Contraindications & Limitations
A
contraindication is defined as a medical/health condition or incompatibility that
may prevent or restrict a service being carried out. As part of our
professional consultation before a service, we will check your scalp and ask
questions to try and determine if any medical condition or incompatibility may affect
your salon service. It is important that clients are honest with us to prevent
any problems.
Contagious/Infectious
Contraindications:
Contagious
or Infectious conditions that could be passed on to your Stylist or other
clients. If you are experiencing any of these conditions, we can not carry out
your service and you must only re-enter the salon when you are well, or the
condition has been resolved.
This is
rarely found on the face or scalp. However, it is found on the hands, wrists,
armpits, buttocks, and genital regions.
It is
usually caused by an animal infestation and mite parasites burrow under the
skin to lay its eggs.
Main
Symptoms are an intense itch which causes scabs to form. It can be spread by
close physical contact or contact with infected clothing or towels.
- Scalp Ringworm (Tinea Capitis):
This is
cause by a fungal infection which spreads by direct physical contact with infected
persons or animals.
This is EXTREMELY contagious.
It starts as
a small red patch of blisters and as the patches spread, hair becomes lifeless,
brittle and breaks off leaving stumps. It can be found on the scalp or the body
and mainly in children.
This is a
bacterial skin infection and commonly occurs around the nose and mouth.
Blisters
that may burst ooze fluid and develop a honey coloured crust. It is spread
through direct contact with infected skin.
A human parasite
that is extremely easy to contract. Clients with head lice will be turned away
and refused treatment until the problem is resolved.
This is
because even if all possible precautions are taken, it is still not unfeasible
to prevent contamination or transmission to Stylists or other clients.
Treatments
against head lice that can be done at home are readily available in chemists or
through a GP.
A condition
caused by infections or allergies. It usually resolves itself within a couple
of weeks but could be highly contagious and easily transmitted to your Stylist
or other clients. Especially since the eye(s) may become very itchy, resulting
in you touching them more often.
Most hairdressing
services involve skin-to-skin contact around the face which could initiate the
spread of the infection. Even if your service does not involve the face, you
should delay your appointment until the eye is healed, as viruses and bacteria
spread easily, even in sterile environments.
- Other Virus / Bacterial / Fungal Infections.
Any kind of
infection poses a risk to your Stylist and other Clients in the salon. Many
viruses and bacteria are airborne, meaning that they can be transferred via
air. This could result in your Stylist contracting the infection, or it being
passed onto other, healthy clients, or worse; elderly or vulnerable clients who
may suffer severe illness.
If you are
suffering from a cold, flu, diarrhoea, high temperature or are generally
unwell, you should not be visiting the salon, and instead rearrange your
appointment for when you are feeling well again.
Fungi
particles could also be transported via equipment onto surfaces within the salon
resulting in further spread of the infection.
As a professional
salon, we always make sure that our working space and equipment is sterile.
As an extra
precaution and to minimise the risk of any kind of infection spreading, we may
refuse to carry out services on clients suffering from an infection.
Non-Infectious/Contagious
Contraindications:
Medical or
health conditions which cannot be transmitted to your Stylist or other clients.
Although these conditions can not be transmitted, they may cause additional
problems such as an itchy, damaged, inflamed, or sore scalp. In which case, a
service can is not carried out until your scalp has healed.
There are
two forms of dandruff:
- Pityriasis Capitis Simplex (Dry
Dandruff)
These are white scales with an itchy scalp, loosely attached and
scattered. These are caused by an under active sebaceous gland so not enough
natural oil (Sebum) is produced to lubricate the scalp.
- Pityriasis Seborrhoea (Oily Dandruff)
This is scales of skin mixed with Sebum. The scales stick to the hair.
Large fatty, yellow waxy coloured patches or scales form on the scalp. Underneath
the sticky crusts the scalp may be red and inflamed. In young babies, this
condition is called "cradle cap". It is cause by an overactive sebaceous
gland making the scalp look greasy.
Dandruff
alone may not prevent a service from being carried out, but if your scalp is
dry, itchy, red, inflamed, or sore, we will not carry out your service.
Areas of the
skin are inflamed and can be on any area of the body. This is caused by contact
with chemicals and prolonged periods in water with not drying hands correctly/thoroughly.
The skin
appears red and scales develop which are silvery in colour. Scales can become
thick, crust, yellow and quite hard.
Scales can
be attached firmly to the scalp. The cause is unknown however it may be caused
by stress or hereditary factors.
This is an
inflammatory skin condition and has a rash like appearance with a watery
discharge and scales, crusts may develop. An itchy sensation is present. The
causes can be inherited or caused by an allergic reaction.
If you have any
level of sunburn on your scalp, neck, ears or face, we will not carry out any
service. Sunburn falls into the category or “itchy, inflamed, red or damaged”,
and any hairdressing service poses the risk of causing further skin damage and
irritation. Please refrain from sitting too long in the sun or using a tanning
bed prior to your hair appointment.
Important
Disclaimer
As part of
our Stylist training, we study the above medical/health conditions so we are able
to recognise the signs and symptoms and make an informed choice whether it is
safe, and in the clients best interests to carry out Hairdressing services.
It is vital
to remember that STYLISTS ARE NOT DOCTORS. We can not diagnose a medical
condition or advise on treatment. This means that even if we are certain what
kind of medical condition we have before us, we can not name it, or tell you
how to treat it.
Our training
on these conditions is extensive, but nothing compared to a medical
professional. We could be unsure, or just get it wrong. Our qualifications only
extend to recognising a potential medical/heath condition, informing a client
whether we can carry out a service or not, and referring a client to their GP
or a Trichologist.
As part of
our professional duty of care; if we notice a potential medical/health condition
during a consultation, we will recommend you make an appointment with your GP
to have it checked out. If we suspect you may have an infectious/contagious
condition, we will inform you that we are unable to carry out your service and
refer you to your GP.
Other medical/health
conditions and limitations which may prevent or restrict your salon service.
Additional noncontagious/infectious
conditions and limitations which may limit or otherwise effect the services we
are able to carry out.
Pigmented moles
come in many shapes and sizes. They can be harmful and harmless.
A mole may
present a problem during a service where hair is difficult to section or an
area is inaccessible.
If your
stylist becomes aware of unusual markings or moles, they may advise you to seek
medical advice.
There are
many reasons that determines why hair loss occurs:
- · Fungal infections
- · bacterial infections
- · Medication
- · Medical Treatments
- · Pregnancy/Childbirth
- · Hormonal changes
- · Hereditary Factors
- · Stress
Abnormal
hair loss is often referred to as Alopecia. Some styles or colouring services
may not be advisable depending on the severity of the hair loss.
There are 3
forms of alopecia
- ·
Alopecia
Totalis - This is loss of all hair on the scalp
- ·
Alopecia
Universalis - This is loss of all scalp and body hair
- ·
Alopecia
Areata - This is patchy hair loss on the scalp which may or may not regain hair
Some styles or colouring services may not be advisable depending
on the severity of the hair loss.
- Undiagnosed Lumps or Swelling.
If your
Stylist notices any lumps or swelling of the face or neck, they should enquire
about them. If you are unaware of the cause of the issue, you should visit your
GP before receiving any services.
Swelling or
lumps could be, and usually are, harmless. However, sometimes they could be a
symptom of a serious condition and providing any service could worsen the
condition.
Clients
suffering from cancer are likely to be undergoing chemotherapy and
radiotherapy, which has a severe impact on a person's body, including your
immune system.
Cancer
patients could be at risk of contracting an infection and might not be strong
enough to fight it off, so it is important for them to avoid public spaces such
as hair salons when they are most at risk.
Scarring that
is less than 6 months old could prevent hairdressing services or limit them by
avoiding the affected area. Fresh scarring should not be put under any undue
stress that can occur as a result of some services.
Broken skin
should be given time to heal as disturbing the affected area could worsen the
condition. Old scars should also be inspected and if any redness is seen, we
will refrain from treating the area.
- Recently consumed drugs/alcohol –(including some prescription drugs)
We will not
carry out services on clients we suspect are under the influence of drugs
and/or alcohol.
Drugs and
alcohol impact blood pressure and heart rate significantly. A person under the
influence of both illegal and legal substances can also be acting out of
character and potentially pose danger to those around them. They are also
unable to provide consent for services, so any Hairdressing services should be
avoided.
Care must be
taken in performing any services which involve stimulation of the blood system,
such as a head massage, unless the client is undergoing treatment for the high
or low blood pressure.
There is also a possible "collapse" or fall risk when you are changed
from a lowered position to an elevated one, or lowering your head at the backbar.
This can cause a drop or a raise in blood pressure and you may feel dizzy or
faint.
Some
prescription drugs can affect Hairdressing services. For example, some acne
medication can make the skin on the face very sensitive, making a fringe trim
or on-scalp colour application uncomfortable and/or unsuitable.
Anaesthetic
drugs can cause a huge range of problems days or weeks after an operation that
few people ever link back to the anaesthetic – if only because people naturally
focus on the operation rather than the drugs.
In the
sixties women and their Stylists were the first to identify changes in hair
consistency caused by the use of oral contraceptives: it was discovered that
oral contraceptives caused women’s hair to thin – both during use and after.
But it is
not just The Pill – a lot of commonly used drugs cause hair side effects
including blood pressure medications, cholesterol drugs, and antidepressants.
Some of the most
used drugs in Britain have thinning effects on hair. But it is not just hair
thinning – drugs can really cause problems with the way hair services like
colours develop or ‘take’.
Medication which
can change the colour or texture of your hair is often used in dermatology to
treat skin problems such as psoriasis and acne, caused by retinoid and
acitretin. These components can play a part in hair colour change and tend to
make it go darker. They can also cause hair to thicken.
Other
medication can cause hair to fall out. This is the case for epilepsy treatments
(which can also make hair go curly), antidepressants such as Prozac (but hair
stops falling out at the end of the treatment), progesterone-based
contraceptive pills or even ibuprofen (though this side effect is quite rare).
Specific
Medication Types Thought to Cause Hair Loss and/or problems with colour
development:
• Acne medications containing vitamin A (retinoids)
• Antibiotics and antifungal drugs
• Antidepressants
• Birth control pills
• Anticlotting drugs
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs
• Drugs that suppress the immune system
• Drugs that treat breast cancer
• Epilepsy drugs (anticonvulsant)
• High blood pressure medications (anti-hypertensives), such as
beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and diuretics
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Mood stabilizers
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Parkinson's disease drugs
• Steroids
• Thyroid medications
• Weight loss drugs
The
following Chemotherapy Medications tend to cause hair loss:
• adriamycin
• cyclophosphamide
• cactinomycin
• docetaxel
• doxorubicin
• etoposide
• ifosfamide
• irinotecan
• paclitaxel
• topotecan
• vinorelbine
For some
clients having a back condition will mean they will not be able to sit for long
treatments such as colour corrections and fashion colours or lean back at the
backbar.
Care must be
taken whenever you have been lying back and return to an upright position. This
is because with vertigo conditions or other inner ear problems, the potential
risk of dizzy spells when standing is extremely high and you could suffer a
fall when getting up off the backbar or styling chair.
There is no conclusive
scientific evidence to suggest that colouring your hair during pregnancy is
dangerous for you or the fetus.
Hair
colouring is topical, sits on top of your scalp and does not enter your
bloodstream (there’s a slight increase of this happening if you have cuts or abrasions
on your scalp, but we wouldn’t colour your hair if this was the case anyway).
The
concentration of the “harmful” chemicals in the hair colour is incredibly low,
and the colour does not stay on your scalp long enough to cause harm.
Some articles
recommend waiting until after the first trimester before colouring your hair
since this is the period when the fetus's organs are being formed. If you want
to be ultra-conservative, for any situation, any medication exposure, waiting
until after the first trimester is something you can do, but there is really no
reason from expert consensus to do that.
Hair
colouring might not cause issues for your pregnancy, but your pregnancy may
cause issues for your hair colouring. As with any big changes to your body
chemistry and hormones, pregnancy can increase your risk of developing allergies
– including an allergy to hair colour.
Allergic
reactions to hair colour can vary from a slight rash to you becoming
hospitalised with anaphylactic shock. It is nothing to scoff at even when you’re
not pregnant, but a reaction while pregnant could cause some serious damage.
For this
reason, we will not carry out a colouring service on a pregnant client
without a patch test (skin test) performed EXACTLY 48 hours prior to EVERY
colouring service, with the EXACT formula we will be using, throughout the
pregnancy and for 6 months after giving birth.
Additionally,
all those hormonal changes can play havoc on how your colour develops,
especially on lightened blondes, where the colour might not lift as well,
causing yellow banding. In this situation, rather than spending hours in the
chair receiving colour corrections, we would recommend temporarily changing
your colour to something that won’t be affected or adding multi-dimensional
colour such as highlights to mask the banding.
Our belief
that hair colouring while pregnant is safe comes from scientific evidence and
opinions of medical professionals. If you concerned, please speak with your
Stylist.
Limitations
A condition
or disadvantage that may restrict services available. It is not just illnesses and
infections which can restrict a salon service. The limitations below are some
of the major influencing factors your Stylist will consider when carrying out
your professional consultation.
- Previous Chemical Services
Previous
colour and/or texturizing services may restrict future services. For example,
if a fashion colour has stained the hair, or box dye overlap results in the
hair being unable to lift. Too many chemical services, especially home colour,
will leave the hair too porous to accept colour.
- Failure to follow Patch Test policy
If you have
not received a patch test 48 hours prior to your colouring service or have gone
over 6 weeks between regular visits without a patch test, we will be unable to
carry out your colouring service.
- Allergies/Previous Reactions
If you are
allergic to, or have had previous reactions to hair colour, tattoos or permanent
make-up, we will not be able to carry out your hairdressing service.
- Henna or Progressive Colours
The
chemicals contained in henna and other progressive colours are incompatible
with the chemicals present in modern colouring products. Applying a modern
salon colour over hair which has previously been coloured with a progressive
colour will result in a chemical reaction. This reaction can range from your
hair becoming very dry and brittle, turning green, or completely disintegrating.
We will carry out an incompatibility test prior to any colouring service if we
suspect a progressive colour is present.
The
condition of your hair will greatly affect our ability to carry out, and the longevity
of future services. Hair that has been damaged by previous chemical services,
heat styling, or incorrect homecare will not accept or maintain future colours,
may break if any further colours or tension is applied, or certain cut and
styles may not be achievable on hair which already suffers from extensive
breakage.
- Length, density and texture of the hair
Some styles
or colours may not be advised or achievable on different length, density or
texture hair. For example, a full head of foil highlights would not be advised
or achievable for a client with very short cropped hair, nor would regular
lightening services on a client with tightly curled, very fine hair.
Some styles
or colours may not be advised or achievable for certain client lifestyles. For
example, a high maintenance colour may not be suitable for someone who works
away and cannot maintain regular salon visits, or a short hair cut may not work
for someone who needs to tie their hair up for work.
The after
care and home care of a colour and style is just as important as the salon
service. Using the correct home care is the difference between a colour lasting
1 week, or 6 weeks, a client being able to manage their new cut or not, or a
colour correction being successful or not. Your Stylist will advise you on the
correct aftercare for your hair, colour and/or style, we stress that this
advice is part of your salon service and not just an attempt to sell you
something.
- Unachievable colour or permanent curl
All chemical
processes have a limit of what is achievable and what the products are capable
of. Sometimes the desired colour is unachievable due to previous chemical applications
(especially box dyes), natural colour level or red pigments, hair condition, or
the clients ability to maintain and care for the colour.
- Unrealistic expectations of style, cut or colour
We will
always try to inform a client how a colour or cut will look and how it needs to
be maintained. However, sometimes these expectations need to be managed. For
example, a high maintenance fashion colour will not last 6 weeks without
correct aftercare, box dyed dark hair will not be blonde, or in good condition
for a long time, growing hair from a short crop to a long bob takes longer than
12 weeks, and a poker straight bob is only poker straight if a client styles it
that way.
All colours
and styles require various degrees of time and maintenance, some a lot more
than others. Whether a client has the time to visit the salon for maintenance
appointments, or style and care for their hair at home, and whether the client
can afford the maintenance appointments and aftercare are important
considerations when deciding on a colour and/or style.
- Facial and physical suitability
All our
services are bespoke and tailored to the individual client. We love it when
clients bring in photos of the style and colour they want, but it is especially
important to adjust the service to the client. Most of the time, when people don’t
like a style or colour they’ve had in the past, it isn’t because there was something
“wrong” with the cut or colour, the Stylist might have executed it perfectly,
but it may not have suited them. Not everyone suits a platinum blonde, some
people might not want to hear that they will suit a vibrant copper red instead
of a violet red, and a fringe must be measured and sectioned to consider the
clients face shape.
- Clients ability to manage the style
A client’s
homecare, styling regime and salon visit frequency are important considerations
when deciding on a style and/or colour. Most styles require styling, with the
correct tools and products to achieve the “salon” result, and all colours
require various treatment plans to ensure the colour is maintained and the hair
healthy. If a client is unable to style their own hair at home, or keep up with
a treatment plan needed for a colour, it is recommended they choose something
closer to their natural hair.
The
above list of contraindications and limitations are by no means an exhaustive
list of things that may impact your salon service. As part of your professional
consultation, your Stylist will analyse your hair and scalp and ask as many questions
as possible, while being as honest as they can.
We
offer free colour consultations to all our clients, so if you are concerned with
anything, or would just like to discuss your hair with a Stylist, please feel
free to book in.