Patch Test, all you need to know before the eyelash application.
If you have been taught that there is no need to carry out a patch test prior to applying a set of eyelash extensions to a client for the first time in your salon (as it is not a manufacturer's requirement) this would be acceptable for any membership insurance.
However, if you feel you would like to offer a patch test to your new client's, there is no reason why you should not do this for your own peace of mind.
We strongly advice that a patch test must be done during the client`s consultation for eyelash extensions, for those clients with sensitive eyes or any sort of allergies, this just to ensure there will be no further reactions after the semi-permanent eyelash extensions is done.
How do I know my client has any allergies?
Simply by asking some safety questions during the consultation, although reactions to eyelash extension adhesives are very rare, and happens only in 5% of the cases. To avoid further unwanted problems a simple precautionary patch test, prior to application of semi-permanent eyelashes will solve any problem than may occur and will give you piece of mind.
Why conduct a patch test prior to applying semi-permanent eyelashes?
By conducting a patch test you are protecting both your client (safety wise) and yourself (from costly litigation) if you have provided a patch test prior to eyelash extension treatment. The patch test is designed to ensure that your client is not allergic to eyelash extension adhesive vapours / fumes.
Where a patch test should be applied for eyelash extensions?
We advise the eyelash technicians to use two separate types of eyelash extension Adhesive during the patch test, Level 1 (sensitive eyes) and Level 2 (medium / normal eyes).
Never use a Level 3 (Professional) on clients with any sort of allergies or sensitive eyes as these adhesives are very strong and will give a unwanted allergy reaction to your clients eyes.
Methods of doing the patch test:
Which sort of reaction the client`s may have?
After completing and the patch test was carried out, and reactions occurred, there will signs of redness, itching, swolling or blistering on the eyes area, once the adhesive is removed all reactions will disappear.
Patch test to the manufactures specifications.
The Adhesives used for eyelash extensions are a medical grade and is only to be applied to client`s natural lashes, not the skin. It is very unlikely that clients will experience an allergic reaction;
For these reasons the manufacturers do not require a patch test, however, if you feel you would like to offer a patch test to your new client's, there is no reason why you should not do this for your own peace of mind.
Downloadable PDF Documents
Level 1 Adhesive
Level 2 Adhesive
Level 3 Adhesive
Removers
Application
All you need to know about the wait to work and storage hazardous substancies in your salon and be compliant with the European Laws.
1 - What is COSHH?
COSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health. You can prevent or reduce workers' exposure to hazardous substances by:
Most businesses use substances, or products that are mixtures of substances. Some processes create substances. These could cause harm to employees, contractors and other people.
Sometimes substances are easily recognised as harmful. Common substances such as paint, bleach or dust from natural materials may also be harmful.
2 - What is a ‘substance hazardous to health’?
COSHH covers
COSHH covers substances that are hazardous to health. Substances can take many forms and include:
COSHH does not cover
because these have their own specific regulations.
3 - I’m self-employed. Does COSHH apply to me?
Yes.
If you have employees (you control their work), every part of COSHH applies.
If you have no employees (but you take hazardous substances to other people's premises), all parts of COSHH regulations apply except those about monitoring and health surveillance.
4 - What you need to do:
Think about
Always try to prevent exposure at source. For example:
Check your trade press and talk to employees. At trade meetings, ask others in your industry for ideas.
If you can’t prevent exposure, you need to control it 'adequately' by applying the principles of good control practice.
Control is adequate when the risk of harm is ‘as low as is reasonably practicable’.
This means:
COSHH assessment: Identifying hazard and assessing risk:
You are probably already aware of many risks in your trade or industry. A COSHH assessment concentrates on the hazards and risks from substances in your workplace.
Remember that hazards and risks are not limited to substances labelled as ‘hazardous’.
Steps to making a COSHH assessment:
Examples include processes that emit dust, fume, vapour, mist or gas; and skin contact with liquids, pastes and dusts. Substances with workplace exposure limits (WELs) are hazardous to health.
Get safety data sheets, and read your trade magazines. Some substances arise from processes and have no safety data sheet. Examples include fume from welding or soldering, mist from metalworking, dust from quarrying, gases from silage. Look at the HSE web pages for your trade or industry - Your Industry.
Note these down. Note down what control measures you already use. For these jobs, how likely is any harm to workers’ health?
Examples include burns from splashes, nausea or lightheadedness from solvents, etc
HSE has produced general guidance called 5 steps to risk assessment. You can apply this to substances hazardous to health. More detailed guidance is in the free booklet on working with substances hazardous to health. Working with substances hazardous to health: What you need to know about COSHH. INDG136 [190KB]
The info online: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg136.pdf
Safety data sheets provide information on substances that are ‘dangerous for supply’. Other substances should have instructions for safe use.
By law, your supplier must give you an up to date safety data sheet for a substance that is ‘dangerous for supply’. Safety Data Sheets are often hard to understand, though this explanation might help.
Keeping a copy of the safety data sheet is not a COSHH assessment.
5 - What training / qualifications should I have to carry out COSHH assessments?
You don’t need any particular qualifications but you must be competent. This means you must have the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to do the job properly. You should:
6 - Do we need to record COSHH assessments on a specific form?
No. Risk assessments may vary in their complexity, so you are free to use something that works for you. However, make sure you cover the key points:
7 - How do I get safety data sheets and how do I use them?
MSDS (Safety Data Sheet) are available to download above FAQ`s. It is only required from carrier tranportation, It contains chemical information regarding the product.
If a substance is ‘dangerous for supply’, the supplier must send you a data sheet when the product is first ordered, if the formulation changes, or if you ask for a sheet. If it is not ‘dangerous for supply’ the supplier should include instructions for safe use with the package. Report suppliers who refuse to provide safety information to HSE.
The parts of a safety data sheet you may find most useful are:
For full information about Salon Health and Safety (COSHH) visit the government web site: http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm
