Tools of the Trade: Implements, Maintenance, and Safety

Why Implements and Maintenance Matter

Every service you perform — from a simple trim to a full perm — depends on tools that are clean, sharp, properly maintained, and legally disinfected. State cosmetology boards routinely inspect salons for implement safety. Violations can result in fines, suspended licenses, or closure. More importantly, improperly disinfected tools can transmit bloodborne pathogens, bacteria, and fungi from one client to the next. Knowing your implements and caring for them correctly protects your clients, protects you, and keeps your license intact.

Standard Haircutting Implements

Shears (scissors): Professional shears are precision instruments. The main parts you must know are:

• Blades — the cutting edges; may be beveled or convex ground. Convex blades are sharper and used for slide cutting; beveled blades are more durable for general cutting.
• Pivot screw (tension screw) — the central screw that controls blade tension. Too loose and the shear folds hair; too tight and it wears the blades and fatigues your hand.
• Tang (finger rest) — the extension below the finger hole on the still blade, used to stabilize the shear in the hand.
• Finger brace (finger insert) — a removable rubber ring inside a finger hole that improves grip and reduces slippage.

Thinning shears (texturizing shears): One or both blades are serrated, removing bulk without cutting a hard line. Never use on chemical-service clients until you know how the teeth interact with processed hair.

Razors: Straight razors or shaper razors are used for texturizing and soft, feathered ends. Razors require a new blade or guard for every client — no exceptions. A used blade is a contaminated sharp and must be disposed of in a puncture-resistant sharps container.

Wide-tooth comb: Detangles wet hair and distributes product through chemical services. The wider spacing prevents tearing fragile or chemically treated strands.

Fine-tooth comb (styling/cutting comb): Used for sectioning, parting, and controlling small subsections during haircuts. Tail combs have a pointed metal or plastic tail for precise parting.

Perm rods: Come in multiple diameters — the smaller the rod, the tighter the curl. Color-coded by size. Rods must be fully cleaned and disinfected between clients because they contact the scalp and waving solution.

Brushes: Paddle brushes, round brushes, and vent brushes each serve different finishing functions. All must be cleaned of hair and product buildup before disinfection.

Cleaning vs. Disinfection: The Critical Difference

Cleaning (pre-cleaning) means physically removing all visible debris — hair, product residue, skin cells — with soap or detergent and water. Cleaning must happen before disinfection because organic matter blocks disinfectants from reaching the surface.

Disinfection destroys most pathogens on non-porous surfaces. It does not sterilize (kill all microbial life, including spores), but disinfection is the required standard for salon implements in all US states.

The correct sequence is:

1. Remove hair and debris from the implement.

2. Wash with soap and warm water; rinse thoroughly.

3. Immerse or spray with an EPA-registered disinfectant appropriate for salon use (such as a quaternary ammonium or phenolic solution) and follow the manufacturer's contact time exactly.

4. Rinse if required by the manufacturer's label.

5. Dry completely and store in a clean, covered container.

Immersion is used for combs, perm rods, and metal implements that can be fully submerged. Spray disinfection is appropriate for items that cannot be immersed (some electric tools) but is generally not preferred for implements that contact skin directly.

Never store wet implements in a closed drawer — moisture promotes rust on metal and bacterial growth.

OSHA Hazard Communication and the SDS

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) requires that every employee have access to a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — formerly called a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) — for every hazardous chemical used in the workplace. The SDS binder must be in the work area, accessible to all employees during every shift, not locked away.

An SDS contains 16 standardized sections. The sections most critical in a salon setting are:

• Section 2 – Hazard Identification: What dangers does the product pose (flammable, corrosive, skin/eye irritant)?
• Section 8 – Exposure Controls/PPE: What gloves, eye protection, or ventilation are required?
• Section 4 – First-Aid Measures: What to do if product contacts skin, eyes, or is inhaled or ingested.

For an alkaline (thioglycolate) waving lotion, the SDS typically identifies the product as a skin and eye irritant, requires chemical-resistant gloves and eye protection during mixing and application, and directs you to flush affected skin or eyes with large amounts of water for a specified time and seek medical attention if irritation persists.

Safe Storage of Chemical Implements

After disinfecting perm rods and combs used during chemical services, rinse them thoroughly — residual disinfectant can interfere with future chemical services. Store in a clean, labeled, covered container separate from dirty implements. Never mix used and disinfected tools in the same container.

Blade and Sharps Safety

Shear blades are sharp enough to cause cuts that break the skin — a bloodborne pathogen exposure risk. If you nick a client, stop the service, apply standard first-aid precautions, and follow your school's exposure-control plan. Disposed razor blades go directly into a puncture-resistant sharps container, never loose in the trash.