Be Spa Safe: Ask before you glow this holiday season

This holiday season, York Region Public Health is reminding salon and spa goers to get the treatment you ask for, and not an infection.

Serious infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV can be spread during personal services like manicures, fillers, microblading and more, if proper steps to clean and disinfect or sterilize equipment and tools are not strictly followed by staff.

Know what to look for

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and look around before and during your service to help protect yourself from infections:

✔ Ask how equipment and tools are cleaned, disinfected or sterilized between each client

✔ Watch that your service provider washes their hands before service

✔ Make sure single-use items (such as emery boards, buffer blocks) are new

✔ Check that equipment (such as needles, microblades) are in sealed, sterile packages

✔ Before getting fillers, ask if your service provider has the proper qualifications

✔ Don’t be afraid to refuse the service if you don’t feel safe

York Region Public Health inspects personal service settings in York Region and responds to public complaints.   
For more safety checklists, visit york.ca/BeSpaSafe