Short answer: proceed with caution, and for anything that breaks the skin, don't proceed without checking first.
Blood thinners (anticoagulants and antiplatelets) — warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, clopidogrel, even regular low-dose aspirin — mean a client bruises and bleeds more easily and takes longer to clot. That changes the risk on a lot of treatments you'd otherwise do without thinking.
Where to be careful:
- Waxing — expect more redness, bruising and pinpoint bleeding, especially on intimate or facial areas. Usually fine on healthy skin, but warn the client and go gently.
- Microneedling, dermaplaning, extractions, electrolysis — these deliberately break the skin. Bleeding can be heavier and slower to stop. Many insurers and manufacturers list anticoagulants as a contraindication. Get GP sign-off before booking, or decline.
- Massage — deep pressure can cause bruising. Keep it lighter.
Never tell a client to skip or stop their medication before an appointment. That's a medical decision for their doctor, not the salon, and it's dangerous.
The safe move is to know before they're in the chair — flag the medication at booking, not when the needle's already out. A booking system that keeps each client's medications and contraindications on their record, and warns you before a risky treatment, means you're never caught out mid-appointment.
Every client, remembered — safely.
SAY-OS keeps each client's contraindications, allergies and history in one place, and flags them at booking — so the right call happens before they're in the chair.
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