With the hope of reopening on the horizon, make sure you’re prepared to hit the ground running as soon as Government restrictions lift with our guide to the industry guidelines

As we await formal guidance from the Government on whether the beauty services industry can reopen from July 4, we’ve compiled the latest guidelines from industry bodies on the recommended practices to help you navigate your business through reopening.

The Professional Beauty Group has also created a poster for salon and spa owners to display in their businesses (see page 56). The client-friendly poster is supported by Babtac and Lash Perfect, and is designed to help businesses reassure their clients on the safety and hygiene measures you have taken as they return to your salon or spa.

These guidelines are advisory and offer suggestions to help you prepare your business for reopening.

Babtac Back to Work Guidelines

The British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology (Babtac) has created eight pages of guidance for preparing beauty and hair salons for post Covid-19 lockdown. Here are some of the key points:

PPE: Medical-grade gloves, surgical masks, disposable aprons and gowns will most likely be required when working in the salon.

Staff: Staff should not wear their uniforms at home or to and from work. Uniforms should also be changeddaily and washed immediately after use (on highest temperature possible – minimum 60°C). Staff should also avoid wearing jewellery, wear their hair back to avoid touching their face, and keep their nails short.

Clients: Clients should be encouraged to wash their hands on entering the premises. Determine what the client’s PPE needs are and decide whether you will provide these for an additional included cost, or whether you will require your client to provide their own. Babtac believes it is acceptable to charge your client to provide them with required items. Additionally, ask the client to limit the personal belongings, such as handbags and jewellery, that they bring to the salon.

Tools, supplies and equipment: Use disposable, single-use tools and supplies wherever possible and dispose of in an airtight bin. Non-disposables must be thoroughly cleaned, then sterilised after each client.

Environment: Avoid if at all possible using any materials or furniture in the salon that are hard to clean (such as blankets, carpets, fabric couches). Wipe down all surfaces (floors, worktops, trolleys, couches) and redo any surfaces used between clients.

The guide includes an explanation of how coronavirus spreads, how to implement infection protection measures, and operational protocols and controls you will need to consider.

Read the full Babtac Back to Work Guidlelines.

NHBF: Back to Business Guidelines

The National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF)’s guidelines are for beauty salons, hair salons and barbershops. The organisation is using these guidelines to continue its conversations with Government to show that the industry can work safely to avoid delaying when salons can return to work. Here are some of the key points fromthe NHBF’s guide.

PPE: The NHBF recommends using face-coverings, non-latex gloves, and gowns or aprons (depending on the service or treatment provided), all of which should be disposable. It is the employer’s responsibility to provide and pay for PPE for their employees.

Staff: Let your staff know if you are making changes to your rota to accommodate social distancing. Update what is happening to their wages as they come off furlough, and update them on the safety measures you’ll be following in the salon.

Clients: The NHBF recommends avoiding treatments that involve working near the eyes, nose or mouth. Explain to clients that some services will not be on offer until further notice. Communicate with clients that they will need to comply with your salon’s safety measures so that they can prepare ahead of their appointment.

Tools, supplies and equipment: Use single-use tools wherever possible. Any tools used more than once must be cleaned thoroughly or sterilised after each use.

Environment: Allow at least two metres between workstations. This may mean removing chairs from the salon floor or taping them off and using “not in use” signs.

Consider taking payments and making future appointments at the workstation to avoid crowding at reception, and take contactless payments where possible.

Read the full NHBF Back to Business Guidelines.

ISPA Reopening Checklist

The US-based International Spa Association (ISPA) has compiled a Spa Reopening Checklist that includes prompts to help you visualise how your business will operate post-lockdown. It also offers communication templates for both staff and clients to help you explain your new safety protocols. Here are some of the key points:

PPE: Ensure vendors are open and able to fill orders to meet demand for PPE and sanitation products.

Staff: Consider grouping staff together (e.g. group A, B and C) with no work hour overlap in the event that staff members need to be quarantined due to Covid-19.

Clients: Inform guests in advance of new safety measures and changes to the facility. Evaluate recommended guest arrival times and determine if touchless treatment options should be offered.

Tools, supplies and equipment: Regularly sanitise equipment and tools in treatment rooms. The guide provides a checklist for different areas such as hydrothermal zones, treatment rooms and nail work stations. Consider printing a sanitation checklist to be completed before and in between treatments.

Environment: Determine how social distancing will be managed in lobbies, lounges, locker rooms (e.g. assign guests a locker), saunas, steam rooms and wet facilities.

Evaluate floor markings to assist guests with navigating the spa. evaluate high-traffic areas and, where possible, prop open doors to prevent repeated touch.

Read ISPA’s Spa Reopening Checklist.

Turn the page for PB’s downloadable guideline poster. PB

WHAT ABOUT NAIL TECHS?

Nail experts Marian Newman and scientist Doug Schoon have created Return to Work guidelines for nail technicians, helping you to follow best practices when performing nail treatments.

WHAT ABOUT HOME TREATMENTS?

The NHBF advises against visiting clients at home until it is safe to do so. By not complying with the social distancing rules, you are at risk of being fined and by visiting clients in their home, you are not in control of the safety and hygiene, increasing your risk of catching and spreading the virus. Once it is safe to do so, Babtac advises: “Mobile Therapists need to strongly consider

advising clients to come to their own place where they can control the environment in accordance with protocols and guidance. If this is not possible, the client would need to prove that all hygiene protocols have been carried out prior to a visit to a client’s home – e.g. extensive checklist could be sent to client electronically for completion and signature ahead of arrival.”