Embracing hygiene lessons learned in 2020
Author by Lilliane Caron Caronlab Australia in Waxing
Why is hygiene crucial in a beauty salon?
Firstly, it’s vital to understand the importance of hygiene in a beauty salon. Even pre-COVID, owning a salon meant you were responsible for your client’s health and wellbeing while they are in your care. The services we provide as therapists, can put both yourself and your client at risk if your hygiene isn’t impeccable. Between waxing brazilians, performing extractions and even doing pedicures, the risk of cross-contamination of all kinds of diseases and infections is high. I truly believe that the reason the beauty industry was able to adapt so well to the rules for operating a COVID-safe business is because it’s not that different from our regular hygiene practices.
Talking the talk
Pre, during or post-COVID; in our industry hygiene should always be the top priority. 2020 has not only cemented that, but also highlighted it for our clients. Speaking for our own salon Smooth & Tan, outstanding hygiene has become one of the reasons why clients come back to our salon. It’s been mentioned in more than one 5-star review and we regularly get complimented on it during treatments. We believe it’s important to not only walk the walk, but also talk the talk – this puts your client’s mind at ease from the moment they walk through the door. In our salon, we have put up posters with what we do to keep people safe, we offer hand sanitiser in every room and clients see us sanitising contact surfaces throughout the day. There are some key steps before, during and after the treatment that you can do to set yourself apart from the rest.
Before the treatment
Total salon protection begins the moment your client enters your salon. It is important to demonstrate that your client’s health and safety is a priority, and this all starts with the first interaction. Even after the pandemic is over, it is good practice to keep a bottle of hand sanitiser available on your countertop and to encourage your client to sanitise their hands upon entering your salon. This will not only reduce the risk of germs spreading, it will also show them that everyone that came through the salon previously sanitised their hands. Alcohol-based sanitisers, such as Micro Defence Sanitising Gel, will work best as they are made following the WHO recommended formula and will kill nearly all bacteria and germs within 20 seconds of contact.
In that same vein, we have gotten so used to physical distancing that sitting right next to someone you don’t know has started to feel wrong. You might like to rearrange your waiting room set up permanently to allow for physical distancing, especially if you regularly have more than one client waiting for a treatment.
Micro Defence Sanitising Gel
- World Health Organisation Recommended Formula
- 75% v/v alcohol
- Kills 99.9% of germs in 20 seconds without soap or water
- With glycerine to prevent the skin from drying out
5-star Review by Jaymie C. on Beautopia.com.au
Has a nice fresh scent, but not overpowering. Nor is it drying on skin, has a good consistency, not watery or runny. Good quality product. Definitely my favourite sanitiser
During the treatment
There are two types of hygiene products you can use when performing your treatments: barrier products and disinfectant products. Barrier products like gloves, bed sheets and face masks are designed to stop germs from spreading by putting a barrier in place that keeps the germs where they are. Disinfectant products, like alcohol sanitiser, are used to kill germs and bacteria on surfaces and on the body. Ideally, a combination of both is used to keep yourself and your clients safe. Your beds are one of the key contact areas in your salon and we recommend using a vinyl bedsheet to maintain the optimal hygiene. Vinyl can be sanitised between clients and is a more hygienic alternative to paper bed sheets.
When you are performing your treatment, Micro Defence Biocide Foam can be used as a pre-wax for facial areas and sensitive skin. It is safe to use on all parts of the face and body and does not dry out the skin. Not only will it cleanse the skin of all lotions and oils, but it will prevent the spread of germs without irritation. You can sanitise your hands prior to the treatment and directly after in front of your client, showing them that you work hygienically. Make sure to use a sanitiser that contains glycerine so your hands don’t dry out with regular use. Lastly, although face masks aren’t mandatory in every beauty treatment, COVID has certainly proved to us that they work well in preventing the spread of germs! You might like to consider wearing them more often moving forward, especially in treatments with face-to-face contact.
Micro Defence Biocide Foam
- Safe to use on all skin types, and all parts of the face and body
- Alcohol & Chlorine free, killing 99.99% of all germs without irritation
- Can be used frequently to fight against the spread of germs
5 star Review by Shawn M. on waxxxpress.com
Love this product! I use this as my pre-treatment on all my clients. A bottle of this lasts for quite a while and does a great job cleaning and prepping the skin for waxing.
Caronlab Disposable Face Mask
- 3 Layers of non-woven fabric filter the air you breathe
- BFE ≥95% Bacterial Filtration Efficiency
- For protection against harmful germs
- Comfortable design fits any face
- Every day low price
5 Star review from Emma B. via email
I’ve tried many different face masks and these are by far the most comfortable. They don’t hurt behind the ears and I actually forget I’m wearing one after a while! I have been recommending them to all my friends ????
After the treatment
Once the treatment is over, it’s time to clean and sanitise the area so you are ready for your next client. Micro Defence Hand & Surface Alcohol Spray is safe to use on all salon furniture, surfaces and equipment as it is non-corrosive and kills 99.9% of bacteria. Be sure to disinfect common areas such as door handles, beds, hands and key contact areas. It might even be wise to allow for an extra 5-10 minutes between each client, so you have enough time to clean before the next treatment begins. Even after COVID is a thing of the past, this is a great habit to form to ensure total salon protection and keep everything free from harmful germs.
Micro Defence Hand & Surface Alcohol Spray
- Contains >75% v/v alcohol
- Disinfects and protects without water
- Kills 99.9% of germs in 20 seconds
- WHO Recommended formula
- With glycerine to prevent the skin from drying out
5 star review from Darlene G. via hydro2oil.com.au
I really like this product. I use it on my massage table and it leaves no sticky residue. I use it on my hands, phone etc.
Working together to get the best results
Your salon is only as clean as your least hygienic staff member. It’s very important that everyone in your team knows exactly what hygiene practices you have in place and what they are expected to do. Inform all your staff members about what their responsibilities are and how they can provide a safe treatment for their client. You might like to brief them in weekly meetings, or even have a hygiene checklist on display in the staffroom. This way, everyone is aware of how they can keep both themselves and others safe!
Moving forward
Even though the beauty industry has always operated under medical-level hygiene practices, 2020 has changed the playing field forever. It has put hygiene on top of mind for our clients and they place more value than ever on a salon that keeps them safe. Fine tuning the practices that we’ve put into place last year and evaluating what is here to stay will give your salon an important edge in the eyes of your clients.
With antibacterial and disinfectant properties, Micro Defence Hand & Surface Alcohol Wipes kill 99.9% of germs in less than 20 seconds without drying the skin or harming surfaces. These wipes can be used to gently sanitise your skin as well as disinfect all surfaces. Contains >75% v/v alcohol.
Micro Defence is fast acting for the protection and prevention against the spread of germs. In a convenient and easy to use format, the wipes are perfect for fast and hygienic cleaning.
- Contains >75% v/v alcohol
- Disinfects and protects without water
- Kills 99.9% of germs in 20 seconds without drying the skin
- WHO Recommended formula
- Can be used to sanitise skin and disinfect surfaces
