Hair removal
Client health information
There are several ways unwanted hairs are For 24-48 hours after waxing you should not: these areas should be discarded and not re-
removed in settings such as beauty used.
• Swim or have a bath
therapists or hairdressers. • Wax must not be applied to broken skin or over
• Wear tight clothing such as jeans,
These include: an area where blood has been drawn.
tights/stockings or leotards, as these may
• Waxing cause excessive perspiration. • If the wax and/or instruments are
contaminated with blood or other body fluids,
• Electrolysis • Sunbathe or have a solarium treatment.
the beauty therapist must immediately discard
• Lasers • Use a deodorant in the waxed area. the infected wax and instruments must be
• Plucking and cleaned and sterilised.
Electrolysis
• Threading • The use of an individual pot of wax for one
A fine probe is inserted into each hair follicle
client, or the use of single-use wooden spatulas,
With all of these procedures there is a risk of followed by the passage of a tiny electric
are recommended.
passing micro-organisms from one client to the current through the tip of the probe. As the
next if the procedure is not performed properly. current takes effect, the operator is able to • Lasers used in personal care are usually self-
Even though the risks are low, steps can be ease the hair from the follicle. contained units with limited equipment requiring
taken to reduce the risks even further. It is also cleaning and sterilisation. The end through
important that beauty therapists can Laser treatment which the laser beam is released should not
demonstrate their practices are safe. Laser hair removal works by delivering light at a come into contact with the client, however it
specified wavelength from a hand-piece into the can still become contaminated during use
If you are concerned about cleanliness and risk
skin, where it targets dark material (usually the through the dispersal of contaminated tissue.
of infection you should discuss these processes
pigment in hair). This is intended to cause The end pieces of the laser arm should be
with your therapist.
thermal and/or mechanical damage to a hair cleaned and sterilised after each client use and
What to look for follicle while sparing surrounding tissues. stored in a dry place.
• Look for a ‘certificate of premises registration’ • The risk of electrolysis is that blood borne
Plucking viruses and other infections can occur following
from the local council displayed in the shop.
Sometimes tweezers or other instruments are the removal of hair, if the electrically heated
• Look for clean hygienic facilities at premises,
used to pluck the hairs one by one from the needles become contaminated with blood and
such as benches, sinks etc.
area. It is best suited to small areas such as the are reused on another client. To reduce the risk
• Ask the therapist if they use clean or new eyebrows. of transmission of infection it is essential that
equipment each time. If they reuse, how do only sterile, single use needles are used.
they sterilise or disinfect their equipment? Threading
• Plucking is more likely to cause bleeding then
Types of hair removal Threading involves using a thread, which is other hair removal processes. Instruments must
moved quickly over the skin catching the hairs be cleaned and disinfected after each client.
Waxing and causing their dislodgement from the follicle. If contraminated with blood or body fluids
Waxing is supplied in three forms: strip (soft) instruments must be sterilised.
Operator requirements
wax, hot (hard) wax and glucose (water soluble) • When undertaking threading, threads must be
wax. Current best practice guidelines recommend
used once only and discarded.
the following for those performing hair removal:
Glucose (water soluble) wax is more likely to For further information contact your
permit the growth of potentially harmful micro- • Special care is required when wax is used to
local council health department or the
organisms particularly if the applicator is re- remove hair from the upper lip, underarm area
Communicable Disease Control Unit of the
dipped and the wax is continually reheated. and pubic area (bikini line). These areas are
Department of Human Services
either moist or close to mucous membrane
Glucose wax should never be used in beauty on 1300 651 160.
areas, which are more sensitive and support a
establishments. higher level of microorganisms. To minimise the www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas
risk of transmitting infection, any wax used on July 2006
Department of Human Services