What action should you take if a client has broken skin before a waxing service?

If a client has broken skin before a waxing service, the best course of action is to refrain from performing the service. This approach prioritizes the client's safety and well-being, as broken skin can be an entry point for bacteria, increasing the risk of infection or complications. Additionally, waxing over broken skin can cause further irritation, pain, or damage to the area, potentially leading to more serious issues.

In this context, applying extra wax or proceeding with caution could exacerbate the situation rather than alleviate it, as waxing requires intact skin for effective and safe hair removal. A skin patch test, while helpful in some situations, is not appropriate here since the broken skin indicates a need to avoid any chemical or physical treatment until the skin has healed. Thus, not performing the service is the most responsible and professional decision in this scenario.