When you work with the public, germs are always an issue. If you’re a new stylist, especially, you may not have developed an immunity to much of what’s sitting in your chair. Is there a way to avoid getting sick this winter?
While there’s no sure-fire method of avoiding colds and the flu other than locking yourself in your house, you can take some precautions:
- Get a flu shot. Even if you catch a strain of flu that’s not protected by this year’s formula, you’re likely to suffer a milder case of it.
- Strengthen your immune system. Staying hydrated, sleeping 7 to 8 hours, exercising, avoiding stress and eating lots of fruits and vegetables all help your body to fight any viruses that enter it. Taking vitamin D and probiotics may help as well.
- Wash your hands. When soap and water is available, 20 seconds in the sink should remove cold germs.
- Carry hand sanitizer. When you’re away from a sink, this is a good second choice.
- Don’t touch your face. Right after you wash your hands, go ahead and rub your eyes, scratch your nose or use your finger to smooth on some lip gloss. Any other time, keep your hands away from eyes, nose and mouth.
- Wipe down your station. If a client coughs, sneezes or wipes away sniffles, take a minute before your next guest arrives to sanitize your tools and the surfaces in your station. Suggest that the front desk do the same!
- Discourage sick clientele. Let your clients know that you’ll always do your best to fit them in a day or two later if they need to cancel on short notice, and you’d rather do that than have them come in sick. To prove that you’re serious, you might want to keep a medical mask handy and put it on when a client shows up with watery eyes and a red nose!
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