Introduction:
Introduction. Currently beauty salons offer a wide range of services, from beauty treatments starting with skin cleansing, peeling or manicure, to permanent makeup and body piercing. During all these treatments, there is a risk of infection with different diseases caused most often by Fungi (Candida albicans), pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and viruses (herpes, hepatitis B and C), and therefore the staff should use disposable equipment and sterilized tools.

Aim of research:
The aim of the study was to assess the hygiene conditions in a selected beauty salon.

Material and Methods:
The research was carried out in a selected Salon in the Tri-city. The subject of microbiological analysis were the hands of beauticians, the surface of the table, the uniform, the cover of the chair for treatments for the face, clean towels and bowls for soaking feet prior to pedicure treatment. The aim of the research was to establish the total number of microorganisms (OLD), the number of yeasts and moulds, and the presence of staphylococci.

Results:
In the analysed material, the presence of Staphylococcus aureus was not confirmed. Among the studied samples, only slightly above 8% were free of moulds, while 25% were free of the presence of yeasts. Staphylococci settled on about 14% of the evaluated surfaces, mostly occurring on the hands of beauticians and in bowls for soaking feet. The average number of microorganisms isolated from the tips of 5 fingers amounted to 32 cfu/25 cm2. Staphylococcus epidermidis was present on the hands in more than 60% of the samples. Only about 7% of the samples were found to exceed the limit for class D premises, amounting to 50 cfu/25 cm2, while on over 70% of the analysed surfaces the microorganisms reached the level of 1–25 cfu/25 cm2, which confirms high standard of provided services.

Conclusions:
1) In the examined beauty salon the analyzed surfaces were clean and free of Staphylococcus aureus, but Staphylococcus epidermidis was observed and present in more than 30% of bowls for soaking feet and on the hands of beauticians in over 60% of the samples. 2) All tested areas were marked by the presence of fungi and yeasts, and a number of aerobic, mesophilic microorganisms. 3) Among the analyzed surfaces, the most contaminated were bowls for soaking feet. 4) The most contaminated with the mesophilic bacteria were samples taken from the hands of beauticians, of which almost 70% obtained only sufficient score; more than 30% of samples taken from the surfaces of aprons obtained the same score. 5) Nearly 20% of samples taken from towels received the excelled grade, depending on the total number of microorganisms, while the very good grade was given to 50% of tests taken from the covers of the chair used for face treatments and, again, to 50% of samples from towels.