How often must combs and brushes be disinfected?

• A. After each use
• B. Once daily
• C. Weekly
• D. Only if visibly dirty

Answer: (A)

Disinfecting combs and brushes after each client is essential because these tools contact the scalp and hair and can transfer microorganisms from one person to the next. Disinfection goes beyond cleaning by actually killing or inactivating pathogens, reducing the risk of cross-contamination. In practice, remove hair and debris, clean the tools, then immerse them in an EPA-registered disinfectant for the contact time specified on the product label, and let them dry before storing. Doing this after every client prevents pathogens from moving between clients, whereas waiting until tools look dirty, doing it daily, or doing it weekly leaves opportunities for contamination to spread.