For a manual hairbrush that is a non-electrical tool capable of disinfection and compatible with immersion, California Code of Regulations, Title 16, §979 gives a clear sequence: **remove visible debris, wash with soap or detergent and water, dry completely with a new clean paper towel, then fully immerse it in the specified EPA-registered disinfectant according to the product label.** Used tools go in a labeled dirty/soiled/contaminated container; disinfected tools go in a clean, covered place labeled clean or disinfected.
This is a California salon/school guide, not a claim about every salon’s local rules. Section 979 addresses non-electrical tools that can be disinfected, excluding shears; the regulation does not name every hairbrush design. Do not use this procedure for an electric brush, a damaged item that cannot be cleaned as directed, or a tool whose manufacturer instructions prohibit immersion. Check the actual item and current local rules before adding a procedure to an SOP.
## A practical §979 sequence
| Step | California rule summary | Station check |
|—|—|—|
| 1. Remove debris | Remove all visible debris | Check between bristles and around the base where the design permits |
| 2. Wash | Clean with soap or detergent and water | Clean the tool before disinfecting |
| 3. Dry | Completely dry with a new, clean paper towel | Do not skip drying before immersion |
| 4. Disinfect | Totally immerse in an EPA-registered disinfectant with demonstrated bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal activity; follow manufacturer directions | Check product label, compatibility and required exposure/contact instructions |
| 5. Remove safely | Wear protective gloves or use tongs when removing the tool | Keep gloves or tongs at the station |
| 6. Store | Place disinfected tools in a clean, covered area labeled “Clean” or “Disinfected” | Keep the storage separate from dirty tools |
Section 978 also requires disinfectant solution prepared according to manufacturer directions to be available, along with its manufacturer-labeled container and sufficient volume for total immersion. Under §979, the solution remains covered and is changed according to the label or when it is cloudy or contains debris. The Board’s rule should not be replaced by an improvised dilution or a salon’s preferred soaking time; follow the registered product’s own label as well as the regulation.
## Separate tools by type
Before writing an SOP, identify whether the item is a manual non-electrical brush, an electrical styling tool, a shear, or a brush category with its own provision. California §986 separately addresses neck or nail dusters and specified natural-fiber, facial, acrylic, gel, nail-art and makeup brushes. The regulation gives electrical tools a separate procedure in §980. A salon should not assume that every object called a “brush” follows an identical method.
## A station-ready checklist
– Is this tool manual, non-electrical and capable of disinfection?
– Does its construction and manufacturer guidance allow the specified wash and immersion process?
– Has visible debris been removed before washing?
– Is the correct EPA-registered product available in its labeled container and mixed as directed?
– Can the whole tool be immersed without violating the tool instructions?
– Are gloves or tongs available for removal?
– Is the clean, covered storage separate from the labeled dirty-tool container?
– Does the written procedure match the current California rule and the applicable local requirements?
This checklist describes a repeatable process; it does not certify a salon, disinfectant or brush, and no salon was inspected for this article.
**Primary source:** [California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Laws and Regulations, §§978–980 and §986](https://www.barbercosmo.ca.gov/laws_regs/art12.shtml). Scope is limited to the cited California provisions; other states and countries may require different procedures. Consult the regulator for an item-specific or enforcement question.
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