10 Best Practices for Saloons to Follow Post Lock Down

As the Covid19 pandemic is on its full swing in all over the world, countries are now reopening after being in the lockdown from the last few months. Salon is one of the worst-hit industries since the virus spreads and people are too scared to visit the salon as they need physical touch to provide the services. Vague has already predicted how hair salons will be transformed by the covid-19 pandemic. Now, when countries are removing the lockdown and saloons are allow open, here are the 10 best practices for professional saloons to follow post lock down.

Wear Gloves - Yes, we know to wear gloves, however, most professionals wear gloves with chemical services or when we "feel" we should, based on what we see with each client. Wearing gloves is not a standard practice for the entirety of our services but it should be. I know, gloves get in the way, right? You can't "feel" what you are doing with that barrier between you and the client. Well Professionals, now it is time to learn how to render that same great service wearing gloves or at minimum, wearing gloves until you have cleaned the skin, scalp or hair, if you are not shampooing your client's hair or beard and cleansing the client's scalp or skin, you should wear gloves for the entire service. Having a negative feeling about the "fit and feel" of gloves should have no bearing on health and safety. We are Professionals and we can still render great services, even in gloves. We just have to learn how to do it.

Wash Your Hand & Use Sanitizer - Yes, we know to thoroughly wash our hands for 20 seconds or to use hand sanitizer between our clients but how many Professionals were doing this? Don't answer that, washing our hands or using hand sanitizer between every client is an absolute must. (Also, Professionals, you should wash or use hand sanitizer on your forearm, up to and including your elbow, if you are wearing a short sleeve .

Wear a Mask - Yes, we should now wear a mask. This is our new normal and the N95 is recommended for the best protection. The N95 mask will protect you from VIRUSES, germs, and dust. Professionals should wear an N95 mask during the entire service. There is no such thing as social distancing in the beauty industry. We need to wear a mask and our clients need to wear a mask too. Professionals, consider providing a disposable mask to your clients if they don't come in with their mask. This would be extra protection for both you and your client.

Reusing Capes - Yes, a clean, washed cape for every client. No more re-using of the same cape client after client. Every client needs a clean, washed cape when they sit in your chair.

Check Client Temperature - Yes, take your temperature before the beginning of your shift, halfway through your shift and at the end of your shift. Monitor your body in ways that you have never done before. Be sure to stay hydrated. (DO NOT DRINK AT YOUR STATION. Professionally we should not be doing this anyway and in 2020, it is obvious why.) If you feel out of the ordinary, stop and take care of yourself. Professionals, we are notorious for pushing through when we are not well. Please, stop working when you are not feeling well and take care of yourself. Yes, take your client's temperature too because taking your client's temperature could save your career. For example, what if a client became sick and died after a visit with you and your local health officials found that your salon was among the last places that the client visited? How would you prove that you and your temperature when they enter your salon, of course wear your mask and gloves, and create a standard form with the date, time, and temperature reading and have the client sign the form?

Face Shields – There is no such things as too much protection and having a barrier to complete cover you face should be considered

Ventilation - Invest in a ventilation system (whole salon or portable) or at minimum opening a door and/or using a ceiling fan for clean airflow.

Designated Work Clothes - Invest in a standard uniform or have designated work clothes that you wear to the salon. These clothes should be taken off immediately when you arrive home and contained and washed separately from the personal laundry. You don't want to expose yourself or your family to anything that you might have been exposed to at the salon or barbershop.

Appointment Only - Unless you will able to stop and make sure every walk-in is not contagious AND you can ensure 6ft of safe distancing, accepting walk-ins should be reconsidered.

Space and Pace yourself - No longer should you stack your client book and schedule clients too closely. Space your client appointments to allow yourself time to properly sanitize and disinfect between each client. (Raise your prices to accommodate for this extra time. Clients will gladly pay for it .

Follow these practices to protect yourself and clients from the coronavirus spread while running your salon smoothly. There are several services like hair rebonding, smoothening, straightening, keratin and hair cut that needed extra care. If you have any question or suggestion please let us know in the comment section.