Throughout your career, you will come into direct contact with many clients. As a result, the principles and practices of infection control are of key importance in your daily practice. These subjects have a direct bearing on your well-being and that of your clients. That is why it is so important for you to know the necessary steps to prevent the spread of disease. A basic understanding of how bacteria affect our daily lives is helpful in becoming competent in infection control procedures. Contagious diseases, blood poisoning, and skin infections are caused by infectious bacteria being transmitted from one individual to another or from a contaminated surface, tool, or implement to a person. Disease is also spread by the use of unclean implements or dirty hands and fingernails. As a professional, you will be exposed to a variety of germs or bacteria every day. You will be work- ing directly on the hair and with the scalp of your clients, which are ideal breeding grounds for bacteria. Your hands and the implements you use will be additional sources of passing bacteria. Thus, the applied practice of infection control is even more essential to your safety. You must also take care when using implements that could potentially cut or pierce the skin. They must be cleaned and then disinfected before and after each use. Implements that cannot be disinfected properly must be disposed of as directed. Your profession is one of high touch and contact. Therefore, it is critical for you to develop and prac- tice infection control habits now, while you are in school. You will want to modify your behavior to ensure that good habits of infection control are routine in your daily activities. This behavior will endear you to your clients, increase their confidence in your professional abilities, and keep everyone in your salon environment safe.

The hair is a part of the body and, like every other part, it must be cared for and nourished. Just as you replenish body fluids after extended exercising or illness, you must also replenish the needed nutrients for healthy hair. It is essential that, as a natural hair stylist, you fully understand the importance of caring for the hair and how hair grows, as well as its structure and texture. Because clients may or may not understand the importance of caring for their hair, the client consultation—the time set aside for a stylist and a client to discuss their unique needs and challenges— becomes more important than ever. In this chapter, we will not only learn about the hair and its structure, but we will also review a step-by-step plan, and the essential questions you will need to ask, in order to gain a true understanding of the client’s needs and wants. The results of this consultation will inform you on how to guide and direct your clients through their salon experience.

As a natural hair stylist, one of the most important services you will offer, probably won’t be on your ser- vice menu. What is that service? It is your ability to know about and to be able to identify hair and scalp diseases and disorders. Your clients will look to you, as their “hair” professional, for a thorough analysis of their hair and scalp. They will expect you to report to them anything that seems wrong or out of the ordinary. In fact, they will likely come to you with problems, concerns, and questions that they need resolved—and you will be their first line of defense. This is why it’s so important for you to know about and to be able to recognize the most often seen disorders and diseases, as discussed in this chapter. You may not be able to solve or prescribe treatment for the clients’ problems, but you will be able to help them understand what is happening and then refer them on to other specialists or doctors for treatment. Finally, perhaps one of the most widespread and disturbing issues with which your clients will confronted will be hair loss—from mild loss to severe. You will learn in this chapter about the various types of hair loss, what causes them, and how to relate to your clients as they undergo hair loss and its various treatments. Your professional knowledge and ability to care for the whole client will be greatly appreciated.