A California BBC inspector reviews a salon's waxing station and finds reusable metal spatulas soaking in a disinfectant jar between clients, with no single-use applicators available. Which regulation is being violated?
- AWax must be kept at a minimum temperature of 100°F at all times
- BAll wax must be stored in the original manufacturer's container at all times
- CWax applicators/spatulas used to apply product to skin must be single-use and discarded after each use on a client
- DWax pots must be labeled with the manufacturer's expiration date only
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Wax applicators/spatulas used to apply product to skin must be single-use and discarded after each use on a client
Under California Code of Regulations Title 16, Division 9, any applicator (such as a spatula) that touches a client's skin during a wax service must be single-use and discarded immediately after use; disinfecting and reusing spatulas that contacted skin does not meet this requirement because disinfection cannot guarantee removal of all contamination from porous materials.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wax temperature is a safety consideration but is not the regulation being violated here.
- B. Storage in original containers is not the issue; the issue is reuse of an applicator that touched skin.
- D. Labeling requirements exist but are unrelated to the reused-spatula violation described.
California Wax Applicator Rule
Under CCR Title 16, Division 9, any spatula or applicator that touches a client's skin during waxing must be single-use and discarded after each use; disinfecting for reuse is not permitted.
- Applies to wooden and any other applicators contacting skin
- Prevents cross-contamination between clients
- Violating this rule can result in citations during BBC inspection
Memory trick: Touch skin once, toss it — no soak-and-reuse for spatulas.