Cleaning hair cutting scissors

The best way to clean hair cutting scissors is to wear protective gloves, rinse the scissors in lukewarm water to remove hair, fully-immerse the scissors in warm water and detergent and scrub with a clean brush, rinse the scissors in running hot water, and dry with disposable paper towels.

Cleaning hair cutting scissors after accidental contamination with blood

Clean scissors as per Guideline 1.6, in the Infection Control Guidelines for Personal Appearance Services:

• disinfect the cleaned scissors with either:
  • 70-80% ethyl alcohol-soaked wipe
  • 60-70% isopropyl alcohol-soaked wipe
  • cloth or tissue soaked in methylated spirits.

Cleaning electric hair clippers after accidental contamination with blood

Clean electric hair clippers immediately after accidental contamination with blood:

• disconnect the clippers from the power source
• remove hair from the clipper teeth
• clean the clipper teeth with a plastic brush dampened with 70%-80% ethyl alcohol, 60%-70% isopropyl alcohol solution or methylated spirits
• wipe over other visible accessible areas with a clean cloth dampened with detergent and water as per Guideline 1.6.1 of the Infection Control Guidelines for Personal Appearance Services
• allow clipper teeth and other cleaned areas to air dry
• clean the cleaning brushes and cloths as per Guideline 1.6.3 of the Infection Control Guidelines for Personal Appearance Services.

Treating clients with head lice

Hairdressers may treat clients who have head lice, however, they need to:

• use a non-chemical treatment (e.g. white hair conditioner and comb) or a chemical (insecticidal) treatment - follow the instructions on commercially available head lice products
• clean instruments used in head lice treatments (e.g. combs) as per Guideline 1.6.1, Method 1 of the Infection Control Guidelines for Personal Appearance Services
• kill head lice and their eggs which stick to linen by using one of the following treatments:
  • washing the linen in a washing machine using the hot water cycle
  • placing the linen in a hot clothes dryer cycle for 15 minutes
  • soaking the linen in near boiling water for 30 minutes.

Post-treatment

After each client:

• sterilise re-usable equipment in accordance with Infection Control Guidelines for Personal Appearance Services
• wash your hands.