Hair Care, Shaving and Men's Haircuts

Hygiene and safety: disinfection and sterilisation

Germs can pass from one client to the next on combs, scissors and razors. So a service provider follows simple rules.

• Wash your hands before and after each client. Wear gloves for shaving or any cut.
• Clean first: wash off hair and soap. Dirt protects germs.
• Disinfect: kill most germs on tools with a suitable chemical or UV cabinet. Good for combs, scissors, clippers.
• Sterilise: kill all germs, for example in an autoclave. Needed for anything that may touch blood. Blades are best used once and thrown away safely.
• Use a fresh towel and a clean cape for each client. Never share razors.

Check the skin first. If the client has wounds, rashes or infection, do not do the service and suggest a doctor.

Washing hair and scalp massage

Washing: comb out knots, wet the hair with comfortably warm water, add a coin-sized amount of shampoo, make foam, and rinse until the water runs clear. Keep water and foam away from eyes and ears.

Scalp massage: use the pads of your fingers, not nails. Work in slow circles from the front hairline back to the neck. Light, steady pressure feels good and helps the scalp relax. Stop if the client says it hurts.

Why it works: massage moves skin gently over the bone, helps loosen dirt and flakes, and relaxes the muscles.

Hair care treatments and rinses

After shampooing, a conditioner coats the hair to make it smooth and easier to comb. An oil massage or a hair mask adds care. A final cool rinse makes the hair feel smooth. Some rinses are mild acid (like diluted lemon or vinegar) to remove soap film. Always ask about allergies and do a small patch test before a new product. Follow the maker's time and never mix chemicals.

Shaving and facial care

Steps: 1 warm towel (compress) to soften the beard, 2 lather, 3 short razor strokes with the hair direction, 4 rinse, cool towel, 5 soothing lotion.

Moustache and beard work: comb the hair, trim with scissors or a trimmer, and shape clean edges (cheek line, neck line). Decide the shape with the client before you start.

Compress and facial massage: a warm compress opens the skin and relaxes the face. A gentle manual massage with light cream uses slow upward and outward strokes. Avoid pimples, cuts and sunburn.

First aid for cuts

If a small nick happens: stay calm and put on gloves.

1. Press a clean pad on the cut until bleeding slows.
2. Clean the area gently.
3. Apply an antiseptic or a styptic (such as an alum block or styptic pencil) as allowed.
4. Cover with a clean dressing. Tell the client how to care for it.

Throw the used blade and pad into a safe bin. If bleeding is heavy or does not stop, call a doctor or emergency help.

Men's haircuts: basic, classic and modern

Tools: scissors cut the top; a clipper with a guard sets one length (about 3 mm to 25 mm); a razor gives sharp edges and neck lines.

Basic and classic cut: sides and back shorter, top longer, neatly blended (a taper). Comb the hair, section it, cut with small steady steps, and check both sides match.

Adapting the cut: look at the face shape, hair type (straight, wavy, curly), the cowlick and the client's wish. Leave more length where hair is thin or curly.

Modern styles: a fade goes from very short to longer; a crop is short all round. Finish with a little product, blow-drying and a neat comb-out.

Key formulas and definitions

• Order of care for tools: Clean, then Disinfect (or Sterilise)
• Shaving order: warm compress, lather, short strokes with the grain, rinse, soothe
• First aid for a nick: Press, Clean, Antiseptic, Cover
• Taper = shorter sides and back, longer top, smooth blend
• Hair grows about 1 to 1.5 cm a month

Worked examples

Common mistakes

• Using the same towel or razor on two clients. Always use fresh or sterilised items.
• Scratching the scalp with nails during washing. Use only fingertip pads.
• Shaving dry skin without a warm towel and lather. This causes pull and cuts.
• Cutting the sides too short in one go. Start with a longer guard and go shorter.