Best and Worst Hygiene Practices for Your Barbershop

For many, your barbershop is the first impression of you and your brand that your clients will get. It’s therefore essential to make it a good one.

There are laws dictating the specific hygiene procedures that must be followed to protect both the salon’s customers and employees.

This blog post will look at the best and worst barbershop hygiene practices.

Best Hygiene Practices for Your Barbershop

The first step to maintaining good hygiene in your barbershop is to have a written and well-publicized policy. This policy should be easily accessible to all employees and customers. It should detail the specific procedures that must be followed to ensure a clean and safe environment.

Some of the best hygiene practices for your barbershop include:

Sanitised Tools and Equipment

Sanitising can be done with several products, but a UV steriliser is one of the most effective methods. UV sterilisers make it easy to sterilise scissors, combs, beard trimmers, and other tools that contact hair and skin. Avoid bleach where possible as it can damage plastic and metal and can also cause skin and respiratory irritation.

Another way to sanitise your barbering equipment is to use an autoclave. Autoclaves are sterilisation devices that use high-pressure steam to sterilise instruments and other tools. Autoclaves work by injecting steam into a chamber where the items to be sterilised are placed. The steam penetrates the items and kills bacteria and other microorganisms.

While autoclaves are very effective at sterilising tools, they must be used correctly to be effective. Tools must be placed currently in the autoclave to allow the steam to reach all surfaces. Care must also be taken to ensure that the autoclave is operated according to the manufacturer’s instructions at all times to prevent injuries.

Clean Salon Areas

This means sweeping and mopping floors, cleaning surfaces, and taking out the trash. All salon areas should be cleaned regularly. The surfaces include countertops, floors, chairs, and anything else customers may encounter.

Cleaning products should be stored in a safe and easily accessible place. Employees should be trained on how to use cleaning products properly. Proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is also important when cleaning the salon area.

Another essential thing to keep in mind is that you should never reuse towels or other items that have come into contact with someone’s skin. These items should be washed thoroughly after each use. There’s nothing worse than a dirty cape being thrown over you or even seeing the barber start your haircut with a trimmer full of hair.

Use High-Quality Products

The type of product you use in your salon is essential as this will impact the health and safety of your customers. Great products also affect the quality of your work. Only use products of the highest quality and from reputable brands designed for use in a barbershop. These products will be effective and safe for both customers and employees.

Avoid using products that are past their expiration date. Expired products may not work as intended and could be dangerous. If you’re unsure about a product, ask the manufacturer or a professional for advice.

Some of the products you’ll need for your salon include:

• Shampoo: A good quality shampoo will gently cleanse the hair and scalp without stripping away natural oils.Look for a shampoo designed for the specific type of hair you’ll be working with.
• Conditioner: A good quality conditioner will hydrate and detangle the hair. It will also help to protect the hair from damage.
• Hair colour: If you offer hair colour services at your salon, only use products from a reputable brand. Hair colour products should be mixed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Haircutting scissors: Only use high-quality haircutting scissors and the best trimmers. Cheap scissors will damage the hair and make it difficult to get a precision cut.
• Razors: If you offer shaving services, only use disposable or sterilised razors. Disposable razors should be thrown away after each use. Sterilised razors should be stored in a clean and dry place. It’s good practice that the barber opens a new razor in front of the client so they can easily see it’s a new one.
• Aftershave: A good quality aftershave will soothe the skin and help to prevent infection. Avoid using products that contain alcohol, as this can dry out the skin.

Be sure to read the labels carefully and follow all instructions. You should also ask your customers about any allergies or sensitivities they might have before using any products on them. If you have any questions about a product, ask the manufacturer. The products you stock will affect your barbershop’s brand perception through association. Running a premium barbershop? Stock premium products.

Hands Washed Regularly

One of the most important things you can do to prevent infection is to wash your hands thoroughly and regularly. You should also ensure that all your employees understand proper handwashing techniques.

You should wash your hands:

• After using the restroom
• After handling money
• After coughing or sneezing
• After touching any surface that may be contaminated
• After each haircut

Handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent infection. Be sure to wash your hands before and after each customer and contact with tools or equipment. You should also have a designated handwashing area in your barbershop that is easily accessible to all employees.

Clients should also be encouraged to wash their hands before their service. If a client cannot wash their hands, you should provide them with a hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Many barbers are now using disposable gloves during their haircuts. It shows your clients that you care about your barbershop’s hygiene, clients’ safety and even your own safety. These gloves should be changed between each customer at a minimum.

Invest in Infection control

Infection control is a vital part of keeping your salon clean. There are several different ways to prevent infection in your salon. One way to prevent disease is to use disposable items whenever possible. Disposable items include razors, combs, towels, capes, and gloves. You should also have a designated area for dirty laundry that is separate from the rest of the salon.

You should also ensure that your employees are trained in proper hygiene and sanitation procedures. They should wash their hands thoroughly and often, avoiding contact with their face.

Worst Hygiene Practices for Your Barbershop

Reusing Single-Use Items

Single-use items like gloves and other items are meant to be used once and then thrown away. Reusing these items can increase the risk of spreading infection. If you must reuse an item, wash it thoroughly between uses with appropriate disinfectant.

Reusing single-use items is a common practice among barbers. After all, why waste something that can still be used? However, this practice can pose a severe threat to the health of both barbers and their clients. Used razors, for example, can harbour infection-causing bacteria. The same is true of other items such as combs and scissors. While it may seem like a negligible risk, it only takes one infection to cause serious illness.

For this reason, barbers need to avoid reusing single-use items.  If an item can only be used once, it should be disposed of after use.

Cross-Contamination Caused by not Washing Hands

One unhygienic thing you can do is not wash your hands after each customer. This is a big sanitation no-no and can lead to the spread of infection. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after each customer. You should also use a hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol.

As a barber, you contact many customers – and their hair. It’s essential always to wash your hands after each customer to prevent the spread of bacteria and illness.

Customers trust you to keep them safe and healthy, and handwashing is one of the most important ways to do that. It protects them and protects you and your family from getting sick.

Make sure you always take the time to wash your hands after each customer. It’s one of the simplest and most effective ways to ensure a safe and healthy barbershop for everyone involved.

Not Disinfecting Surfaces

The surfaces in your barbershop that need to be disinfected regularly are countertops, floors, chairs, and anything else customers may encounter. Be sure to use a safe cleaner for the surface you’re cleaning and wear gloves when doing so.

As a barber, it’s crucial always to disinfect surfaces. This helps prevent the spread of germs and bacteria, which can cause illness. When surfaces are clean and free of germs, it shows that you are a barber that cares about your clients’ well-being.

Finally, disinfecting surfaces is simply good business practice. By taking this extra step, you’ll help to ensure that your salon is always clean and welcoming.

Reusing Towels without Washing

Towels are essential for keeping the barbershop clean and sanitary. However, towels can also become quickly contaminated with hair, skin cells, and other debris. If they are not washed properly between uses, they can spread bacteria and other contaminants to customers.

For this reason, it is important to wash towels after each use. Towels should be washed in hot water with a strong detergent to remove all traces of dirt and debris. By taking these simple steps, barbers can help to ensure that their customers always have a clean and safe experience.

Using Substandard Products

When it comes to the products you use in your salon, you should only use high-quality products designed for use in salons. These products include shampoo, conditioner, hair colour, and other products that contact someone’s skin. Be sure to read the labels carefully and follow all instructions.

A barber should always ask their customers about any allergies before using any products. If you have any questions about a product, ask the manufacturer.

Bottomline

To keep your barbershop clean and free of infection, it is essential to follow proper hygiene and sanitation procedures. This includes washing your hands often, using disposable items where possible, disinfecting surfaces regularly, and using high-quality products.

Follow these sanitation tips to keep your salon clean and safe for your barbers and customers. A clean and well-maintained salon will help you build a strong reputation and attract new business.

Contact us at barberhub@trimcheck.com