What Are Universal Precautions?
Universal precautions means treating all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious, regardless of the client's known health status. You do not ask clients if they have HIV or hepatitis before deciding whether to use gloves. You always use precautions when the potential for blood or fluid exposure exists.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Gloves
Gloves are the primary PPE in the salon. Use them anytime blood or body fluid contact is possible.
- Nitrile gloves: The preferred option. Latex-free, resistant to many chemicals, durable.
- Latex gloves: Avoid with clients who have latex allergies. Latex allergy is common and can cause severe reactions including anaphylaxis.
- Vinyl gloves: Lower cost but less resistant to tears and chemicals; acceptable for low-risk tasks.
- Never reuse gloves between clients. Remove and discard after each service.
How to Remove Gloves Without Contamination
- Pinch the outside of one glove at the wrist (do not touch your bare skin).
- Peel the glove off inside-out, so the contaminated surface is on the inside.
- Hold the removed glove in the gloved hand.
- Slide two fingers of the bare hand inside the cuff of the remaining glove.
- Peel it off inside-out over the first glove.
- Discard both gloves, then wash hands immediately.
Other PPE
- Masks: Required for chemical services with fumes (relaxers, keratin treatments, chemical peels). N95 respirators for services with fine particulate (e.g., acrylic filing dust).
- Eye protection: Safety glasses or face shield when splashing is possible (chemical services, pedicure basin cleaning).
- Apron or protective clothing: For services with chemicals that can damage clothing or skin.
Hand Washing: The Single Most Important Step
Hand washing is the most effective infection prevention measure available. It costs nothing and requires no specialized equipment. Do it before and after every client, after removing gloves, and after touching potentially contaminated surfaces.
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| Wet hands | Use warm running water |
| Apply soap | Liquid soap preferred over bar soap (bar soap can harbor bacteria) |
| Scrub | At least 20 seconds; cover all surfaces including between fingers, backs of hands, and under nails |
| Rinse | Under running water; hold hands lower than elbows |
| Dry | Single-use paper towel; use towel to turn off faucet to avoid recontamination |
The Bloodless Field
The term "bloodless field" refers to the practice of not cutting living tissue during a service. Cutting only dead cuticle tissue (not the living eponychium or skin) prevents creating open wounds that could become portals of entry for pathogens. A bloodless field is both a practical safety principle and a state board expectation during practical exams.