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Essence Hair Studio

48 Harwood Ave S, Ajax ON L1S 2H6 · Know Before You Go Inspections

Official record from Durham Region →

Inspection summary

Essence Hair Studio has been inspected 2 times by Durham Region Health Department since December 17, 2025. The most recent inspection, on January 8, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.

None of the 2 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 10 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their findings differently, so we group them by what they mean for your health. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

    This covers how food and supplies are stored and handled: kept covered, off the floor, and away from anything that could contaminate them. Where food is served, raw meat must be kept away from ready-to-eat food, a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded once on December 17, 2025. For example: Premises and/or work area maintained in a sanitary manner, appropriately located, well-lit and well-ventilated

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are one of the main ways germs spread, from person to person and onto food and surfaces. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing their hands when required, and sick staff being kept away from work where it matters. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded once on December 17, 2025. For example: Proper hand hygiene performed prior to service delivery, as required during and after service, and for reprocessing

  • Equipment and utensilsLower risk

    Equipment has to be made of cleanable materials, kept in good repair and stored properly. These findings are mostly about upkeep, like a cracked surface or worn part. They are generally lower risk but show how well the place is maintained.

    Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 8, 2026. For example: Work and contact surfaces smooth, non-absorbent and easily cleanable

  • Permits, records and postingLower risk

    Operating permits, required signage, written procedures and logs. These findings are administrative: the documentation was missing or out of date at the time of inspection.

    Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 8, 2026. For example: Approved disinfectants are prepared and used appropriately, and records maintained

  • Other findingsLower risk

    Findings that do not fit the categories above, such as follow-ups that confirm an earlier violation was corrected, or requirements specific to this type of facility.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 8, 2026. For example: All items that cannot be cleaned, disinfected or sterilized must be single-use disposable

About this data

These results come from Durham Region Health Department, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

2 inspections

  1. Routine

    3 infractions

    • Work and contact surfaces smooth, non-absorbent and easily cleanable
      • Fail to provide fixture and/or furniture in good repair, easily cleanable, smooth and/or impermeable. Operator/PSW must provide fixture and/or furniture in good repair, easily cleanable, smooth and/or impermeable.
    • Approved disinfectants are prepared and used appropriately, and records maintained
      • Fail to appropriately label all disinfectants and chemicals (e.g. product name, expiry date). Operator/PSW must appropriately label all disinfectants and chemicals (e.g. product name, expiry date).
      • Fail to prepare disinfectants as per manufacturer’s instructions. Operator/PSW must prepare disinfectants as per manufacturer's instructions.
    • All items that cannot be cleaned, disinfected or sterilized must be single-use disposable
      • Fail to discard single-use disposable sharps (e.g. blades, razors) immediately after each use. Operator/PSW must discard single-use disposable sharps (e.g. blades, razors) immediately after each use.
  2. Routine

    7 infractions

    • Work and contact surfaces smooth, non-absorbent and easily cleanable
      • Fail to provide fixture and/or furniture in good repair, easily cleanable, smooth and/or impermeable. Operator/PSW must provide fixture and/or furniture in good repair, easily cleanable, smooth and/or impermeable.
    • Premises and/or work area maintained in a sanitary manner, appropriately located, well-lit and well-ventilated
      • Fail to routinely clean premises and/or work area (e.g. cupboards, shelving, sinks, chairs, work stations) daily at a minimum and when visibly soiled. Operator/PSW must routinely clean all structural surfaces (e.g. cupboards, shelving, sinks, chairs, work stations) daily at a minimum and when visibly soiled.
      • Fail to clean floors, walls and ceilings according to a fixed schedule and when visibly soiled. Operator/PSW must clean floors, walls and ceilings according to a fixed schedule and when visibly soiled.
    • Proper hand hygiene performed prior to service delivery, as required during and after service, and for reprocessing
      • Fail to perform hand hygiene to remove visible soil before and after service delivery and as often as necessary to prevent disease transmission. Operator/PSW must perform hand hygiene to remove visible soil before and after service delivery and as often as necessary to prevent disease transmission.
      • Fail to remove and discard expired products. Operator/PSW to ensure expired products are removed and discarded accordingly.
    • Approved disinfectants are prepared and used appropriately, and records maintained
      • Fail to appropriately label all disinfectants and chemicals (e.g. product name, expiry date). Operator/PSW must appropriately label all disinfectants and chemicals (e.g. product name, expiry date).
      • Fail to prepare disinfectants as per manufacturer’s instructions. Operator/PSW must prepare disinfectants as per manufacturer's instructions.
    • For accidental exposures, appropriate records are maintained
      • Fail to provide accidental exposure records to health department upon request by a Medical Officer of Health or public health inspector. Operator/PSW must provide accidental exposure records to health department upon request by a Medical Officer of Health or public health inspector.
    • All reusable items and/or equipment cleaned and then disinfected or sterilized, as applicable
      • Fail to thoroughly clean reusable items and/or equipment using a detergent solution and a brush before disinfection or sterilization. Operator/PSW must thoroughly clean reusable items and/or equipment using a detergent solution and a brush before disinfection or sterilization.
      • Fail to provide and use a designated cleaning brush to clean reusable items and/or equipment. Operator/PSW must provide and use a designated cleaning brush to clean reusable items and/or equipment.
    • All items that cannot be cleaned, disinfected or sterilized must be single-use disposable
      • Fail to discard single-use disposable items and/or items that cannot be readily cleaned and disinfected or sterilized immediately after each use or when contaminated. Operator/PSW must discard single-use disposable items and/or items that cannot be readily cleaned and disinfected or sterilized immediately after each use or when contaminated.
      • Fail to discard single-use disposable sharps (e.g. blades, razors) immediately after each use. Operator/PSW must discard single-use disposable sharps (e.g. blades, razors) immediately after each use.

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