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5.3 - Sterilisation and Infection Control

Infection control isn't just about looking clean. It's about actually being clean - and knowing the difference between sterilisation, disinfection, and sanitisation. Get it wrong and you're putting clients at risk of bacterial infections, fungal infections, or blood-borne viruses. Get it right and it becomes routine. This guide explains what needs sterilising, what needs disinfecting, what needs throwing away, and how to handle the worst-case scenario - a blood exposure.

Quick rule of thumb: if it touches broken skin or blood, it's either single-use (bin it) or it needs autoclaving. UV cabinets and Barbicide are not sterilisation. Don't kid yourself.

Sterilisation vs disinfection vs cleaning - know the difference

These three words are not interchangeable. They mean different things and do different things.

The rule: Cleaning comes first. Always. You cannot disinfect or sterilise a dirty tool - the dirt shields the microorganisms. Clean first, then disinfect or sterilise.

Tip for new starters: Learn the difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilising before you start seeing clients. UV cabinets are for storage, not sterilisation. If a tool touches broken skin, it needs an autoclave or it needs to be single-use. No shortcuts.

What needs sterilising

Any reusable tool that comes into contact with broken skin or blood must be sterilised between clients. This means:

• Metal cuticle pushers
• Metal cuticle nippers
• Tweezers (if used near broken skin - e.g., ingrown hair removal)
• Comedone extractors
• Any metal tool used in treatments that could break the skin

How to sterilise: Autoclave. A bench-top autoclave uses steam under pressure (typically 134°C for 3 minutes or 121°C for 15 minutes) to kill all microorganisms, including bacterial spores. This is the only method that counts as sterilisation in a beauty setting.

Cost of a bench-top autoclave: £200-500 for a basic model suitable for small tools. They need annual validation and regular maintenance.

UV cabinets are NOT sterilisation

This is the single biggest misconception in the beauty industry. UV cabinets do not sterilise. They emit UV-C light, which can reduce some surface bacteria - but only on the surfaces directly exposed to the light. If a tool has any shadow, crevice, or hinge, the UV doesn't reach it. UV cabinets are suitable for storing already-sterilised or disinfected tools in a clean environment. They are not a substitute for autoclaving.

If your current infection control procedure is "I put it in the UV cabinet," you're not sterilising anything. You're storing tools under a purple light.

Chemical sterilisation

Cold sterilisation using glutaraldehyde-based solutions (e.g., Cidex) can achieve high-level disinfection or sterilisation depending on contact time. However, glutaraldehyde is itself a hazardous substance (COSHH-regulated, respiratory sensitiser) and is being phased out in many settings. If you use it, you need a COSHH assessment specifically for it, proper ventilation, and PPE.

For most beauty professionals, an autoclave is simpler, safer, and more reliable.

What needs disinfecting

Tools and surfaces that don't contact broken skin but do contact skin or are in the treatment area need disinfecting between clients:

• Scissors (hairdressing - not typically contacting broken skin)
• Combs and brushes
• Nail files (if not single-use)
• Work surfaces and trolleys
• Arm rests and face cradles
• Bowls, dishes, and dappen dishes (if reusable)
• Any equipment handles - lamp handles, magnifying glass handles

Barbicide - what it does and doesn't do

Barbicide is a hospital-grade disinfectant. Used correctly (tools fully submerged, correct dilution ratio - usually 2 oz per 32 oz water, for the correct contact time - usually 10 minutes minimum), it kills most bacteria, fungi, and some viruses including HIV and Hepatitis B and C.

What Barbicide does:

• Kills vegetative bacteria (staphylococcus, streptococcus, pseudomonas)
• Kills fungi (including those causing ringworm and athlete's foot)
• Kills some viruses (HIV, Hepatitis B and C, influenza)
• Works as a proper disinfectant when used at the right concentration and time

What Barbicide does NOT do:

• Sterilise. It doesn't kill bacterial spores.
• Work instantly. Dunking tools for 30 seconds does nothing. You need the full contact time.
• Work at the wrong dilution. Too much water and it's ineffective. Follow the instructions.
• Clean. Tools must be cleaned of visible debris before going into Barbicide.

Other disinfectants: Isopropyl alcohol (70%) is suitable for quick surface disinfection and wiping down equipment between clients. It evaporates fast and is convenient. But it's not a substitute for proper immersion disinfection of tools.

What must be single-use

Some items cannot be safely cleaned, disinfected, or sterilised. They must be used once and thrown away.

The double-dip rule: Never put a used spatula back into a pot of wax, cream, or product. Take what you need with a clean spatula, apply it, then use a new spatula if you need more. Double-dipping is the fastest way to cross-contaminate products between clients.

Towels and linens

Towels, couch covers, capes, headbands, and any reusable fabric that contacts a client's skin must be laundered between clients.

Washing requirements:

• Minimum 60°C wash. This temperature kills most bacteria and fungi. A 40°C wash does not.
• Use detergent. Standard laundry detergent is fine. Biological detergent is slightly more effective at lower temperatures but you should still wash at 60°C.
• Separate from personal laundry. Your work towels should not go in the same wash as your family's clothes. This prevents cross-contamination in both directions.
• Dry thoroughly. Damp towels breed bacteria. Tumble dry or hang in a well-ventilated space until completely dry.
• Store clean towels in a closed cupboard or sealed bag. Not on an open shelf where they collect dust, hair, and airborne particles.

How many towels do you need? Enough to never reuse one between clients. For most practitioners, this means at least 2-3 sets per working day. If you're doing 6 clients a day and each needs a towel and a couch cover, that's 12 items minimum.

Blood-borne infection protocol

If you nick a client during a treatment - cut a cuticle, catch the skin with scissors, a waxing strip removes skin - you need to know what to do. Blood-borne viruses (BBVs) including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV can be transmitted through broken skin contact with infected blood.

If you nick a client

1. Stop the treatment. Put on gloves if you're not already wearing them.
2. Apply pressure with a clean disposable pad or gauze. Allow the wound to bleed freely for a moment - don't squeeze it.
3. Clean the wound with clean water or saline. Don't use alcohol or antiseptic on the wound itself (it can cause tissue damage).
4. Apply a waterproof dressing. Cover the wound completely.
5. Dispose of any contaminated materials (bloody cotton, gauze, gloves) in a clinical waste bag or container - NOT general waste.
6. Clean and disinfect the work area immediately. Any blood on surfaces must be treated as potentially infectious.
7. Sterilise or dispose of the tool that caused the injury. If it's a reusable metal tool, it must be autoclaved. If it's single-use, it goes in a sharps container (if sharp) or clinical waste bag.

If you cut yourself

1. Stop the treatment.
2. Let the wound bleed freely. Wash under running water with soap. Don't suck the wound.
3. Apply a waterproof dressing.
4. Record the incident - date, time, what happened, any exposure to client blood.
5. Seek medical advice if there was any potential blood-to-blood contact (your open wound touched the client's blood, or vice versa). Go to A&E or your GP for a risk assessment. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV is most effective within 72 hours.

Needle-stick injuries (microblading, tattooing, aesthetics)

If you puncture your skin with a used needle, blade, or lancet:

1. Let it bleed. Wash with soap and water.
2. Don't squeeze or suck the wound.
3. Go to A&E immediately. Take the sharps container with you if possible (so they can assess the risk).
4. Report it. Record it in your incident log.

Cross-contamination prevention

Cross-contamination is when pathogens from one client end up on another client - via your tools, your hands, your products, or your surfaces. Here's how to prevent it:

• Wash your hands between every client. Soap and water for 20 seconds minimum. Hand sanitiser (60%+ alcohol) if you can't wash.
• One set of tools per client. Don't pick up scissors you used on the last client without cleaning and disinfecting them first.
• Never share products between clients. Decant what you need into a disposable dish. Don't dip into a communal pot.
• Change couch roll, towels, and protective coverings between every client. Every single time.
• Clean your workstation between clients. Wipe down all surfaces with a suitable disinfectant. This takes 2 minutes. Do it.

Record keeping: infection control log

Keep a log of your infection control procedures. It doesn't need to be complicated. A simple record showing:

• Date
• What was cleaned/disinfected/sterilised
• Method used (autoclave cycle, Barbicide immersion time, surface spray)
• Any incidents (blood exposure, client reaction, equipment failure)
• Autoclave spore test results (if applicable - recommended monthly)

This log protects you during inspections, insurance claims, and any client complaints. Keep it for at least 3 years.

Local authority registration

If you carry out treatments that pierce the skin (microblading, tattooing, acupuncture, electrolysis, ear piercing), you must register with your local council under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. The council will inspect your premises and infection control procedures before granting registration. Annual re-inspection is common.

Even if you don't do skin-piercing treatments, local authority Environmental Health officers can inspect your premises and infection control at any time. Having proper procedures in place keeps you compliant and professional.

What to do next

1. Audit your current tools. Categorise them: sterilise, disinfect, or single-use.
2. If you don't have an autoclave and you use reusable tools that contact broken skin - buy one or switch to single-use alternatives.
3. Stop relying on UV cabinets for sterilisation. Use them for storage only.
4. Check your Barbicide dilution ratio and contact time. Actually time it.
5. Set up an infection control log. Start recording today.
6. Make sure your towel washing routine hits 60°C every time.

Who to Contact

• HSE (Health and Safety Executive): 0300 003 1647 (Free) - General workplace health and safety: hse.gov.uk
• Your local council Environmental Health department (Free) - for skin-piercing registration and inspection queries
• NHBF (National Hair & Beauty Federation): nhbf.co.uk - Infection control guidance for members (Paid - membership required)
• CIEH (Chartered Institute of Environmental Health): cieh.org - Training courses on infection control (Paid)
• NHS 111: 111 (Free) - for blood exposure incidents and urgent medical advice

Sources

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• COSHH Regulations 2002
• Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982
• HSE guidance on infection control in beauty therapy
• NHBF infection control guidelines
• Barbicide manufacturer instructions and certification programme

Related Guides

• COSHH for Self-Employed Hairdressers
• COSHH for Mobile and Home-Based Workers
• Waste Disposal for Beauty Businesses
• Patch Testing: Your Legal Obligations
• Fire Safety and Risk Assessment

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