Is waxing sanitary?

Waxing as a method of hair removal is in itself perfectly sanitary. However, this can be dramatically affected by the conditions in which it is performed. When getting the treatment done at a salon, there are a few things to look out for that clearly indicate whether the conditions are optimal for hygiene.

Good things to look out for at the salon

1. You fill out a client questionnaire

This indicates that the salon is interested in learning your background and personal history. Information gathered here can indicate if you have any allergies, concerns, injuries or skin conditions that require special attention or products. If your salon doesn’t request a written questionnaire, the beauty therapist may verbally run through your history with you prior to your treatment. This is the perfect time to bring up if you are currently taking any medications, have any existing conditions or concerns that are worth mentioning.

2. Paper or a protective barrier is placed down on the bed or table

Generally used to catch any stray drips of wax or hairs from a waxing treatment, a paper or cloth over the treatment table or bed indicates that the surface is clean and ready for client use. If the salon is using cloth coverings instead of disposable paper ones, it’s a good idea to check for any wax traces or talcum powder residue that may indicate that the area was not cleaned between client appointments.

3. The therapist wears gloves

Waxing opens up the pores and makes your skin more susceptible to infection by foreign bacteria; something often found in abundance on people’s hands and under their fingernails. In order to prevent irritation and infection of the skin, it is in your best interest to ensure that your beauty therapist’s hands are clean and gloved prior to commencing treatment. In addition to this, it is not uncommon for small (even microscopic) traces of blood to be released throughout the treatment; which is something that your beautician should be aware of, and it is therefore in their best interest to avoid coming into this contamination from you.

4. They don’t double dip

It goes without saying that a spatula used to apply the product to your skin should not be re-dipped into the wax pot. When applying waxing agent to your body, the spatula comes into contact with all of the bacteria, skin cells, sweat and other contaminants that may be present on your skin. If your therapist double-dips, these contaminants are introduced back into the wax source, and therefore will be exposed to the next client who books an appointment. Chances are if your therapist double dips during your appointment, they have been doing so for others as well.

5. Wax rollers are clean

If your salon is one that uses wax rollers for their speed and efficiency with the wax application, it is important to check whether the disposable heads have been replaced, or disinfected between treatments. This is not always visible when simply looking at the rollers, but your therapist should be able to tell you about this when you ask. Alternatively, if you see evidence of use such as residual hairs on the head of the roller, it’s safe to assume that they are not sanitary.

If you are concerned about the conditions at your local salon, do not hesitate to ask employees about their hygiene standards and sanitation methods. If the employees or manager are unable to explain how they sanitize their equipment or ensure hygiene standards, it indicates that they may not have a structured protocol to follow, or rules surrounding this concern. This might make you rethink your appointment with their business, and it may be worth looking for waxing treatment elsewhere in order to ensure optimum hygiene, for the sake of maintaining healthy skin.