TODAY’S TIP : Salon Safety

Before visiting a beauty salon, barbershop or electrologist for that extra-special look, state officials said you should be sure that the establishment and operator are licensed and that they follow proper sanitation and disinfection procedures.

* Individuals who are not properly trained, who don’t follow approved health and safety procedures or who use prohibited instruments can injure customers; tools that are not properly disinfected can transmit fungus, bacteria, and viruses such as hepatitis B and HIV.

* In addition, be sure to tell your operator of any chemical services that have been done to your hair and any medications you are taking, because this could affect the outcome of the service.

* At the minimum, a shop should be clean, in good repair and well-ventilated. It must have at least one covered wastebasket for disposal of hair, closed cans for soiled towels, gowns and sheets, and closed cabinets for clean towels.

* Instruments and supplies that can’t be disinfected (cotton pads, sponges, emery boards, neck strips) must be thrown away immediately after use.

* Operators must thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water before serving each client.

* Electrolysis needles and tweezers must be sterilized before each use by either a steam or dry-heat sterilizer that is registered and listed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

* For more tips on what to look for in a salon or barbershop, check out the state publication “Consumer Guide to Barbering and Cosmetology Services” at local salons and barbershops.

* For more information, call (800) 952-5210 or go to the Barbering and Cosmetology Program of the California Department of Consumer Affairs Web site at www.dca.ca.gov/barber

Lemon Laws

Here are some tips if you suspect your new car is a “lemon”:

* If the manufacturer or dealer can’t fix the vehicle to conform to the warranty within a “reasonable” number of repair attempts, the manufacturer must replace the vehicle or reimburse the buyer or lessee for its purchase price.

* If your car can’t be repaired, find out if it’s under the original manufacturer’s warranty by reading your warranty booklet; work with the dealer to resolve the problem. The next step is to call the manufacturer, and if the problem persists, file for arbitration or a lawsuit.

* Consumers can receive a copy of “Lemon-Aid for New Car Buyers” in English or Spanish by calling (916) 323-7239 or writing to DCA Publications at 401 S St., Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95814. Consumers may also order the “Summer Scams Survival Kit,” which includes seven of the department’s most popular publications.

Source: California Department of Consumer Affairs