Ethics in Beauty and Cosmetology SS2 Beauty & Cosmetology Lesson Note

What are “Ethics”?

Ethics are the set of rules that tell us what is right and what is wrong in our workplace. While a law tells you what you must do (like paying taxes), ethics tell you how you should behave to be a person of honor.

• Professionalism: This is the way you talk, dress, and act. It shows that you take your work seriously.
• Integrity: This means doing the right thing even when the boss isn’t watching. For example, using the expensive shampoo the client paid for instead of a cheap one.
• The “Client-Stylist” Bond: When someone sits in your chair, they are making themselves vulnerable. Ethics ensure they are safe in your hands.

Professional Conduct (How to Behave)

Your behavior is your best advertisement. A stylist with a bad attitude will lose clients, no matter how good they are at braiding or makeup.

The Rules of Conduct:

1. Punctuality: Respect the client’s time. If an appointment is for 10:00 AM, be ready at 9:55 AM.
2. Personal Hygiene: Since we work very close to people’s faces and hair, we must smell fresh, have clean breath, and wear neat clothes.
3. Language: Avoid using “slang” or “rough language” in the salon. Speak clearly and politely.
4. Honesty: If you don’t know how to do a specific style, say so! It is better to admit you are learning than to ruin a client’s hair.

The Secret World of Confidentiality

Confidentiality means keeping “secrets.” When clients relax in a salon, they often start talking about their lives—their family, their health, or their jobs.

• The “Vault” Rule: Whatever you hear in the chair stays in the chair. You must never go home and tell your friends or other clients what a customer told you in private.
• Privacy of Records: If you have a book with a client’s phone number, address, or skin conditions, keep it in a safe place. Never leave it lying around for others to read.
• Social Media Ethics: Never post a “Before and After” photo of a client without asking for their permission first. Some people are shy or don’t want their face on the internet.

Dealing with Money and Competition

Ethics also apply to how we treat our “pockets” and our “neighbors.”

• Fair Pricing: Never change your price based on how “rich” a client looks. Have a clear price list that applies to everyone.
• No “Backstabbing”: Never speak badly about another salon or stylist to make yourself look better. This makes you look unprofessional, not them.
• Commissions and Tips: If a client gives you a tip, follow the salon’s rules. If tips are shared, be honest and put it in the common pot.

Health and Safety Ethics

This is the most important part of ethics because it involves the client’s life.

• Sanitization: Even if you are tired at the end of the day, you must clean your tools. Using a dirty clipper or comb on a new client because you are “lazy” is a major ethical failure.
• Product Safety: Never use expired products or “fake” chemicals just to save money. If a product is bad, throw it away.
• When to Say “No”: If a client has a scalp infection (like ringworm) or a contagious skin condition, it is your ethical duty to politely refuse the service and advise them to see a doctor. This protects the client and everyone else in the salon.

Classroom Practical & Discussion

1. The “Gossip” Test: A client starts telling you a secret about a teacher in the school. How do you change the subject politely without being rude?
2. Roleplay: Practice a scenario where a client asks for a style that will definitely break their hair. How do you tell them “No” while still being helpful?

Discussion: Why is it wrong to use the same towel for two different customers? What ethical rule does this break?