General Information	State of Virginia
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COSMETOLOGY

18 VAC 41-20-270. Sanitation and safety standards for shops, salons, and schools.
A. Sanitation and safety standards. Any shop, salon, school or facility where barber, cosmetology, or
nail services are delivered to the public must be clean and sanitary at all times. Compliance with
these rules does not confer compliance with other requirements set forth by federal, state and local
laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations as they apply to business operation, physical construction
and maintenance, safety, and public health. Licensees shall take sufficient measures to prevent the
transmission of communicable and infectious diseases and comply with the sanitation standards
identified in this section and shall insure that all employees likewise comply.
B. Disinfection and storage of implements.

1. A wet disinfection unit is a container large enough to hold a disinfectant solution in which the
objects to be disinfected are completely immersed. A wet disinfection unit must have a cover to
prevent contamination of the solution. The solution must be a hospital (grade) and tuberculocidal
disinfectant solution registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Disinfectant
solutions shall be used according to manufacturer’s directions. Disinfection is to be carried out in
the following manner:
a. Remove hair and all foreign matter from the object.
b. Wash thoroughly with hot water and soap.
c. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry thoroughly with a clean paper towel.
d. Fully immerse instruments into solution, and
e. After immersion, rinse articles, thoroughly dry with a clean paper towel and store in a clean
predisinfected and dry cabinet, drawer, or nonairtight covered container, or leave instruments
in an, EPA-registered disinfection/storage solution used according to manufacturer’s
directions.

2. For the purpose of recharging, rechargeable clippers may be stored in an area other than in a
closed cabinet or container. This area shall be clean and the cutting edges of any clippers are to
be disinfected.

3. Electrical clipper blades shall be disinfected before and after each use. Disinfection is to be
carried out in the following manner:
a. Remove all hair and foreign matter;
b. Remove blade and all hair and foreign matter under blade; and
Board for Barbers and Cosmetology Regulations
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c. Completely immerse clipper blade into an EPA-registered hospital (grade) and tuberculocidal
disinfectant solution for not less than 10 minutes. Wipe the entire handle down with the
solution.
d. If the clipper blade cannot be removed, the use of a spray or foam used according to the
manufacturer’s instructions will be acceptable provided that the disinfectant is an EPAregistered
hospital (grade) and tuberculocidal disinfectant solution, and that the entire handle
is also disinfected by wiping with the disinfectant solution.

4. All materials including cosmetic and nail brushes, sponges, chamois, spatulas and galvanic
electrodes must be cleaned with warm water and soap or detergent to remove all foreign matter.
Implements should then be rinsed, thoroughly dried with a clean paper towel, and completely
immersed in an EPA-registered hospital (grade) and tuberculocidal disinfectant solution. Such
implements shall be soaked for ten minutes or more, removed, rinsed, dried thoroughly and
stored in a predisinfected and dry drawer, cabinet or nonairtight covered container, or left in an
EPA-registered disinfection/storage solution used according to manufacturer’s directions.

5. All wax pots will be cleaned and disinfected with an EPA-registered hospital (grade) and
tuberculocidal disinfectant solution with no sticks left standing in the wax at any time.

6. Each barber, cosmetologist, and nail technician must have a wet disinfection unit at his station.

7. Nail brushes, nippers, finger bowls, disinfectable or washable files and buffers and other
instruments must be washed in soap and water (files are to be scrubbed with a brush to remove
all foreign matter), rinsed, thoroughly dried with a clean paper towel, and then completely
immersed in an EPA-registered hospital (grade) and tuberculocidal disinfectant solution for 10
minutes after each use. After disinfection they must be rinsed, dried thoroughly with a clean
paper towel, and placed in a dry, predisinfected, nonairtight covered receptacle, cabinet or
drawer, or left in an EPA-registered disinfectant/storage system used according to manufacturer’s
directions.

8. Drill bits are to be soaked in acetone and scrubbed with a wire brush to remove all foreign matter.
All foreign matter must be removed. The drill bits must then be cleaned with warm water and
soap or detergent and rinsed, dried thoroughly with a clean paper towel, and completely
immersed in an EPA-registered hospital (grade) and tuberculocidal disinfectant solution. Such
implements shall be soaked for 10 minutes or more, removed, rinsed, dried thoroughly, and
stored in a pre-disinfected and dry drawer, cabinet or non-airtight covered container, or left in an
EPA-registered disinfection/storage solution used according to manufacturer’s directions.

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