Covid-19 Update
Dear Valued Guests,
We are very excited to announce that we plan on opening June 1st! In preparation we would like to share with you some of the changes we will be making to stay safe following work safe BC guidelines.
Introduction
The Beauty Council of Western Canada / British Columbia Barbers’ Association (Cosmetology Association Western Canada) is committed to working with government to develop a responsible set of suggestions for the reopening of the province’s personal services establishments (PSE). After listening to our industry constituents, researching success in similar industries, and collaborating with fellow associations across Canada, we are confident these suggestions represents the best interests of PSEs and their clients. Furthermore, these suggestions support the provincial government’s goal of breaking the chains of transmission of COVID-19 among people in British Columbia. These suggestions are not meant as legal advice or to provide a legal opinion on steps necessary to comply with government rules and regulations and should not be relied upon as such.
Scope of sectors and professional services included in this plan
Our plan encompasses a wide range of personal care services, including:
Hair: cuts, chemical services, and styling services for men and women.
Barbering: same to “Hair” but limited to men plus shaving and facial hair grooming.
Esthetics: skin care services such as facials, microdermabrasion, extractions, lymphatic drainage, massage, etc.
Nails: manicures, pedicures, polish application, and artificial nail extensions
Hair removal: waxing, threading, electrolysis, and sugaring.
Lashes: artificial lash extensions
Makeup: makeup application
Other body modification services including piercing, microblading, micropigmentation, laser services for hair removal, skin resurfacing, tattoo removal, etc. For clarity, while micropigmentation and microblading involve the placement of small amounts of ink under skin, we do not consider it “tattooing” (defined below).
Excluded from our plan are:
Tattooing. Specifically, stand-alone tattoo parlours where ink is applied to a large part of the body, usually to create artwork or words on skin.
Plan to reopen
Physical space
Salon operations with a fixed location can reduce the spread of COVID-19 by following these guidelines.
Amenities
No distribution of refreshments except for bottled water in original packaging. Empty bottles to be handed back to salon operators with cap replaced and deposited into recycling bins by client. Water bottles to never be left unattended.
If clients bring in a beverage in a disposable cup, used cups to be safely disposed of and not left unattended. Clients should be discouraged from bringing in food, beverages, or gifts. Consistent signage is recommended.
No food, snacks, candies for clients.
No magazines, booklets, brochures, or product sell sheets in the client or staff areas.
No loaner tablets, phones, or electronic devices.
Reception and common areas
Plexiglass or tempered glass barrier to establish a physical barrier between reception workers and clients.
Reception seats for clients and work chairs for staff separated in accordance to social distancing guidelines of 2m.
Clearing of any surfaces of samples, decorative artwork, or objects which may encourage handling.
Taped lines or indicators on floor or to guide physical distancing for reception and other areas where congestion is possible:
Taping a box on floor where a 2m distance cannot be achieved by two people. Box should indicate only “one person allowed in this space”.
Where two means of passage exits to and from an area, designating one way for each to allow for traffic to flow in a single direction in each of the two passages.
Consistent signage is recommended.
No pens, pencils, notepads to be exchanged between client and operator.
Sufficient hand sanitizer with minimum 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol content dispensers or disinfectant wipes designed for hand sanitation to allow all clients and staff to use as needed at reception, and all stations. Place hand sanitizer at entrance.
Box of facial tissue available. Client or staff to self-serve while not holding box (adhere box to desktop or place in a heavy box holder), and remove top tissue and disposing, use second tissue dispensed. Properly dispose of tissue in bag-lined garbage container followed by hand hygiene.
No use of rebooking cards or handing out business cards.
Between clients, wipe down surfaces including reception desk, chairs or couches with attention to armrests, retail area touch-points, and interior door handle. Use standard surface cleaning protocols using a virucidal agent.
Retail Area
Products may be fully stocked.
Discourage clients from handling products. Consistent signage is recommended.
No samples, brochures, electronic displays.
Provide retail products in clean, new bags. No reusable bags allowed by clients.
Return of products is not allowed.
Once every four hours, wipe retail area surfaces and any products suspected of being touched by clients or staff, using standard surface cleaning protocols using a virucidal agent.
Clients seeking to buy products may not walk-in as per no walk-in protocol. Arrange in advance and schedule the pick up to avoid overlapping of service clients waiting in reception, or checking in or out for services. Consistent signage is recommended.
Interior Areas
Bathrooms are well stocked with liquid soap and paper towels and that warm running water is available.
Staff rooms adhere to industry standards and discourage congestion within those spaces. These rooms must have hand sanitizer with 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol content.
Commonly used surfaces must be cleaned every 4 hours using standard surface cleaning protocols using a virucidal agent. Example include countertops, desktops, and any staff room surfaces such as laundry machines.
High touch objects must be cleaned every hour using standard surface cleaning protocols using a virucidal agent. Examples include doorknobs or push-plates, commonly used keyboards and mice or trackpads, touch-screens, back-bar dispensers, handles on machines and devices and any high-touch buttons, dials, or tools.
Client management
Communicate to clients a clear expectation of a revised salon experience, including:
Arrival procedures, punctuality and limits on number of people in the establishment.
New rules around physical distancing, outside food and beverage rules, and requirements for hand hygiene before and after services.
New rules around minimizing items brought into the establishment such as shopping bags. No gifts for staff including gift cards.
Any requirements relating to client-worn PPE such as a mask.
Screening questions completed (and reviewed by staff) prior to arriving in establishment.
Where required, perform client consults over a phone call prior to arrival
Clear, consistent signage in establishment to inform clients on rules around handling items, physical distancing, PPE requirements, hand hygiene, and any restrictions as determined by the Provincial Health Officer.
Clients to keep their coat, bags or purses on their person and leave at the styling station.
During departure payment guidelines:
Where possible, used touchless payment processing and avoid having “tip” feature on keypad device which requires clients to handle the keyboard. Send receipts via email or text where practical.
Clean any keypad device with standard cleaning protocols; with a cloth dampened with approved virucidal agent left for 10 minutes. Clean every hour.
Employees who handle cash must wash hands when leaving to another area of the establishment, and before breaks, end of their shift, or eating.
Congestion management
Book appointments with a 10-minute additional gap to allow for sanitation using standard surface cleaning protocols using a virucidal agent. Ensure service area surfaces are allowed correct time for virucidal agent to be effective (typically 10 minutes).
Clients to arrive on their own. No children, friends or family accompaniment allowed.
If a client requires assistance, a family member may accompany (provided that family member has been isolating with the client) the client to the establishment. In the case of assistance required throughout the service, the family member must follow the same protocols as any regular client would.
No walk-in clients permitted. For retail-only sales, arrange in advance and schedule the pick up to avoid overlapping of service clients waiting in reception, or checking in or out for services.
Advise clients to check in no earlier than the exact time before their appointment. This allows effective sanitation of reception areas and interior areas. In the case of a client leaving the establishment later than expected, the following client will need to wait outside the establishment and maintain physical distancing protocols. Pre-appointment communication and on-site signage is recommended.
In the case of special needs clients or clients requiring assistance, allow for additional time for the arrival and departure process to allow for the 10-minute gap for cleaning.
If possible, check in by phone or app.
Identify areas where congestion usually occurs and tape physical distancing makers and advise clients and staff to keep that area clear.
Use every other station to maintain social distancing if needed.
Schedule shampooing so no two clients are less than 2m apart
In the case of double bookings, protocols around physical distancing must be applied to both clients.
Staff must wash hands when switching between clients.
Tools cannot be shared (shears, irons, etc.).
Chairs and sinks must be sanitized if clients share these and apply the minimum contact time with virucidal cleaners (typically 10 minutes).
PPE (Note – these are suggestions only and subject to protocols from the PHO and WSBC)
Nail services:
Both staff and clients must wear N95 grade masks throughout services, in particular while any dust producing activity is underway.
For all other services:
Non-medical grade masks required for staff and clients
In the case of facials, staff must wear both a mask and face shield.
Of note – no talking by staff or client during hair washing services.
Glove use remains as usual for the mitigation of cuts caused by implements to prevent blood-borne transmission only. Hands must be washed prior to and after the use of gloves. Glove use at the discretion of staff and clients.
Of note – gloves should not be used where they discourage regular hand hygiene.
Physical barrier required for manicure services where client may extend hands through cut out at table level.
Freshly laundered (according to hygiene protocols) gowns and capes for each hair service client.
As of May 17, 2020, access to a reliable supply of PPE remains a challenge. The Beauty Council is working with three of the largest industry suppliers in the province to secure and make available PPE to PSEs. Alternate, individual suppliers are being sourced by the Beauty Council to allow for additional sources for PSE operators.
We recommend PSEs do not reopen if they are not able to secure enough PPE for the appointments they book.
Sanitation protocols specific to COVID-19
All staff and independent contractors should be competent in up-to-date, infection prevention protocols relevant to provincial PSE guidelines.
Evidence of training to provide health inspectors confidence of operator competence in salon hygiene and disinfection protocols.
Cleaning agents must state the solution is “virucidal” and be appropriate for effective sanitation in the establishment.
Greet clients respecting the 2m guideline and do not engage in any physical contact such as handshaking, hugging, fist-bumping.
A health questionnaire to determine if a client is experiencing any COVID-19 like symptoms. Required for each client before the appointment. Beauty Council has developed a downloadable version with wording and recommendations around privacy. We also suggest the BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool. Both available at this link.
Client gowns and capes to be washed after each use and sealed in a plastic bag. Laundered after each use in water not less than 65C.
Used towels must be removed from the styling area immediately and stored in plastic bags to be laundered.
Surface virucidal disinfectant and appropriate applicators available at each station for staff use.
Cleaning down furniture at stations between client with disinfectants according to manufacturers’ specifications.
Isolate tools per client at station
Wash all tools and brushes, submerged in warm, soapy water and allow to soak for 10 minutes. Allow to dry.
Scheduled disinfection of regularly used surfaces, i.e. door handles, phones, POS machines, common surfaces.
Do not use neck brushes - use a clean, freshly laundered cloth to remove hair from neck areas.
BeautySafe is supported by West Coast Beauty - they are providing a code for a $25 discount across all courses. Learn more here.
Tools and items requiring disinfection
Blowdryer casing
Bristle brushes
Brushes
Capes
Children’s booster seat
Clippers
Clips
Colour brushes, bottles, & bowls
Combs
Foiling boards
Hand mirrors
Highlighting caps & hooks
Irons
Makeup brushes & applicators
Neck & face brushes
Neck cushions
Neck drip trays
Rods & rollers
Scissors
Smocks/gowns
Spray bottles
Trays/trolleys
Single-use only (do not reuse)
Bobby pins
End papers
Foils (Kwikways, Magimeche, etc.)
Neck strips
Razor blades
Service, staffing, and management adjustments
Client cancellation fees waived
Remove head massage from shampoo services
Provide work from home options – for example, to order supplies, provide client support, or file paperwork. When it’s not an option, consider measures such as staggered shifts and virtual meetings as much as possible.
Staff or contractors allowed to stay home for 14 days without penalty if they report symptoms of COVID-19
Staff monitored for symptoms of COVID-19 like symptoms such as sore throat, fever, sneezing, and coughing to leave the establishment and remain at home.
Staff may consume food in staff areas and use hand hygiene protocols before and after eating. Unfinished food must be stored in a way so it cannot be consumed by any other staff member. No food is to be shared by staff. Staff to bring their own cutlery and dishes.