What To Ask Your Beauty Service Provider About Covid-19

The Covid-19 crisis has created renewed focus on the health and safety of beauty professionals and their clients. As we all think about returning to our professional beauty services, I think some of these tips will be useful to keep in mind when considering your own risk tolerance. While guidelines can and will be followed by beauty professionals the world over, we all know that at the very core of these services is human touch, be it a makeup artist, hair stylist, spa therapist or nail technician. Therefore, of course, these services cannot practice social distancing in reality. There is the possibility of the virus passing between stylist and client, no doubt. Each client will need to gauge for oneself what sort of potential exposure one is willing to risk as we head out of our cocoons.

What’s The Minimum You Should Be Looking For?

There are multiple industry organizations that are helping salons of all kinds figure out what is needed to be compliant and as safe as possible. While regulations are set by each state, here is a suggested list of what salons and spas should be telling there clients they are prepared to do:

Disinfect all surfaces and implements between every client. This includes rolling carts, station counter, all tools including sheers, brushes, mirrors, blowdryers, styling tools, being sure to remove debris and hair. For nail salons, all pedicure bowls need to be fully cleaned and disinfected before EACH client, and all hand/foot nail drying tables should also be cleaned and disinfected after each client. (note from Liz: this is going to be difficult to maintain and require stylists to leave time between appointments. Disinfectant only works on a clean item, so first the stylist has to clean the item and then disinfect it. Typically an implement requires at least 10 minutes of soaking time to be disinfected, as does a shampoo bowl or pedicure bowl for example.)
Disinfect all hard, non-porous surfaces including the reception counter, phones, computers, door handles, etc. on an ongoing basis.
Clean soft surfaces between every client (note from Liz: porous “soft” surfaces cannot be disinfected by definition, but they can be cleaned. These are surfaces like cloth upholstery on couches and chairs, magazines.)
Launder and properly store towels and linens. Capes on the stylist should be changed between every client, and of course, the client should have a clean cape. If the capes are soft, they should be laundered; if they are non-porous/synthetic, they should be disinfected (note from Liz: towels and linens are supposed to be in closed cabinets in most states.)
Non-essential items should be removed from the business for the time-being, such as snacks, drinks, coffee, magazines, etc.
Contactless methods of scheduling appointments and paying should be installed. Discontinue practice of requiring signature on an iPad for example. Have client read you their credit card number so the client does not touch your point-of-purchase keypad. Clean POS keypads regularly.
PPE products, such as gloves, are single use and must be changed after each client, washing hands with soap and water after removing gloves. Gloves are recommended for nail and facial services. Masks may be required as well.
Remove all product and be sure to properly clean and disinfect all containers and
product storage. All single use items should be new and properly stored in containers.
Multi-use product containers should have single use applicators, with applicators
properly stored prior to using. (note from Liz: this particularly applies to nail salons doing waxing and the like.)
No handshaking or other non-essential contact.
No one should be in the salon/spa who does not have an appointment. For example, no bringing along a child.
Hands must be washed between each client.
Stagger appointments to reduce waiting
area congestion and also allowing time to
properly clean between clients.
Add acrylic shields to reception areas and nail stations to help reduce contact.
Change out air filters and clean air ducts regularly to help improve air quality.
If chairs are situated such that the patrons are
closer than 6 feet – every other chair should be
used or chairs staggered if possible.
There should be no more than 10 people in the
business at any time (including staff) or until
those recommendations have been lifted by
your state. This includes any clients waiting. Clients should wait outside or in their cars.
Double booking should not be done unless each patron can be left in a single chair
throughout the process and distancing measures maintained. Limiting the movement
of patrons throughout the business reduces risk to both patrons and staff.

Whew - that’s a staggering list. One can clearly see why small businesses might not be able to handle the above. Stylists, spa therapists, nail techs may not be willing to take these precautions. And certainly, prices are going to have to rise to accommodate less time to see clients, as well as the need to purchase the additional sanitization equipment.

I have heard many in the industry saying “Look, we had to maintain cleanliness standards before. This is no different.” While that is true, I believe the real truth is that many salons and spas and stylists cut corners on the previous requirements, and I do think the guidelines above go far beyond what many establishments have been practicing. That’s why I stated above, it’s really going to be up to you and your risk tolerance.

Figure out your personal minimum standard and stick by it. If you are exposed at a beauty service, is there someone you love whom you could expose? I’m thinking of my 85 year old Dad and my 83 year old Mom.

Am I going to hug my stylist?
Am I going to make sure she changes her smock?
Am I going to keep an eye on that shampoo bowl and the neck guard to make sure she cleaned it after the last client?
Am I going to ask my nail tech to please disinfect the drying table before I sit down at it? What about the dryer she puts my bare feet on? The stack of telephone books she uses to prop it up?
What about the doorknob I touch going in? How do I know it was disinfected before I arrived?

Just a few questions I am asking myself as I prepare to re-emerge.