5 Signs That Your Stylist is Using Dirty Tools

Many hairstylists are not cleaning their tools properly (if at all) because they feel that it "takes too long." They would rather spend their time getting clients in and out of their chairs and making money, rather than "wasting" time cleaning each and every brush and comb they use after each client, which they are supposed to do.

Hairstylists, who use dirty tools on your hair, put you at risk for getting ring worms, lice, and whatever diseases their other clients may be carrying on their scalps. Your stylist should be cleaning and disinfecting every single brush, comb, and clip before he/she puts it in your hair. The heat from the flat irons and other heated tools kills the germs on them. The scissors don't get put into disinfection solution because it will ruin them, however your hairdresser should only be using them on clean hair anyways.

Here are five signs that your hairstylist is not cleaning and disinfecting tools properly:

1. You see hair and/or product buildup on your stylist's tools. (See the picture of the hairbrush above.)

2. You don't see any blue disinfecting solution anywhere in the salon. Stylists are supposed to soak each tool in this solution after each client for 10 minutes, so if you don't see it anywhere, chances are they are not using it as frequently.

3. You see your stylist drop the comb and brush on the floor, and he/she picks it up and uses it in your hair. There is no "5-second rule" in hair dressing. If your stylist drops a comb or brush on the floor, then he/she should disinfect it before putting it back in your hair. Think of all the hair and dirt that's already on the floor. Do you really want that in your hair?


4. You've never seen your stylist clean any tools before. If you attend a hair salon that has lots of clients coming in and out, at some point you should see your stylist cleaning tools. You should not have to share a comb or brush with any another client in the salon, despite how busy it is.

5. You ask your hair stylist if the tools she is using in your hair have been cleaned and disinfected and she says "no," changes the subject, avoids your question, or gives you an excuse, why they haven't been cleaned. All of those situations are unacceptable!

~Stacy L. Davis, sgrahamhunt@gmail.com

Images taken from Excalibur Sharpening Supply and Limited and FromGrandmasKitchen.com.