Hairdressing, beauty therapy and skin penetration

Hairdressing premises are required by law to comply with the Hairdressing Establishment Regulations 1972 which outline basic health and hygiene standards in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Skin penetration

A skin penetration procedure is any procedure which involves the tearing, cutting, puncturing or shaving of the skin and includes services such as:

• acupuncture;
• beauty treatments;
• body piercing;
• cosmetic enhancements; and
• tattooing.

​Skin penetration establishments are required by law to notify the local government in which they intend to operate in and must comply with the Health (Skin Penetration Procedures) Regulations 1998. The Regulations outline minimum standards of infection control such as basic hygiene, disinfection and sterilisation requirements.

Application Forms

• Hairdressing premises
• Skin penetration, beauty therapy premises​​​

Information Handouts

• Code of practice for skin penetration procedures
• Advice for the beauty therapy industry​
• Cut throat razors
• Use of ear piercing guns
• Body art equipment, cleaning, disinfecting and sterilising schedule
• General requirements for operating a skin penetration establishment​
• Guide to cleaning and disinfecting equipment for the body art, beauty and nail industries
• Healthy body art
• Henna tattooing
• Massage therapy
• Methyl Methacrylate (MMA)​​