This Must Be Your Checklist for Salon Hygiene

I’ve been in more salon chairs than I care to admit. Some glimmering, some grimy. The difference? Hygiene. A clean salon feels safe. One without? Every snip, dye or facial feels like a gamble. This post is your reality check: what must be non-negotiable in any salon you step into (or run), especially in India today

Why Salon Hygiene Isn’t Just a Fancy Word

• Health risks are very real: fungal, bacterial infections; sometimes even viral transmission through unclean tools.
• Regulations are tightening: customers are demanding safer standards. If your salon doesn’t keep up, you lose trust and business.
• Social awareness & social media: a photo of a dirty chair or rusty scissors spreads faster than a blow-dry.

What India Says: Rules & Regulations

• Local municipal laws / trade license rules demand basic cleanliness, waste disposal, safe chemical storage.
• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has specifications for metal tools (scissors, forceps etc.), including rust-resistance, material quality etc.
• Bodies like L’Oréal have issued safety & hygiene guidelines for salons in India: use gloves, sanitize tools, ensure staff training.

The Non-Negotiable Checklist for Salon Hygiene

Here’s everything you (client or salon owner) need to check—daily, weekly, before/during/after service.

1. Premises & Environment

• Floors free of hair, dust, spilled product; swept and mopped regularly.
• Waiting / reception area clean, chairs wiped down, magazines (if any) clean or removed.
• Restrooms clean, with soap, hot/cold water, paper towels or hand dryers that are sanitized.
• Ventilation: open windows / exhaust fans especially where bleach/dye or chemical treatments happen.

2. Tools, Equipment & Disposables

• Metal tools (scissors, blades, comedone extractors): sterilized after every use. Best → autoclave if possible.
• Non-metal tools (brushes, combs, rollers): cleaned, disinfected, dried properly. UV sterilizers ok for things that don’t take heat.
• Disposable items (gloves, capes, neck strips, cotton swabs): single use and discarded properly.

3. Staff Hygiene & Behavior

• Staff must wash / sanitize hands before and after each client. Gloves used when needed.
• Clean uniforms/aprons. Hair tied up. Nails trimmed, no chipped polish that traps dirt.
• Masks in certain services (facials, hair treatment with chemical fumes).

4. Chemical / Product Safety

• Products stored correctly (cool, closed, away from direct sun). Check expiry dates.
• Concentration as per manufacturer/instruction (e.g. mix dyes, bleaching agents properly).
• Use PPE (gloves, masks) when handling strong chemicals.

5. Client Safety Measures

• Tools brought out in front of the client (sealed if possible).
• Use fresh towels / linens per client.
• Patch test for color / chemical treatments when required or asked.
• Clear communication about risks, allergies, etc.

6. Cleanliness Routine & Disinfection Cycles

• Surfaces (counter, trolleys, chair arms, mirrors, door handles) wiped down after every client or hourly.
• Floors cleaned & disinfected daily.
• Autoclave / deep sterilization of metal tools daily. UV or chemical disinfectants for tools that can’t go in autoclave.

7. Licensing, Certification & Transparency

• Salon must have trade license / local municipal approvals.
• Display certificates / hygiene policy where clients can see.
• Use of BIS-approved tools, or tools that meet known standards.

What Recent Reports & Experts Say

• Vega Professional recently highlighted how safety standards for tools matters—not just sharpness but corrosion resistance, non-toxic material, easy to clean patterns.
• A spa / salon safety guide from RIMS India emphasises autoclaving as the gold standard—steam + pressure = most reliable way to kill bacteria/fungi/spores.
• The Operating Guidelines for Salons issued by PCMC (Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation) during COVID period still impact expectations: mandatory sanitizer, frequent disinfection, sanitized tools, masks, regular cleaning of high-touch surfaces.

Table: Salon Hygiene Standards At a Glance

Final Thoughts: What You Should Demand & What Salon Owners Must Do

• If you walk into a salon and see dirty tools, grimy chairs, or dust everywhere — leave. No matter how cheap or how “nice people seem.” Your skin (and health) is worth more.
• As a salon owner: invest in autoclave/sterilization, train your staff, keep everything transparent. The cost of hygiene is insurance—for your brand, your clients, you.

Clean salon isn’t extra luxury; it’s the baseline. If you follow this checklist, you protect clients, you protect staff, you build trust. And today, trust is everything.