Unspoken Salon Hygiene Rules That Your Hairdresser Absolutely Can't Stand You Breaking

For most, a trip to the hair salon is pleasant and relaxing — and clients rightfully expect to walk into a safe and clean environment. In fact, each state has laws and requirements regarding hygiene that salons must follow to stay in business. With that said, salon hygiene is mutual: Just as the salon staff is expected to maintain a clean and sanitary place of business, the clients visiting the salon are responsible for adhering to some unspoken rules of hygiene etiquette. Unfortunately, however, many clients are guilty of breaking these rules.

"It's almost like that saying, 'Happy wife, happy life.' You want your stylist to be happy to see you and vice versa," Jon Carlos De La Cruz, a hairstylist in Hollywood, California, told Reader's Digest about how fast the dynamics can change after committing a salon hygiene faux pas. But don't just take his word for it. "I am so sick of working with clients who have a complete disregard for basic cleanliness," another stylist lamented on Reddit after witnessing one too many hygiene crimes at the hands of her clients. 

Whether it's coming into the salon sick, wearing strong fragrances, or setting handbags down on hairdressers' workstations, clients everywhere are committing many salon hygiene mistakes to their hairdressers' utter dismay.

This should probably go without saying, but if you're sick, stay at home — for the sake of not only your hairdresser but also the other clients in the salon. As it turns out, salon environments are actually the perfect spot for a superspreader event to occur. 

"There is concern that blow dryers may circulate pathogens or enable them to spread more quickly," Dr. Lechauncy D. Woodard, a professor at the University of Houston College of Medicine, told Today in 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Basically, both your hairdresser and anyone else sitting downwind of the client hacking and sneezing two stations away are sitting ducks. 

Hairdressers are much happier to reschedule one appointment on their schedule than have to clear their entire schedule days later because they caught something from a client. A good rule of thumb when it comes to rescheduling? A common cold can be contagious for up to two weeks, so it's best to reschedule sometime after that period.

Dousing yourself in strong perfumes and colognes before going into the salon is also not advised, as it can be bothersome not only to the hairdresser but also to other clients. "Wearing something overpowering in a shared, enclosed space is where it becomes inconsiderate," certified fragrance specialist Eudora Nwasike told Refinery29. 

Unfortunately, the practice of doing so can cause real problems for your hairdresser and others, including sneezing and coughing fits, a runny nose, and even contact dermatitis — especially for those who are sensitive to fragrances or have asthma. This is the same reason you shouldn't wear perfume before going to the doctor.

And while we're at it — you should never spray perfume in your hair. Ethyl alcohol, a key ingredient in many perfumes, is particularly drying on your hair. Instead, consider a mist made solely for your hair, as it is better for your hair and less overpowering for the people around you, like your hairdresser.

Just like it's considered impolite and gross to place your handbag on the table at a restaurant (one of the many hygiene no-nos that restaurant customers are guilty of in the first 10 minutes), it's considered impolite and gross to place your handbag on the top of your hairdresser's workstation. "Handbags come into regular contact with our hands and a variety of surfaces, so the risk of transferring different germs onto them is very high, especially as bags are rarely cleaned," explained Peter Barratt, technical manager at Initial Hygiene (via CBS News). 

Rest assured no respected hairdresser would want those germs to be transferred to their workstation, tools, and even their very own hands. When in doubt, upon arriving, always ask your stylist about a closet or even a spare drawer to store your personal belongings. Some might even have an incognito hook to hang your purse on.

Here's the scoop: You should always let your hairdresser know if you have any scalp conditions, such as dandruff, cradle cap, and psoriasis. While not all scalp conditions are contagious, some can be passed on (like ringworm, folliculitis, and head lice). Either way, the hairdresser should absolutely be aware of these before they begin working, as they not only put themselves at risk, but also their other clients. 

Make no mistake, though — even non-contagious conditions require you giving a heads-up. Trips to the hair salon can exacerbate scalp psoriasis and other scalp conditions, so it's always a good idea to let your hairdresser know about it in advance. "Call your chosen salon ahead of time and let them know about your condition, and ask if they have a stylist who is familiar with it," Cynthia Cobb, a nurse practitioner who specializes in women's health, aesthetics and cosmetics, and skin care, told Healthline about how to approach salon visits when dealing with scalp psoriasis. "You may need to call a few places to locate someone that you would feel comfortable with and who is also comfortable working with your condition." And when in doubt, consider bringing your own products that are designed to be less harsh on your scalp. In the end, your hairdresser will thank you.

It's not just scalp issues that need a warning before visiting the salon. If you have an open wound on your face, scalp, or neck, you should absolutely communicate that to your hairdresser beforehand so they can reschedule your appointment. This is because an open wound immediately increases your risk of developing an infection — and unfortunately, salons can be breeding grounds for all kinds of harmful bacteria. Unsurprisingly, in many states (including Washington, Nevada, and Connecticut), it's against the law for cosmetologists to perform services on clients' heads if they have open wounds, as doing so would be in violation of state cosmetology boards' rules and regulations. 

That open wound policy applies to everything, from a minor scrape on your forehead to wounds that have not completely healed yet. Just ask hairstylist and YouTube creator Bailey Lavender, who witnessed a coworker abruptly stop an appointment after realizing that their client had fresh staples in their head. "I can't shampoo you with an open wound because if you get an infection from me — because literally it's an open wound — and if I put product on you to shampoo you, like, it could infect it worse. You could then have some type of, like, bad infection, and then it would be on me," she recalled the exasperated hairdresser telling the client.