What should be done with an emery board after each use?

The correct approach with an emery board after each use is to discard it or give it to the client. Emery boards are considered single-use items in the context of professional barbering and personal grooming. This practice is rooted in sanitation and hygiene protocols, as emery boards can accumulate bacteria, skin cells, and other contaminants during use.

By discarding the emery board, the risk of cross-contamination between clients is significantly reduced. If the board is given to the client, it maintains the same hygienic principle in ensuring that no shared tools are used, which is particularly important in preventing the spread of infections.

In contrast, keeping the emery board for future use or sanitizing it does not align with recommended hygiene practices. Even if it might seem cost-effective to reuse, the risk of infection from previously used items can outweigh potential savings. Storing it in a dedicated container also does not mitigate the hygiene concerns associated with reusing a tool that is meant to be discarded after a single use. Thus, proper disposal or client handoff is the most appropriate action.