Having loyal clients is the first indication that you are good at your craft, but it is also an indication of how much they trust you with how they appear to the world.  In a society where how you look is of utmost importance, trusting someone with your hair, nails or skin is a big decision.  Often the trust that is built around your hair, nails or skin becomes a trusting relationship around other areas of significance such as relationships, careers and even deeper issues.  It may at times feel as though you have transcended being a stylist into being a financial advisor, therapist, lawyer or nurse.  Having these discussions may feel overwhelming because the issues are of such significance and in this environment of trust, you may be the only person a client talks to about these concerns.  In particular, when the conversation is around health, the pressure to be accurate is very high and giving the wrong advice could be life altering.  

With the advent of the internet, we have all started to reference “Dr. Google” as a means to get health related information, but often that information is unchecked and incorrect.  On topics such as “healthy weight”, that would seemingly have only one answer, you can scroll all day and find a boggling array of answers from sites that seem to be valid.  It can be so confusing to look up health information that many times we give up or look for the answer that we want and quit looking.  When discussing health concerns, symptoms or preventative health it is important to have accurate information and access to resources.  With this in mind, we (BARBICIDE) are launching the Be Healthy Initiative that certifies Community Health Ambassadors in the professional beauty industry.  The program is designed to certify stylists, barbers, nail techs and estheticians as being educated on basic health information that can impact not only the beauty professional, but also their clients and the broader community.  With COVID, we saw the rumor mill deliver inconsistent, incorrect and dangerous information.  This program is designed to give the correct information that can be useful in making decisions about when to see a healthcare professional for everything from preventative screenings to potentially life threatening illness.  Anytime we can use our powerful relationship of trust armed with accurate information we have the opportunity to influence the health of our community.

This short program can be completed online (click here) or in person at popular trade shows designed for stylists and barbers.  By becoming a Community Health Ambassador, you will learn basics about what constitutes health, preventative healthcare and some of the most common dangerous disease processes in America – diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma.  This initial program will be followed up with a video series by prominent people in this industry discussing health issues they are passionate about in their own lives.  For example, Roderick Samuels will be doing a short video on colo/rectal screening that will give the real information on these important tests and who needs to have this screening.  We will continue to update the materials available from videos to infographics appropriate for posting or offering to clients.  We are not asking you to become a replacement for healthcare professionals, but simply to become a liaison that can encourage someone or maybe yourself to participate in healthy behaviors and seek health care when necessary.

In the initial training, you will get information about what constitutes “health”… what is a healthy blood pressure, or pulse for example.  While any of these numbers alone are not necessarily indicative of health or illness, in combination abnormal numbers may indicate the need to seek a health assessment.  You will also learn about some of the most common diseases in the U.S. that are responsible for hospitalizations and death.  These illnesses are also what we often refer to as “underlying conditions” that complicate illnesses like COVID and put people at a greater risk of complications and even death.  High blood pressure (hypertension), high blood sugar (diabetes) and asthma all have unique causes and symptoms that are outlined in this training.  If even one person seeks medical treatment for one of these diseases by better understanding the disease and the symptoms, then this program has met its goal.  Finally, we discuss preventative healthcare  – those behaviors that are most likely to keep us healthy physically and emotionally.  

We hope that this program can impact the health of beauty professionals, their clients and the communities where they are so valued and trusted. 

Licensure of Barbers and Cosmetologists dates back to before most of us were born.  At that time, very few careers were licensed (less than 10%), but that number has grown, and now 32% of all occupations require a license.  The licensure of an occupation is directly related to the risk of injury to a consumer associated with performing the tasks of the occupation. In the US, the states have in place requirements associated with obtaining and keeping a license to reduce the risk of injury to the consumers in the state and keep licensees up to date on safety rules/laws.  In the cosmetology and barber world, the real risks to a consumer generally fall into 3 categories: infection control, chemical safety and electrical safety.  There are also of course some requirements around things like ventilation and prohibited implements/services (credo blades, etc), but those tend to vary widely from state to state.  In fact, while many of these concepts are addressed in every state, there is very little consistency on how they are addressed and what is required of a licensee.  That said, regardless of what you read here or on other sources, it is important to know, understand and follow the rules in your state and locality.  Let’s talk about some of the best practices around health & public safety in the professional beauty industry!

Infection Control

If you were unclear on infection control principles and practices prior to 2020… you certainly had the opportunity to brush up on these important skills during the last year.  In fact, we had over 2 million professionals complete Barbicide Certification (Barbicide.com) in the first few months of the pandemic – everyone wanted to make sure they were practicing proper infection control.  The basics of infection control are actually pretty simple!  First, you must figure out what can be disinfected.  Only hard, non-porous surfaces may be disinfected, so think of things like glass, metal and plastic.  Soft surfaces such as fabric and the human body cannot be disinfected, in fact, disinfectants may ruin soft surfaces, so keep it to the hard stuff!  Prior to disinfection, all items must be cleaned, something generally done with soap and water or a chemical cleaner.  Once the items have been cleaned they are ready for disinfection with either a spray, wipe or immersion.  Remember when selecting a disinfectant it must be EPA registered and for your business, it must be labeled as bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal.  You must follow the instructions on the label for mixing (if necessary), use (particularly contact time) and changing or disposal.  If you can commit to memory the three C’s – Concentration, Contact Time and Changed Daily, you will be well on your way to practicing proper infection control.  It is also worth noting that most states have rules around the method of disinfection that is acceptable – immersion is almost universally accepted, whereas wipes and sprays are not consistently accepted – it is important to know what is required in your state.

Chemical Safety

Even if you do not do chemical services, you certainly have chemicals in your business!  Everything from your cleaning/disinfecting products to chemicals for services are all important and can pose safety risks if not handled properly!  Luckily, all chemicals come with their own  “how to” in the form of a label.  The problem is that many of us fail to read the labels fully or believe we know how a chemical is to be used without verifying the specifics through reading the label!  A perfect example is a chemical commonly found in this industry – bleach. Bleach is used for everything from laundry to cleaning and in some states, disinfection.  Since this is a household chemical we have been around our whole lives, we tend to underestimate the risks associated with bleach and likely many who use it, have not really read the label.  If we did read the label, we would discover that not all bleach disinfects, making many of the products ineffective for disinfection.  We would also find that there are specific directions to dilute bleach, and at the same time, warnings about only mixing with water.  Undiluted bleach can cause severe damage to your skin, eyes and upper respiratory tract.  Mixing bleach with anything other than water can create gasses that may be fatal.  For example, mixing chlorine (disinfecting) bleach with vinegar or any ammonia based product can create a very dangerous and potentially fatal gas.  All chemicals have specifics about how they work, the risks associated with them and how to properly dispose of them – it is critically important that everyone who works in a salon, even if they are not licensed, read the labels and be aware of these risks.

Electrical Safety

All you have to do is look at the average station and you will see a mess of electrical cords that power some of the most important appliances of the industry.  Many people have mistaken beliefs about how to use outlets, GFCI boxes on the end of a cord and extension cords.  In the 1980’s, 18-20 people died a year simply using their blow dryers!  Since 1991, those little boxes at the end of the cord GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) have caused those numbers to plummet.  In this industry where electric appliances are used in often overloaded circuits, around water and for longer periods of time, it is essential that electrical safety be understood and observed.  Much like chemicals, all electric appliances come with instructions for use that include whether or not they can be used with extension cords or require GFCI plugs.  For the safety of both your client and yourself, ensuring that outlets are not overloaded, proper outlets are used and appliances are not used near water sources is important.

As the discussions arise all around the country about occupational licensure, it is important to remember the basis for licensure and ensure that we, as an industry, are making safety a priority in all that we do.