Working in a kitchen while having long hair can be complicated. After all, long hair can easily get in the way of proper hygiene and safety. So,
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How Should You Wear Your Long Hair In The Kitchen?
If you have long hair and want to work in the kitchen, it is imperative that you find hairstyles that keep your hair from coming into direct contact with any food product. The easiest way to do this is to pin your long hair back with a stylish ponytail, braid, or bun.
If your haircut is not long enough to properly tie back, or if you don’t want the extra hassle of a hair tie or bobby pins, you should wear a hairnet or some other type of hair covering to ensure your hair stays in place.
Preventing food contamination should be prioritized at all times in both professional and home kitchens, and one of the most important measures you can take is to properly style or secure your long hair.
Pro-Tip: It’s a good idea to wear a hair elastic, headband, or hairnet, even if you don’t have long hair, to drastically reduce the chance of any wayward strands of hair from landing on the food you are preparing.
However, food contamination, as important as it is, should not be your only concern when you have long hair in a kitchen. Your safety and the safety of those around you can easily be affected by wearing hair improperly in a kitchen, especially in a professional kitchen.
For example, long hair that is not properly worn can accidentally get caught in mechanical equipment, such as blenders, food processors, mixers, etc. Moreover, unruly long hairstyles can easily and unexpectedly become a fire hazard by coming into contact with an open flame and other hot kitchen implements.
Another common question people ask when considering proper behavior in a kitchen is
How To Avoid Slips And Falls In The Kitchen
Slipping, tripping, and falling in a kitchen can result in severe injury and even death. As such, it is super important to learn to prevent these mishaps from happening in the first place.
To avoid slips, trips, and falls in the kitchen you should wear slip-resistant shoes at all times. Look for brands that have excellent grip and increased ground contact to provide increased stability, and shoes that are coated with a special treatment to repel liquids, which can provide increased protection against spills.
If you wear slip-resistant shoes in the kitchen you will significantly reduce the risk of slipping and falling; however, there is more you can do. For example, it is important to keep your kitchen floors clean and free of clutter, making sure to wipe up accidental spills and debris immediately after they happen.
You should also make sure to keep electrical cords, equipment, and containers out of the way, making sure to move with purpose and caution when getting around the kitchen.
Keeping safety in mind and following proper protocol is essential in kitchens, both professional kitchens, and home kitchens alike. Besides wearing your hair properly and having the right shoes, there are other things to consider if you want to avoid accidental food contamination and guarantee personal safety.
Important Safety Tips In The Kitchen
- Keep your work area clean, organized, and free of clutter at all times
- Wear appropriate clothing to protect yourself against burns, cuts, and other injuries
- Make sure to keep hot foods away from the edge of tabletops
- Learn to properly handle and store cutting utensils such as knives, scissors, etc
- Store food at safe temperatures
- Clean and sanitize all contact surfaces and utensils
- Keep clean kitchen towels handy at all times
- Keep paper towels and other flammable materials away from open flames
- Keep your work area properly ventilated, especially around gas-powered equipment
