Waxing

If not done properly waxing can cause skin irritations, hair follicle infections or transmission of blood-borne diseases

Waxing, if not done properly, could lead to skin irritations, infections of the hair follicle or the transmission of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV. You do not have to see blood or bodily fluids on the instruments for an infection to occur. Infection prevention and control precautions must be followed at all times to protect both personal service workers and clients.

The following requirements are in addition to general operational requirements for personal services settings.

Infection prevention and control requirements

• Examine your client’s skin to ensure that it is healthy and intact (do not wax if skin is broken, infected or irritated).
• Wear single-use, disposable, non-sterile gloves if you expect to be in contact with blood or bodily fluids.
• Wash your hands before and after each waxing procedure, in between breaks in service, or before putting on or removing your gloves.
• Clean and disinfect client’s skin with a skin antiseptic prior to waxing.
• Hepatitis B vaccination is strongly recommended for the personal service worker.

Equipment

• If you are applying wax directly onto skin, a single-use disposable applicator (e.g. spatula, stick) should be used. Do not double dip! Once a spatula/stick has come in contact with the client’s skin, it should never be dipped into the wax again.
• Single-use applicators must be discarded after each contact with the client. Use a new applicator for the next application on the same client.
• Reusable applicators must be constructed of non-porous material which can be easily cleaned and properly disinfected.
• Other single-use disposable items (e.g. cloth/paper strips, threads etc.) must be discarded after each client.
• Rollerhead wax applicators are single use and must be disposed of after each client. The cartridge casing must be cleaned and disinfected with a low-level disinfectant between clients.
• Hair removal products such as wax, sugaring products, etc. must not be reused or recycled.
• Tweezers used after the waxing process to remove hairs are to be cleaned and disinfected, using intermediate- to high-level disinfectant, after each client.
• If reusable equipment is used to REMOVE an ingrown hair, it must be cleaned and sterilized between clients. This is considered an invasive procedure because the item has intentionally penetrated the skin.
• Clean multi-use instruments such as stainless steel spatulas with soap and water, then disinfect with an intermediate- to high-level disinfectant.
• Use a fresh paper liner or clean linen on waxing tables or beds between each client. Used linen must be laundered after each client.

Note: The heated wax temperature is not hot enough to kill bacteria or viruses.

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This item was last modified on November 18, 2015