Alabama salon inspections
Alabama salon inspection checklist
The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering inspects Alabama salons against the state's sanitation rules. A new salon is inspected before it may open, and inspected again once it is running. Below are the 20 rules an inspector checks, from the state's own rules and inspection pages, each beside the rule's own words. Tick them off as you get ready, filter by the services you offer, and print the list.
- Inspected by
- Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
- Before opening
- Inspected first
- Rules on this list
- 20
- Official form
- Published
- Foot spa log
- Not stated
- MMA nail liquid
- Banned
Read from the official sources on October 19, 2026.The full rules Alabama salon license
How it works
How Alabama inspects salons
Inspections are done by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. A new salon is inspected before it may open or before its license is issued, so have everything below in place before you book it.
Board staff perform periodic inspections of licensed shops to monitor compliance with Alabama law and Board rules and regulations.
“All shops and schools licensed by the Board are subject to periodic inspections by Board staff to monitor compliance with Alabama law and Board rules and regulations.”
The checklist
What Alabama inspectors check
Every rule below is from the state's own rules, beside its own words. An inspector can check anything in the rules, so read them in full once before you open.
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Alabama salon inspection checklist
salonai.studio/salon-inspection-checklist/alabama
Licenses on display
The first thing an inspector looks for: the salon's license and every working license, current and where clients can see them.
1.Display the shop license at the reception area near the entrance.
2.Post each personal license near the individual work station.
Other required postings
Some states also want their rules, a consumer notice or the last inspection report on the wall.
3.Post the most recent inspection report near the shop license.
The disinfectant
What the disinfectant must be, how it is mixed and how often it is changed.
4.Use an EPA registered disinfectant that is bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal, and labeled as effective against HIV and HEPB, in wet disinfecting units.
Cleaning tools between clients
How combs, shears, nippers and other reusable tools are cleaned and disinfected after each client.
5.Clean and disinfect all combs, brushes, tools, and implements before using them on any client.
Storing clean and used tools
Clean tools kept covered and apart from used ones, so nothing dirty touches the next client.
6.Store cleaned and disinfected tools and single-use items in a closed cabinet or covered container.
Single-use items
What must be thrown away after one client because it cannot be disinfected.
7.Throw away single-use items and disposable supplies right after use, in a covered, non-porous container.
Towels, capes and linens
Clean towels stored closed, used ones in a covered container until laundered.
8.Put used tools, implements, and linens in a closed, non-porous container, kept separate from clean ones.
9.Use a clean service cape for each client, or a single-use neck strip or towel around the client's neck.
Water, sinks and restroom
Hot and cold running water, sinks and a restroom with a place to wash hands.
10.Keep a toilet and a sink with hot and cold water on the premises or within 300 feet of the entrance.
Pedicure equipment
How foot spas and pedicure basins are cleaned after each client and at the end of the day, and the log some states require.
11.Clean and disinfect pedicure bowls before each use.Pedicures
12.Throw away pedicure basin liners after each client.Pedicures
Banned products and tools
Products, tools and practices the state's rules forbid outright.
13.Do not keep methyl methacrylate (MMA) or other FDA-banned hazardous cosmetic products on the premises.
14.Do not use styptic pencils.
15.Do not use callous razors or any tool meant to cut skin, such as rasps or credo blades.
The premises
Floors, walls, light, air, waste bins and keeping living space and food out of the work area.
16.Keep walls, floors, workstations, furniture, and equipment clean and free from dust, and do not let trash build up between clients.
17.Keep the shop free of insects, rodents, and animals; only service animals and fish in clean, well-kept aquariums are allowed.
First aid and safety
A first aid kit, what to do after a cut or blood exposure, and other safety rules.
18.Keep a clearly identified, easy-to-reach first aid kit with supplies for cuts, burns, and chemical exposure.
19.Keep a clearly identifiable, easy-to-reach blood spill kit or blood exposure cleanup materials.
20.Have Safety Data Sheets available on request for products considered dangerous to public health.
Questions
Alabama salon inspections, answered
What do salon inspectors check in Alabama?
Is a new salon inspected before it opens in Alabama?
How are salons inspected in Alabama?
Does Alabama have an official salon inspection checklist?
Is MMA banned in Alabama nail salons?
Plan the rest
Get the rest of the salon ready
- Every step to opening a salon, as a checklist for your state
- The salon license, fees and who must be licensed
- Which services and products the state taxes, and the sales tax permit
- What it costs to open a salon, line by line
- A client intake and consultation form
- A cancellation and no-show policy
Salon inspection checklists for other states
Ready when you are
Pass the inspection, then fill the chairs
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