Care, precision, and hygiene around customers’ eyes and eyelashes are integral to the lash technician’s professionalism. The skin surface is one of the most sensitive areas around the eye; thus, great possibilities of infection or irritation exist if cleanliness is not emphasized. It may be important to offer beautiful lash extensions, but safety should always come first.
This will be an essential guide through comprehensively cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting, and correctly storing lash supplies in a manner that not only keeps your clients healthy and safe but also upholds your name and business in the long run.
When working with one of the most sensitive parts of the body, the eyes, cleanliness and sanitization of your lash supplies are not to be compromised. If tools and surfaces are not properly cleaned, the possibility of transferring bacteria or viruses is very high, which could cause different eye infections, irritations, or even worse health problems.
Clients trust you with their safety, and you can harm them by neglecting good hygiene. This may bring bad reviews or lead to possible lawsuits against the esthetician. Keeping the tools clean shows professionalism and that you care, which is very necessary for building client loyalty.
Making Sense of Some Hygiene Terms. ( Sanitizing versus Disinfection versus Sterilization) What’s the Difference?
First, to understand cleaning your lash tools, a little understanding of the terms sanitization, disinfection, and sterilization is necessary. Each of these terms is a fundamentally important process in maintaining the safety of your lash supplies for use.
1. Sanitizing: Reducing Germs on Your Skin and Tools for Basic Hygiene
The term used for lowering the germs count on surfaces to a safe level is sanitization. In lash technology, it starts with clean hands because they are the first and most effective ways to stop the spread of infections. Properly washed hands are going to have less chance of transferring harmful bacteria from your hands to others.
- Wash Hands: Hands should be washed with an antibacterial soap for a minimum of 20 seconds, around the nail area and between the fingers.
- Hand Sanitizers: If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers. These can reduce germs on your hands.
2. Disinfection: Eliminating the germs on your lash tools and surfaces
It is the process of rendering noxious germs, for example, bacteria and viruses, powerless on your tools and work surfaces. However, disinfection may not kill all germs but lowers their activity considerably.
To properly sanitize your lash supplies:
- Apply a broad-spectrum disinfectant to all tools and surfaces. Examples include PREempt CS20 or RTU Accel PREVention.
- Clean all touchpoints, for example, lash chairs, tables, door handles, and mirrors, after every client.
- Place reusable implements, like tweezers, in a disinfecting solution for the recommended amount of time.
You will need to disinfect frequently as part of your daily routine, ensuring every client gets a hygienically clean service.
3. Sterilization: Killing all living organisms of lash supplies
Sterilization, on the other hand, involves the complete elimination of bacteria, dirt, and allergens from your tools and lash supplies. Plus, it is essential in the sanitation of such tools as tweezers, lash mirrors, and any other tool that may come into contact with the client’s eyes.
- Tools should be cleaned by using a cleaning solution or tools such as an autoclave.
- Always follow the manufacturer’s directions for tool-specific sterilization time.
- After sterilization, the tools will be stored in a clean, free-of-dirt container.
How to clean and sanitize lash supplies in easy ways
Now we’ve talked about why sanitation, disinfection, and sterilization are important. Let’s go through the step-by-step process for cleaning your lash supplies correctly.
Step 1: Pretreatment: Get Your Tools Ready by Clearing from Dirt and Garbage.
First things first, you’re going to want to do a pretreatment wash on your lash tools. Wash them with antibacterial soap and warm water, scrubbing out any visible dirt and debris or maybe even glue from lashing.
Wash your tools, especially tweezers; the glue from lashes can get crusted between the tips.
Use the little brush if necessary for tight spots.
This is done to ensure that tools are free from any visible contamination going into disinfection.
Step 2: Rinsing: Be sure to rinse your lash tools under running water.
Once the pre-treatment cleaning is done, rinse your lash tools under running lukewarm water to remove any remaining soap or dirt. This step helps ensure that no leftover cleaning product interferes with the disinfectant or sterilizing solution you’ll use next.
- Give them a thorough cleaning, and afterward, dry them with a clean, dry towel to prevent water spots or even rust on metal tools.
Step 3: Disinfection: Submerge your lash tools in a professional disinfectant solution.
After having pre-treated and rinsed your tools, now is the time to disinfect them. This means immersing your lash tools in a professional chemical disinfectant solution to inactivate the pathogens.
- Immerse the instruments completely in a disinfectant solution, leaving them for the contact time recommended by the manufacturer, which is usually somewhere between 10-30 minutes.
- Lay the tools completely flat, and fully submerged under water so they get disinfected all the way.
It is always important to read and follow the directions on your disinfectant product.
Step 4: Drying: ensure your lash tools are thoroughly dried to prevent recontamination.
Lastly, take out the lash equipment with new gloves or tongs to avoid re-contamination. Dry them well between a clean disposable towel or let them air-dry between two towels.
- Note that some disinfecting solutions will call for a water rinse of the tool after soaking – check the label of the purchased product.
Again, it is a good idea to dry your tools well for cleanliness before storing them.
Step 5: Storage: Store your lash supplies in a dust-free area.
The last process in cleaning your lash tools is storing them properly. Store them in a disinfected, dust-free container/drawer with your cleaned tools, away from airborne particles or bacteria that can re-contaminate them when just laid on countertops.
- Use disinfectant wipes and apply them to the container where the lash glues will be kept.
- Additionally, ensure that the storage area is clean and, by extension, safe.
How to Keep Your Lash Station Clean and Tidy for Every Client
Keeping your workstation clean and organized will guarantee clients’ safety. Not only does it make things hygienic, but also it enables one to work better.
- Layout all tools and lash supplies on a clean, disinfected surface before every session.
- Keep disposable wipes and disinfectant on hand for quick cleanups during the application process.
- Immediately discard mascara wands, glue rings, and pads. Reusable tools need to be cleaned and disinfected and surfaces wiped clean for the next client.
Recommended cleaning solutions for Lash Supplies
Clean your lash supplies with a trusted cleaner, such as PREempt CS20 or RTU Accel PREVention. These products are very common in all salons and are safe for sensitive eyes.
Pay careful attention to the manufacturer’s recommendations on use, including those for subsequent rinsing or drying.
Importance of Cleanliness in Client Trust and Protection in Your Lash Business
Good hygiene will keep your clients free from infection, but good hygiene and cleaning also benefit your business. A clean salon is all about reputation and assuring your clients that they are safe with you. Bad hygiene brings bad reviews from disgruntled clients and sometimes even ends in legal issues.
Cleaning in these manners plus following a high code of hygiene will keep your clients safe, and at the same time build up your credibility as a professional technician.
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