The Guild
Well-Known Member
As there has been some debate over the best practices for carrying out a wax treatment, we thought we would offer some general advice about hygiene and cross infection when waxing.
Obviously, it is always best to check what your insurance company's policy is, and some may differ.
When considering cross-infection, it is important to remember that the therapist's personal hygiene plays a vital role. A waxing system only has the potential to 'eliminate' the risk of cross-infection if the therapist also:
Obviously, it is always best to check what your insurance company's policy is, and some may differ.
When considering cross-infection, it is important to remember that the therapist's personal hygiene plays a vital role. A waxing system only has the potential to 'eliminate' the risk of cross-infection if the therapist also:
- Maintains high standards of hygiene in the working area and ensures that the trolley and wax pots are regularly cleaned. Keep the wax pot clean and covered between clients. Never use the same gloves that you have worn to clean the wax pot or trolley surfaces to carry out the wax treatment.
- Follows the manufacturer's specific guidelines.
- Washes their hands before putting on protective gloves to carry out a treatment. A new pair of protective gloves must be worn for each new client.
- Applies pre wax or after-wax lotion using a clean cotton-wool pad.
- Ensures that other items used, e.g. tweezers, have been correctly sterilised between treatments.
- Ensures that a new disposable spatula or a roller/tube applicator head is used for each client. When waxing underarms and bikini lines, dispose of the spatula after treating the right side and replace with a new one to treat the left side of the body. Never go on to use the same spatula on another part of the body when you have applied wax to the underarms or bikini line. Never go over an area with your spatula that has been in contact with blood, and certainly never dip a blood-contaminated spatula back into the wax pot.
- Never waxes over contra-indications that could lead to cross-infection
- Ensures that any waste produced during the course of a wax treatment must be treated as "contaminated" and incinerated. It must not be mixed with normal salon waste. If in doubt, contact your local environmental health officer at your local council.
- Ensures the wax application technique is up to scratch, as a poor technique can result in difficulty when removing the wax, which can cause bruising and abrasion of the skin. Never wax over the same area twice. Any remaining hairs must be removed using tweezers. Takes particualr care when treating delicate areas.
- Assess the client's skin and muscle tone prior to waxing areas such as eyebrows and face, bikini lines, underarms, upper arms, abdomen and inner thighs. These areas can be particualrly vulnerable if they are not carefully treated as they can bruise and graze easily. These areas require extra support and stretching during treatment. Thighs, stomach, arms and legs are prone to stretch marks, making the skin thinner and more fragile. Extra special care is needed when waxing eyebrows if the client has crepey or very lined eyes. If in doubt, use tweezers instead. When waxing the top lip a good tip is to put a smear of Vaseline on the lips with a cotton bud. This will protect the delicate skin of the lips from the wax.
