Stylist writes about salon cleanliness

Mary Steen, Clinton
Letter to the Editor

December 12, 2006 09:26 am

— I am writing in response to the articles in the Dec. 5 and Wednesday editions of the Clinton Herald about the disciplinary actions taken against two area salons.
I’ve been a licensed hair stylist for eight years in both Iowa and North Carolina. I have been employed at Inn Style Salon and Day Spa for 16 months. Part of every cosmetology student’s education is the daily sanitation of the school. You are not allowed to leave until your sanitations are complete. This is not something that they let go undone. As a licensed cosmetologist you are expected to continue to keep to these standards in the salon you choose to work for.
Before working at Inn Style, I was briefly employed at one of the salons in Clinton that received disciplinary action from the state board. Inn Style was also included in the surprise inspections of salons throughout the state. I have never seen any salon receive a 100 percent rating on sanitation.
There are regulations that are changed from time to time regarding licensure and continuing education and sanitation. It is up to each individual salon to make sure that they keep up to date on any and all changes and take the necessary actions to make sure that they comply with the state where you are licensed.
I have had several clients over the past eight years tell me that they equate finding a new hair stylist to finding a new doctor. That is because they essentially are putting their health in our hands. If we as cosmetologists do not keep ourselves up to date and adhere to the rules and regulations of the Department of Public Health, we are doing our clients and ourselves a great disservice.
Cosmetologists, treat every client as you would want to be treated if you were in the chair instead of behind it. And to our clients, don’t ever be afraid to ask your stylist about their salon’s cleaning records and sanitary practices. If you don’t see the Barbicide jar full of combs and cleaning solution, ask them where it is. If you don’t see them personally clean the implements and files that they are going to use to give you a manicure or pedicure, ask them for new clean ones.
If the cosmetologist working on you acts in any way other than cooperatively, walk out. Otherwise you may be paying them to give you an infection that may cost you your health. You will possibly be giving a much-needed “wake up call” to the salon and other patrons of that salon.