This hygiene guide is being adopted in order to help us resume activity in the salon during the   Covid19 Pandemic. Measures must be implemented to minimise contact between people ( staff, customers/clients), and to increase the hygiene habits already in place. These guidelines are written with a view of protecting our partners, their staff and customers with their health & safety being the number one priority.

 

SUMMARY OF CONTENTS:

1. MODIFY THE SALON ORGANISATION

• RESPECT SOCIAL DISTANCING

• ADAPT THE RULES OF THE SALON

• ADAPT RETAIL AREA AND CREATE A SPECIFIC SERVICE MENU

 

2. NEW GUIDELINES FOR PEOPLE HYGIENE

• REPEAT AND PROMOTE HAND HYGIENE

• USE OF MASKS & GLOVES

• WEAR DEDICATED UNIFORM/DEDICATED CLOTHES

• SINGLE-USE FABRICS FOR EACH CLIENT

 

3. NEW GUIDELINES FOR WORKPLACE HYGIENE

• CLEAN ALL THE TOOLS AND PRODUCT PACKAGING AFTER EACH CLIENT

• CLEAN ALL THE STYLING STATIONS AND THE BACKWASH BASINS AFTER EACH CLIENT

• CLEAN ALL THE SALON SURFACES MINIMUM 2 TIMES/DAY AND MANAGE THE WASTE

 

 

1. MODIFY THE SALON ORGANISATION

 

RESPECT SOCIAL DISTANCING

• We must ensure everybody is keeping the minimum safety distance between staff and clients during their time in the salon.

• Maintain a physical distance of at least 2 metres between an individual and other clients/workers, including in reception area, the backwash and also at the work stations.

• Please also respect these distances in break out / staff room areas, and ensure that disinfectant solution is also readily available to clean all surfaces.

 •Restrict non-essential physical contact as much as possible. Avoid hand shaking, hugs and kisses.

• Even when it’s not easy whilst working on hair, try to keep adjust your body position to help ensure space / distance.

 

ADAPT THE RULES OF THE SALON

To respect the social distancing rules it’s necessary to ORGANISE THE PEOPLE FLOW in the salon.

• Stagger scheduled appointments to reduce the number of people in the salon at any one time. We will also factor in additional time between appointments to allow for the correct cleaning of equipment and the styling station before the next client.

• Adapt the opening hours – longer hours means you can see your clients but have less people in the salon at any one time.

• Re-organise the styling stations – have greater gaps between them or leave certain stations empty to respect the distancing rules. .

• Organise staff break rotations in the staff room to ensure not too many people are there at any one time.

• We aim to have no clients in the waiting area, however if needed we can safely accommodate four clients and still respect social distancing. To achieve no clients in the waiting area, any early clients will be asked to wait outside or weather permitting outside the salon maintaining social distancing.

 

Develop a SPECIFIC WELCOME for our clients

• Try to keep the door open to minimise people having to touch the door handle and also to increase ventilation.

• Inform clients of the new hygiene rules both in advance of their salon visit and upon arrival. Visible posters for clients promoting hand hygiene and physical distancing in the salon and also on the door/window. We will also pre warn or inform clients via message when confirming the appointment as well as using social media.

• Ask client to take care of their own coat, umbrella etc.  Respect distance between items.

• We will  NOT OFFER FOOD OR DRINKS . If a client requires a drink of water we will offer bottled water which should be disposed of correctly.

ADAPT THE  CONSULTATION

• Remove all easy touchable items like magazines, tablet, written information, leaflets etc.

 

RE-LOOK AT THE SERVICE MENU

•  Express services such as a quick root retouch might be preferable as some clients want to limit their time spent in salon.

• If express services aren’t suitable we can offer to divide longer services into 2 visits by splitting services e.g. cut one day and colour on another.

 

 RETAIL AREA

• Clean, disinfect all shelving; products are considered clean until someone touches them, so follow the cleaning or disinfection routine / rota.

• Please ask and inform  clients not to touch products, only the stylist / hairdresser should touch them to sell them.

• Remove testers. Maybe some visual instructions about how to use the products or their main benefits could be useful to the client.

 

 

 METHOD OF PAYMENT

• Card payments only, preferably contactless

 

•  Encourage the client to tear off and take their receipt.

 

• Clean the PDQ machine after each client has touched it.

 

 

 

2. NEW GUIDELINES FOR PERSONAL HYGIENE

 

REPEAT AND PROMOTE REGULAR HAND WASHING

It is recognised as one of THE MOST IMPORTANT things to prevent Covid19 from spreading is KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN & DISINFECT THEM REGULARLY.

• Always wash hands before and after working on a client.

• Always wash your hands after touching money/credit cards, door handles.

• Always wash your hands before touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

• Always wash your hands if your hands are contaminated with respiratory secretions, such as after coughing or sneezing.

• Always wash your hands before and after using the bathroom, and before and after eating or drinking.

 

To ensure the ease & effectiveness of these rules it´s better to have your hair tied back in a ponytail, and avoid wearing fancy nails or jewellery specifically on your hands.

• Don’t touch your face, nose…(if you do it please disinfect your hands again)

• Cover coughs and sneezes with the inside of your elbow or upper arm.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or paper towel when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of used tissues or paper towels in a covered bin with a plastic bin liner, and then clean your hands thoroughly.

 

HOW TO CLEAN / DISINFECT YOUR HANDS PROPERLY

• Wash your hands frequently with liquid soap and water and then dry them with paper towels and throw them into a covered bin with a plastic bin liner.

• Alcohol-based hand rub can be used when there is no visual dirt on the hands.

 

 

TAKE CARE OF YOUR CLIENT

Perform hand hygiene in front of your client to show them that hygiene is a priority.

Offer your clients the opportunity to clean their hands with different disinfection points:

• Next to the door - mandatory usage upon arrival and before departure

• On the styling station counter/ in the working area.

• Encourage the use of hand disinfection solution even if they are wearing their own gloves.

 

 WEARING A MASK

We will require clients and staff to WEAR MASKS to further mitigate risk of INFECTION. 

• We ask staff and clients to wear masks provided.

• Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

• If you wear a mask, then you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly.

 

FOR OUR CLIENTS - We will provide a mask to our clients to increase the level of protection, especially when the safety distance is not optimal.

• Please note, it is preferable to use masks with ear loops to keep it in place and also so as to disturb the client as little as possible during their service.

 

Should you elect to wear a mask, it needs to be disposed of correctly.

How to WEAR / TAKE OFF A MASK PROPERLY:

• Before putting on a mask, you must have properly cleaned hands from using either an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

• Cover the mouth, nose and chin with the mask and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask.

• Avoid touching the mask when using it; if you do, clean your hands with either an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

• Don’t hang the mask from your neck, and don’t put it up on your head.

• To remove the mask: remove it from behind (do not touch the front of mask); discard immediately in a closed bin with a plastic bin liner; clean hands with either a alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

 

USE OF GLOVES

Be aware that WEARING GLOVE IS NOT A SUBSTITUTION FOR HANDWASHING. Wearing disposable gloves can give a false sense of security and may result in not washing hands as frequently as required. HANDWASHING is a greater protective barrier to infection than wearing disposable gloves.

• For some services where we are already using disposable latex or vinyl gloves, take into account that gloves may be used but must be changed frequently and hands must be washed when gloves are removed.

• We will also use disposable gloves, for cleaning styling stations, tools, and during waste or laundry management, when the purpose of using gloves is to reduce the risk of direct contact with potential contaminated surfaces.

• Gloves must be changed after carrying out other activities, such as opening/closing doors by hand, and emptying bins, after each client.

• You should avoid touching your mouth and eyes while wearing gloves.

 

I  WOULD RECOMMEND HAVING  DEDICATED WORK CLOTHES

ALL WORK  CLOTHING MUST BE WASHED DAILY and kept clean.

• It is recommended to use them only for work.

• After using, place them in a bin liner, until washing, and then put them directly into a washing machine with warm water at 60−90°C (140−194°F) laundry detergent is recommended. The laundry can then be dried in accordance with routine procedures.

• Staff should have a pair of shoes which are ‘work only.

 

FOR CLIENTS :

 

SINGLE USE FABRICS FOR EACH CLIENT

DISPOSABLE FABRICS (single use Capes ) in order to prevent contamination, one new one for each client.

• The stock of these items should be kept clean in a closed clean cabinet/container/place.

• Throw away disposable items in a covered bin with plastic bin liner after each use.

 

Non disposable fabrics, should  be VIEWED AS SINGLE USE for each client (gown, cap and towels) washing them correctly (please see below) before using again.

• Try to avoid shaking the towels, capes… before putting them inside the washing machine.

•  Take into account we might need to order more disposable items or use more towels and gowns.  ALL STAFF TO CHECKS LEVELS OF DISPOSABLE  AND NON DISPOSABLE ITEMS, report any shortages, ensure Non Disposable items  laundered and stored correctly.

HOW TO WASH FABRICS/TOWELS/CLOTHING PROPERLY:

• After using them once time, put them into a closed bin within a closed plastic bin liner, until washing. Then put the fabrics into the washing machine, with warm water at 60−90°C (140−194°F) common laundry detergent is recommended.

• The laundry can then be dried according to routine procedures.

• Throw the bin liner away properly and wash your hands.

 

3. NEW GUIDELINES FOR WORKPLACE HYGIENE

 

TOOLS : 1 CLEAN KIT / TOOLS - HAIRDRESSER (combs, scissors, clips, brush etc…)

• Never share items between hairdressers – use your own kit

• Items should be cleaned after use on each client

• Never share items between clients before thorough cleaning

• After use, you could put all items on a tray (plastic or stainless steel) in order to see what has been used and needs cleaning, and then clean/disinfect the tools and the container.

• Keep the clean/disinfected tools in a clean/closed place until the next use. Alternatively you could replace them on their clean tray and cover with cling film until use on next client. You can then ‘break the seal’ of the cling film to show that they are fresh to be used on them only.

• It´s better not to use a barber/hairdresser tool belt during this time, in order to make it easier to disinfect the tools and their containers.

• Any containers/trays/bowls used for storage of tools/products should also be cleaned and disinfected.

 

HAIR DRYERS, HAIR STRAIGHTENERS should be disinfected after each use

HOW TO WASH / DISINFECT TOOLS PROPERLY

• Disinfection only works on a clean item, so cleaning before disinfecting is always the first step.

• Currently, WHO/OMS recommends using for disinfection after cleaning: 70% ethyl alcohol to disinfect small areas between uses, such as reusable equipment or tools (for example, combs, scissors, clips…).

• Sodium hypochlorite (more commonly known as bleach) at 0.5% (equivalent to 5000 ppm) for disinfecting surfaces could be also used.

• It doesn’t matter if you use a spray or a wipe; it´s important to follow the manufacturer instructions, respect contact time (how long it should be left on for) to achieve effectiveness of the product.

 

PRODUCTS:

• For multi-dose products, always clean and disinfect the external packaging frequently after its been opened.  After every use/with a client (pay attention to the easy touchable parts like the applicator).

• Shampoos, Conditioners, Masks, Styling pastes or gels:

Clean hands before using and applying a product or use as much as possible.

• It is better to never share products or tools during a service with a client or with a colleague but if you have to do it you should disinfect the external packaging before sharing.

 

CLEAN THE STYLING STATION & BACKWASH AFTER EACH USE

MANDATORY – 1 STYLING STATION & BACKWASH STATION PER STAFF MEMBER, PER CLIENT

 

HAIRWASHING BASIN: Always clean when there is visually dirt and disinfect after every use with a client.

CHAIRS  Disinfect after each usage. Don’t forget to clean/disinfect arm/head rest.

STYLING STATION: Disinfect after every use with a client. The floor around the chair of the styling station will also be cleaned with disinfectant after each client.

HOW TO WASH/DISINFECT SURFACES PROPERLY

• Disinfection only works on a clean item, so cleaning before disinfecting is always the first step.

• Currently, WHO/OMS recommends using for disinfection after cleaning: 70% ethyl alcohol to disinfect small areas between uses, such as reusable equipment or tools (for example, combs, scissors, clips…).

• Sodium hypochlorite at 0.5% (equivalent to 5000 ppm) for disinfecting surfaces could be also used.

• It doesn’t matter if you use a spray or a wipe; it´s important to follow the manufacturer instructions, respect contact time (how long it should be left on for) to achieve effectiveness of the product

 

CLEAN ALL SALON SURFACES A  MINIMUM OF 2 TIMES A DAY

Increase the level of general daily cleaning and be sure you clean all surfaces, in particular the ‘high touch’ surfaces at the end of the day. A good guide for the ‘high touch’ surfaces would be a clean 3 – 5 times a day we can adapt depending on the traffic. (don´t forget we are cleaning all contact surfaces after each client visit).

First, clean all visual dirt from all the surfaces and floors as many times as necessary,  at least 2 times a day then wash/wipe the general surfaces with disinfectant. Leave the surface wet with disinfectant for as long as the product instructions require. Include all the surfaces in the salon during the general cleaning

It is recommended to increase the ventilation levels by opening doors and windows.

 

CLEANING BATHROOMS:

• Clean and disinfect all surfaces.

• Use a closed bin with a plastic bin liner inside.

• Remove any products that do not belong in the bathroom – nothing should be stored in a bathroom.

 

HOW TO CLEAN/DISINFECT DIFFERENT SURFACES PROPERLY

• Cleaning and disinfection products are recommended for floors and all horizontal and frequently touched surfaces (e.g., light switches, door handles, phones)

• Visibly dirty surfaces should first be cleaned with a detergent (commercially prepared or soap and water) and then a disinfectant should be applied, according to manufacturers’ recommendations/instructions.

Currently, WHO/OMS recommendations using for disinfection are based on:

• 70% ethyl alcohol to disinfect small areas between uses, such as reusable equipment or tools, and surfaces (for example, combs, scissors, shelves, phone, keyboards…).

ü Sodium hypochlorite (more commonly known as bleach) at 0.5% (equivalent to 5000 ppm) for disinfecting surfaces could be also used. (Frequently for bigger surfaces as floor, bathrooms, tables…)

• It doesn’t matter if you use a spray or a disinfectant wipe; but it´s important to follow the manufacturer instructions and contact time to achieve the effectiveness of the product.

• Do not reuse disinfectant wipes on multiple different surfaces.

• Unless it is a manufacturers instruction, do not dry surfaces after wiping them down. Surfaces you are disinfecting need to stay wet for the time listed on the label.

 

WASTE MANAGEMENT

• All the rubbish bins should have an inner plastic bag /bin liner.

• You should have closed bins for disposable items, preferable that can be opened without hands (using a pedal for example)

• Remove all the plastic bags / bin liners daily or even more frequently  if  required, close the bag taking care with the contents  and throw away properly.

• Install new plastic bags / bin liner in each bin, clean the bins, and disinfect all the touchable parts.

• Do not forget to wash with soap and water, scrubbing, and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, always after managing waste tasks. (please always follow the instructions for properly hand washing/disinfection)

 

SAFETY MANAGEMENT

• Always follow the manufacturer instructions.

• Do not use alcohol solutions/wipes on a hot surface.

• Do not spray alcohol on electronic parts directly. Spray it on a wipe / cloth first.

• Disposable wipes, or tissues with alcohol must be thrown in a specific rubbish bin.

                   Warning - Alcohol can react with oxidants/H2O2.

• Dispose of the empty detergent / alcohol packaging separately and close it properly before throwing out.

• Always Store these products closed, away from hot sources (radiators, heating ….), following manufacturing instructions.