Because NovaLash eyelash extensions and other products were created with the safety of our clients in mind, sanitation between clients and the basic tenets of lash hygiene in general is of utmost importance to us. Just like a barber or hairdresser, if your lash application tools are not properly sanitized between client appointments, you run the risk of irritating your clients’ eyes, or worse, causing an eyelid or lash follicle bacterial infection.
Implementing the proper sanitation process can take 10 or even 20 minutes between clients, but there’s no way around it. Sanitizing your lash tools between each appointment is absolutely necessary. Developing a reputation for working in unsanitary conditions is not only embarrassing, but it can and will damage your bottom line. Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a way to speed things up? Depending on the tools you use, there might be.
Here are a few thoughts on how to deal with sanitation concerns as a lash artist – and how to fit sanitation protocols into your busy day!
Why It’s Important to Keep Your Tools Clean
If your lash application tools are not sanitized between client appointments, spores and other microorganisms can move from one client’s lashes to the next, making it more likely that infection will occur as a result of cross-contamination. The last thing you need is to give a client pink eye. Sanitation is so important that one of the top factors clients look for in a lash artist’s salon is cleanliness. The cleaner and more sterile you can make your studio appear, the more comfortable your clients will be—and the more successful your lash extension business.
Related: Tips for Setting Up Your Lash Extension Studio
How to Keep Your Lash Application Tools Sanitized
Before deciding how to sanitize your lash application tools, be sure to check out your state’s regulations and guidelines to ensure that your sanitation process is suitable.
The traditional way to sanitize the forceps you use for lash applications is to immerse them in a mixture of water and Barbicide (or any other hospital-grade disinfectant). Most lash artists prefer to pour this mixture into a shallow tray where they can easily soak and retrieve their forceps. Whichever disinfectant you use, make sure to read up on the instructions. The key to effective sanitation with disinfectant solutions is to get the ratio of solution to water correct, and to know how long to leave your forceps immersed in the mixture.If you’re using Barbicide, use 2 ounces of Barbicide for every 32 ounces of water. Then be sure that you’re allowing your forceps to sit in this mixture for at least 10 whole minutes between each client. Shorter than that, your disinfectant will not be able to work its magic. If you have a packed schedule and don’t have time for this type of cleaning between clients, don’t fret: there’s a faster, easier way!
How Dry Heat Sterilization Works
Depending on which lashing tools you work with, there is a much quicker, more effective way to keep your tools sanitized: The Dry Heat Sterilizer. This machine contains thousands of tiny glass balls and can reach temperatures of up to 250 degrees celsius. Instead of having to deal with Barbicide or other cleaning liquids, or having to mess around with scrubbing down your forceps after each client, you can simply rest your forceps in the heated glass beads for a few minutes.
The extremely high temperature of the beads will heat your forceps and burn away any unwanted debris or germs, saving you time between clients and keeping your day moving smoothly from appointment to appointment. Not only that, but the Dry Heat Sterilizer actually provides a more thorough cleaning than traditional cleaning methods. Careful, though! You can only use the Dry Heat Sterilizer with Dumont Forceps, which are able to withstand the high temperatures without melting.
Working with the right tools doesn’t just mean selecting the right forceps for the job. It also means leveling up your sanitation station so that you can assure your clients that their eyes are safe with you. It also means building in extra time between clients—unless you have the Dry Heat Sterilizer, that is.
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Blog post written by NovaLash. View original blog post here.