By Irene Macabante, VP Branding & Marketing at Identity Hospitality
While women all over the world have been staring and their hands and feet wondering when they’ll ever get a mani-pedi again, nail salon owners have been anxiously awaiting word from local officials when it will be safe enough to reopen and serve their clients. By now, most know that it won’t be business as usual, and many changes must be made to ensure the health and safety of not just guests and staff, but of society at large. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that we all need to take science-based safety measures to prevent infection transmission. In the business of nails, it was important to have medical-grade sterilization before and now it's absolutely essential.
Photo courtesy Spa Montage, Beverly Hills
Bare minimums are a thing of the past.
For the salon owners who previously only carried out the state- and board-mandated minimum requirements for disinfection – this isn’t going to cut it any longer. It wasn’t good enough for your guests before, and it won’t be safe enough for them now. We have witnessed poor hygiene practices so many times in the past, even in high end nail salons, during audits (also known as mystery shopping) and as guests. Just one look at a jetted foot bath or a Barbicide jar was enough to stop us dead in our tracks from getting a service at that particular establishment.
Before coronavirus, there was one main pathogen that was at the top of the list for health and hygiene in nail salons: nail fungus. On my very first visit to a nail salon about 18 years ago, I got nail fungus that took me about two years to get rid of. That was a lesson on how easy it was to catch something at a nail salon that otherwise looked clean. It became my mission to find the healthiest nail salons and practitioners, which was no easy task, while learning everything I could about health and safety during nail services. Disinfection practices are time-consuming and good products can be pricey, so a lot of nail techs and salon owners decide to do only what is required by law and nothing more. After all, why spend all that time and money when the chances of infection are seemingly low?
Thanks to coronavirus, we have all gotten an education in infection transmission. We’ve learned how viruses and bacteria spread – so incredibly easy, it seems – and how we can reduce our risk of transmitting them and catching them. Whatever processes we had to implement on a personal level have to be multiplied on the commercial level for maximum safety, responsibility and accountability, not to mention liability.
What germs are we talking about now?
Today there are three main pathogens that nail salons must contend with: bacteria (such as MRSA/Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Shigella dysenteriae), fungus (Trichophyton interdigitale, known as Athlete’s Foot and Nail Fungus) and viruses (the common cold, seasonal flus, Hepatitis B and C, Herpes, HIV, coronavirus).
Disease-causing microbes that may be found on nail tools include blood-borne viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis, Athlete’s Foot and nail fungus, and mycobacteria such as skin infections. Microbes on salon surfaces include all of those plus viruses that can be spread through bodily fluids like coronavirus.
The ways in which a nail salon disinfects for these pathogens is very specific in order to be effective. Salons can’t skip or skimp on these practices now, and it’s up to salon owners to make sure their staff are thoroughly educated and consistently implement these new protocols in order to ensure that clients feel safe enough to come back, and visit on a regular basis.
In addition to disinfection, all other practices in nail services should be reconsidered to reduce infection transmission. The new normal is here to stay, and salons need new Standard Operating Procedures to not just survive, but thrive.
Let’s get clear on some cleaning terms.
Cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, sterilizing...what’s the difference? Turns out the differences are significant and the words shouldn’t be used interchangeably.
Cleaning removes germs, dirt and impurities from surfaces or objects. Cleaning works by using soap (or detergent) and water to physically remove germs from surfaces. This process doesn’t necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.
Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects. Disinfecting works by using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces or objects. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.
Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level, as judged by public health standards or requirements. This process works by either cleaning or disinfecting surfaces or objects to lower the risk of spreading infection.
Sterilizing destroys ALL microscopic life. It’s typically used for tools and implements that penetrate the skin, like surgical instruments. Sterilizing is generally not required for nail tools, however a higher level of disinfection is required since many of the tools can penetrate skin or come into contact with open/broken skin like cuticles.
Five important things to consider when revising nail protocols for a COVID-19 standard
If this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s the importance of being prepared and having processes in place to address the spread of germs before they become a problem.
There are five important things to consider when revising your nail service protocols:
How to disinfect your tools for the safety of both you and your clients
How to disinfect your furniture, fixtures, and equipment for everyone’s safety
How to reduce risk of transmission for coronavirus and other viruses
Which products are effective against the virus and safe for the body and the environment
How to structure your menu and services to accommodate these new protocols
Ready to start revising? Let’s jump in.
How to disinfect your tools for the safety of both you and your clients
Tool disinfection should be the #1 priority at nail salons. It was important before coronavirus, and it’s absolutely an essential practice now.
But first things first: do you have enough multi-use tools to support a busy day and ensure that they all have time to be properly sanitized before each new client’s service? Ideally you should have three sets of tools per chair: one set that’s being used, one that’s being sanitized, and one that’s ready to go in case the technician finds herself needing another set for whatever reason, and typically that involves the sharpness of the instrument. You never want to be working on a client and finding yourself without a sharp instrument that hasn’t been properly sanitized.
A few forward-thinking nail operators have been using autoclaves to make certain that their multi-use tools (such as clippers, nippers and cuticle pushers) have undergone medical-grade sterilization. Not only was this great for disinfection, but it was a savvy marketing tactic as well. Good autoclaves are pricey but they are an investment in the health and wellbeing of your staff and your clientele. Another benefit to having an autoclave is that once you’re familiar with them, they are easy to use. And as long as they are functioning properly, there is no question that the tools have been sterilized to a hospital-grade standard.
If an autoclave isn’t feasible for you right now, then you must disinfect all of your reusable tools using a disinfectant that meets OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standards, is scientifically proven effective against viruses, fungi and bacteria, and is EPA-registered. What about killing coronavirus? Yes, now you have to look for a product that does that too. We’ll tell you more in #4 but for now know that there’s a disinfectant that meets all that criteria and is approved by the EPA for use against coronavirus, and every salon and spa should be using it: Rejuvenate™ Salon & Spa Disinfectants.
To properly disinfect your tools, contact time of the disinfectant and the tool is the most important thing you have to remember. To disinfect bacteria and viruses using the Rejuvenate™spray or concentrate, contact time must be 1 minute. To disinfect fungus, contact time must be 10 minutes. So to stay safe against everything, make sure your tools are soaking in disinfectant for 10 minutes. Check the label on the disinfectant you’re using for the correct amount of contact time for disinfection.
How to disinfect your furniture, fixtures, and equipment for everyone’s safety
Work surfaces including countertops, manicure stations, high touch surfaces such as LED/UV lamps, and drying stations should be frequently disinfected. Surfaces that touch a client’s skin should be disinfected between each client and at the end of the day.
When it comes to disinfecting salon surfaces, you will need to use an EPA-registered disinfectant which will have broad spectrum bactericide, virucide and fungicide claims on the label. Each disinfectant will specify a required contact time that surfaces have to stay wet, ranging anywhere from 1 to 10 minutes as mentioned above.
Disinfecting foot baths requires the same considerations plus the added step of cleaning out all visible dirt and debris before disinfection. Whether circulating (jetted) or non-circulating, both require disinfection after each client service. Even if you use disposable foot bath pedicure liners, disinfection of that foot bath is still required after drainage and removal of each liner. Clean all visible dirt and debris before disinfecting. Refer to each disinfectant product label to determine if your disinfectant is a one-step disinfectant.
When it comes to jetted foot baths, there is a different procedure. In the past few years, the trend has been to move away from these circulating foot baths because of the difficulty accessing the jets and pipes for disinfection and cleaning. These internal jets are notorious for harboring pathogens and harmful biofilms – otherwise known as germ-ridden slimy buildup on surfaces. To properly disinfect circulating foot baths, they need to be cleaned in between each client and again at the end of the day. In between clients, clean all visible dirt and debris before disinfecting, then apply the disinfectant as directed for use with the jets turned on. At the end of the day, you’ll need to clean all visible dirt and debris before disinfecting. Then remove filter screens, jets, and all other removable parts from the basin. Using a brush, clean any trapped gunk with detergent or Rejuvenate™. Rinse the removed parts with clean water and place back into the basin for disinfection. Follow the same remaining disinfection steps as what you did during the day in between clients, ensuring that water plus disinfectant runs through the jets by turning them on for the requisite time.
For more guidance on cleaning and disinfecting public spaces, check out the joint plan by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released in April of this year.
How to reduce risk of transmission for coronavirus and other viruses
In no time you’ll have your new deep cleaning routines down pat, so how do you practice reducing the risk of transmission while working? The operative word here is practice, and like any other practice worth doing, it will require dedication and discipline.
There are two key areas where you can practice reducing virus transmission during service hours: in your service process and in your business process.
Adapting Your Service Process
While performing manicures and pedicures, technicians must wear a face mask or face guard at all times. Clients must also wear and do the same, no exceptions. Before a technician begins the service, she must wash her hands and then wear gloves until they start impeding the procedure. After gloves are removed and she completes the manicure, she must wash her hands again. Manicures by nature are a close contact activity, so you’ll have to take every precaution aside from social distancing to stay safe. Sometimes hand washing during a service isn’t totally feasible, so having a good spa-grade hand sanitizer that is non-drying and moisturizing like EuroSpa Aromatics® Lavender & Eucalyptus Infused Hand Sanitizer is a must. This will be good for your clientele as well, not just for their skin, but to see that you are taking their skin health into consideration as well as their safety. Discard any single-use tools like nail files and buffers immediately after use, or invite your client to take them home.
Adapting Your Business Process
The name of the game here is social distancing plus sanitizing. Services must be by appointment only, no walk-ins. Always ask your clients when booking or before their appointment if they are exhibiting symptoms of sickness, and revise your cancellation policy to allow for cancellation without penalty if a client is ill. Remember, you have the right to refuse service to anyone you feel may be at risk of infection or pose a health risk to others. Make it mandatory to wear masks or face guards inside the salon, no exceptions. If your waiting area is small, allow clients to wait outside and you can text them when ready. Otherwise, limit the use of your waiting area so that social distancing can be practiced. You’ll have to reduce your capacity on a daily basis to 50% of fire code capacity and practice strict social distancing between clients. Make appropriate furniture modifications to accommodate social distancing. Workstations should be at least 6 feet apart, with additional measures taken as necessary to ensure that all people stay 6 feet apart at all times except for the staff providing a service to their client. Guests of clients must not be allowed to accompany clients during a service, unless it is medically necessary.
Before and after the service, follow the disinfection procedures mentioned earlier to ensure thorough cleaning of workstations, equipment and tools. Implement enhanced sanitization of commonly-touched surfaces like door handles, so that there’s a routine around it – something like every two hours, or when you notice it’s visibly dirty. It would also be a great idea to have new hand sanitizing stations around the salon using spa-grade hand sanitizer. Having this for sale in retail may delight your clients and could also give your revenues a boost.
Speaking of retail, now is a good time to rethink it. The new normal for retail is going to be: the fewer points of contact, the better. Place products behind a glass window or in a locked case to minimize how many hands touch them, and get rid of all testers. If this isn’t feasible, create signage that encourages guests to ask for testers or samples upon request, along with signs encouraging hand sanitizing like, “Please sanitize before you touch the products...Let’s #staysafe. Thank you!” Have your staff use disposable gloves to reach for each product, upon request.
Which products are effective and safe for the body and the environment:
Pre-pandemic, how did you select the cleaners and disinfectants you’re using in your salon? Did you choose them based on the level of disinfection they provided, or were they simply “what’s always been used” and therefore good enough? It’s time to put some thought and intention behind which products you’re using to ensure the safety of your clients and staff, as well as the environment. Since cleaning and sanitizing will be happening at ten times the level it was pre-pandemic, the efficacy, scent and harshness of the cleaning products you use is going to be extremely important.
Fumes inside nail salons have always been an issue. Over the past decade, nail polish has gone from toxic to non-toxic, eliminating harmful fumes and chemicals that were causing all kinds of health issues. Many nail salons have moved away from doing acrylic nails, as they are not only damaging to nails, but the dust created from filing and drilling them was toxic to inhale. Owners taking steps to mitigate toxic fumes were also eliminating cleaning products from their salons that contained harsh chemicals that were also unpleasant to smell.
If it’s harmful for the body, it’s also harmful for the environment. If it’s irritating to skin, eyes and lungs, you can bet that it’s damaging to our ecosystems. While you can technically kill germs with a bucket of bleach or alcohol, you’re also compromising your health and damaging the environment while doing so.
Thankfully there are excellent products out there that you can choose that are effective against all the pathogens that might be found in your salon, including coronavirus, and that are extremely safe for people and the planet. What you will want to ensure for whichever product you choose, is that it is EPA-registered, meets the EPA’s criteria for a disinfectant for use against SARS-CoV-2 (Emerging Viral Pathogen Guidance), and has been recognized for being a green certified product.
Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide (AHP®) products are designed to kill a wide range of pathogens, including enveloped viruses such as the Novel Coronavirus. AHP is a trusted and reliable disinfectant that rapidly kills harmful pathogens, yet is non-toxic, non-irritating, and has no harsh chemical smell. AHP is a globally patented blend of surfactants that when combined with Hydrogen Peroxide results in superior disinfecting performance — while remaining gentle on users and the planet. Products with AHP are eco-friendly — they are biodegradable, breaking down into water and oxygen. Also, AHP does not require the use of any personal protective equipment (PPE) at in-use solutions, so you can feel confident that your disinfectant is tough on viruses, but gentle on your clients and team.
How to structure your menu and services to accommodate these new protocols:
As you prepare to reopen, it’s the perfect time to review your service menu. Though your salon may be reopening, it’s hardly business as usual. There will likely be restrictions on how many people can be in the salon at once. Gone are the days of back-to-back clients all Saturday. You’ll need to account for extra time to clean and disinfect between clients as well.
Research the wellness benefits of your treatments, find out what science says about how people’s wellbeing has suffered during lockdown, and from there see how your services could help. Speak with your clients and ask them what their wellness needs and priorities for their hands and feet are now. With your team, work this information into an adapted offering, your new Minimal Viable Product (MVP). Your MVP will be key in helping your salon gain valuable client feedback that you can then use to tweak your services to cater more effectively to their needs.
Evaluate your salon’s services based on protections needed for staff and clients. Revisit your treatment menu and re-evaluate your offering. Only keep the treatments that would be most beneficial to a person who has endured the stresses of the lockdown. Study the business intelligence reports generated by your spa software so you can understand what your best-sellers were before the pandemic, and how they may have been affected by the pandemic.
Along with the revised menu, new Salon Etiquette must be established and included in the menu. Since there are new disinfection and infection prevention protocols, there will also be new spa and salon etiquette in a COVID-19 world. Guests must be made aware of this so they know what to expect before they arrive at the salon.
Following all the practices above and staying educated on disinfection and infection prevention will help you and your clients stay safe in the salon during the “new normal.” Choosing the right products will add another level of safety for people and for the environment. All of these combined are not just good for people, it’s great for business. And in this climate, wouldn’t you rather thrive than just survive?
About the Author
Irene Macabante is currently the VP of Branding & Marketing at Identity Hospitality and has over 25 years of diverse experience across several industries, including Life and Style, technology and video games. At Identity, she provides high-level, highly customized concierge-style design, marketing and consulting services to the luxury spa and wellness sectors. Nail art and health are two of Irene’s biggest passions, rivaled only by her strong interest in and dedication to promoting sustainable disinfecting practices that also improve the health of people and animals while reducing environmental impact. Identity Hospitality is a luxury spa and wellness consultancy based in Southern California.