professionals, therefore should not be attending to injuries or providing medical advice.

PAO (Period After Opening) Symbol is a graphic symbol that identifies the useful lifetime of a product after its package has been opened for the first time. This is different from the Expiry Date, which identifies the useful lifetime of an unopened product.
Example: This symbol indicates that the productcan be used up to 12 months after opening.
Always label your product bottles with the date it was first opened. The product should be disposed of once it has reached its expiry date or PAO date – whichever one comes first. Using a product past its expiry or PAO date can cause the product to not work properly, which will negatively impact the application and retention of extensions. Clients can also experience sensitivities or be injured from expired products as well.
STUDIO ASSESSMENT
Assess your environment to ensure that it is safe for you and your client. Conduct an inspection on your furniture, lights and surrounding – make sure that all furniture is in good working condition, lights are affixed/stable, and that the surrounding area does not have items that can cause injury (loose cables, rolled up rug, etc.).
Check your bed! Make sure your bed is in good working condition. Inspect your bed often to ensure that it is stable and safe to use - the legs of your bed can get worn out and bend over time. The last thing you want is to have your bed collapse during an appointment and/or injure a client.
A first aid kit should be available on site in case of an incident! Should it be a serious injury, always refer or contact a medical professional. Artists are not medical professionals, therefore should not be attending to injuries or providing medical advice.