California Cosmetology Written ExamSafety and Infection ControlMedium
Before draping a client with a reusable cloth cape for a haircut, California regulations require a cosmetologist to first place what item to prevent the client's skin from contacting the reusable cape?
- AA clean disposable neck strip or towel between the client's skin and the cape
- BA plastic sheet placed under the styling chair
- CA second cloth cape layered on top of the first one
- DA dab of hand sanitizer applied to the client's neck
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. A clean disposable neck strip or towel between the client's skin and the cape
California requires a clean towel or disposable neck strip to be placed around the client's neck before draping with a reusable cape, preventing skin-to-fabric contact and cross-contamination between clients since capes are not laundered after every use.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. A floor sheet protects the floor, not the client's skin from the cape.
- C. Layering capes does not address the skin-contact barrier requirement.
- D. Hand sanitizer does not create a physical barrier against fabric contact.
Neck Strip Barrier Requirement
A clean towel or disposable neck strip must be placed between a client's skin and a reusable cape before draping to prevent cross-contamination.
- Required before every draping with a reusable cape
- Prevents direct skin-to-fabric contact
- Neck strip/towel should be laundered or disposed of after each client
Memory trick: Neck strip = the skin's shield before the cape comes on.