What is the recommended hand hygiene practice in a salon?

• A. Wash hands briefly with cold water and air-dry.
• B. Use sanitizer only, even when hands are visibly soiled.
• C. Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol when hands are not visibly soiled; dry hands thoroughly.
• D. Wear gloves instead of washing hands.

Answer: (C)

Clean hands in a salon come from two proven practices: wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol when hands aren’t visibly dirty, and then dry thoroughly. The soap-and-water method physically lifts and rinses away germs, grime, and oils, and the 20-second duration gives you time to cover every surface. When hands aren’t visibly dirty, sanitizer with 60%+ alcohol is a quick alternative that reduces microbial presence. Drying completely matters because moisture can help microbes transfer and survive.

Why other options don’t fit: washing briefly with cold water and air-drying is insufficient for removing all contaminants; relying on sanitizer only when hands are dirty isn’t reliable for visibly dirty hands; gloves aren’t a substitute for washing—hands should be cleaned before putting on gloves and after removing them to prevent transferring germs.