When you open a salon, one of the first things you will do is read up on the codes and laws for running your business. One of the most important rules to follow is sanitizing your tools, workplace and ensuring you stay clean. It’s good practice, and it’s the law. You don’t want to get caught by health inspectors not properly sanitizing tools.

Which is better for hair tools, Barbicide or Alcohol? Although some hairdressers will use alcohol, barbicide will be the best option for your salon. Barbicide will kill off viruses and help protect your tools while sanitizing them for the next client. Alcohol will kill off germs but is less effective against viruses.

Both barbicide and alcohol are flammable, so you will need to be careful when using either substance. Alcohol and barbicide will help disinfect your tools and kill germs or viruses that could spread to other clients. Cleaning off your tools is one of the most important things to remember when owning a hair salon. Everyone who works for you should also have a way to disinfect their tools.

What is Barbicide for Hair Tools?

You will mostly see the substance being used at barber shops, hospitals, and salons. It can also be used to clean hands which is one of the biggest benefits of using this option over alcohol. Your salon will remain clean with the help of barbicide and you will be able to follow all laws when using this substance.

Barbicide is an approved combination of chemicals that include germicide, pseudomonacide, fungicide, and viricide. It has an active ingredient of alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and sodium nitrate. You will also notice that there is blue dye present, giving it color. This substance has been approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

You can easily fill up a jar to let your hair tools sit in before and after each customer. However, you will have to ensure it is completely dried off and properly stored before turning on the hair tools. This will help ensure nothing goes up in flames but is still actively working to kill off any germs and viruses that could linger.

Pros and Cons of Using Barbicide

Like with any substance you use at your salon there will be pros and cons to using barbicide over alcohol for disinfectant. Overall you will find that there are more advantages to using this substance over alcohol options. However, you should always know the pitfalls before making your decision on which you should purchase.

Pros of Barbicide

• Has gone through strict testing to prove effectiveness.
• Can be used to wash hands if mixed properly.
• Will kill off germs and viruses.
• Can kill viruses like HIV, Influenza, and Hepatitis.
• Can be used multiple times.
• Readily available at multiple stores.

Cons of Barbicide

• Strict rules on how to make the solution.
• Direct skin contact can cause rashes.
• Concentrated solution that needs to be mixed well.

You will notice that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages when it comes to barbicide. One of the greatest things about choosing this substance is that it is available at most salons and stores for purchase.

What is Alcohol for Hair Tools?

Not all alcohol is made equally. You can use alcohol to sterilize your equipment. This may not eliminate all germs, but it will get rid of dirt, dust, and minimal germs. It can be a good option for some businesses. However, if you want to keep your tools the cleanest and up to code, you should use barbicide because it can kill more viruses and germs effectively.

If you choose to use alcohol, you should ensure that it is 70% alcohol to kill the maximum amount of bacteria. This may kill off bacteria, but it may not do well in fighting against viruses that can be potentially harmful.

Pros and Cons of Using Alcohol

There are a few things to consider before choosing alcohol as your way of cleaning. This is a secondary choice to barbicide and other businesses like hospitals may choose to use both barbicide and alcohol to ensure cleanliness.

Pros of Alcohol

• Will effectively get rid of dirt and dust.
• More budget-friendly.
• Readily available in multiple stores.
• Low odor.
• Dries quickly.

Cons of Alcohol

• Can be bad for some equipment and causes erosion.
• Drying for skin.
• May not kill all viruses.

Due to alcohol not killing all viruses it is not the best choice. You will need to get a very high amount of alcohol to ensure it helps clean your tools properly.

Does it Matter Which Substance You Use?

Every salon owner will have to clean their tools between customers. There are absolutely no exemptions from this rule, it has to be followed for your salon to be legal. That is why it is so important to find a substance that kills bacteria, viruses, cleanses dirt, dander, and much more. It does matter what substance you choose because you will want to ensure it is the best choice for your business.

How to Disinfect Your Tools

There are some good practices and methods when you are learning to disinfect and sanitize your hair styling tools. The best thing you can do is make sure you read the bottle of whichever you buy. If you choose barbicide, you can buy jars to go with it so you can stick your tools right into the solution after you mix it up. Here are some ways to disinfect your tools properly.

Using a Jar of Barbicide

If you have a jar, you can fill it with barbicide and then dump your scissors, comb, and other supplies in there. Find a jar that is big enough to hold all of the supplies. Often near the barbicide, you will find jars for sale. Let it soak in the jars for ten minutes, and then dry the equipment off thoroughly.

What equipment do you need to be a hairdresser?

Spray Your Tools and Equipment

You can create a spray barbicide for your tools that cannot be submerged in the solution. You will still need to let it sit on the equipment for ten minutes before wiping it off. This will ensure the germs will die, but it will need to be completely dry before using since it is highly flammable.

Buy Wipes

As a salon owner, you will be responsible for wiping down every surface too. You can purchase barbicide wipes to wipe down all surfaces. This will help keep your workspace cleaned and your customers comfortable. The wipes are incredibly nice because they can soak for two minutes instead of ten and still have the same effectiveness. You should always wipe everything down twice.

These are some of the best practices you can adopt as a salon owner. When you choose to add more employees to your team, they should be made aware of the cleaning habits you expect. Most stylists and barbers will know the importance of cleaning because schools will teach them, but it is never bad to remind them of your expectations.

 

Summing It Up

One of the best things you can use for your salon is barbicide. Alcohol can be good for some businesses who want to achieve a very basic clean. However, you will be working with people as a salon owner. It is important to disinfect thoroughly so they can remain healthy and loyal customers.

It will be crucial to pick up barbicide and learn how to use it properly. On the back of each bottle, there will be thorough directions on how to mix it for the best outcomes. You will need to follow each step and wear gloves when mixing it. This will help your salon thrive and stay sanitary.

 

Related Questions

How to mix the barbicide solution?

On the back of each bottle, there will be directions on how to mix the solution. However, if you get wipes, those will require no mixing. Here is the general rule to mix the barbicide solution for your jars. Usually, it will be a ratio of 1:16 which means 2 oz of barbicide and 32 ounces of water.

Do you have to use a barbicide jar?

If you are on a massive budget and cannot afford to buy the barbicide jar, you can opt to use a mason jar. These are just as effective, but salon owners may not fit all of their equipment in the mason jars, which is why the barbicide jars are preferred.

What is the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting?

You will often hear all three terms used interchangeably, but they do mean different things. Cleaning does not kill germs, but it may involve scrubbing with a cleaning product. Sanitizing is great because it does kill germs and removes dirt. Disinfecting is the best solution because it kills more germs and viruses than sanitizing solutions.​

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Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a legal expert to address your specific needs.