Hygiene in beauty centers

When it comes to hygiene, the beauty center shouldn’t have any weak points.

Attention and detail in this regard can really make a difference on the good performance of the business. In the field of professional aesthetics, more than anywhere else, cleanliness and safety are of the utmost importance for the way the aesthetic activity is perceived and experienced by clients.

Painstaking compliance with high hygiene standards underlies the standards of professionalism that must be respected, but primarily ensures one of the most important factors: safety.

Respecting the hygiene practices first and foremost, prevents any risk, even minimal, of contamination, for both the staff of the center when using the equipment, and clients during their stay in the beauty premises.

It is not by chance that this aspect is duly regulated by law and there are procedures, for the respect of hygiene in the beauty centers, which every practitioner must know and comply with.

We therefore decided to make a brief but comprehensive introduction to good practices and aspects for those who have to deal with the beauty center and its hygiene.

Introduction: the importance of routine

It is a job that can be stressful and time-consuming. On a busy day, overwhelmed by the burden of work, it is easy to forget a few steps and leave out some important procedures.

That’s why setting a complete and standardized hygiene routine, to be repeated by default, can be a strategic choice. Automating hygienic practices speeds them up, limiting at the same time the risk of forgetting a few steps.

It is always advisable to have a specific list for each type of activity, and for each moment of the working day.

It will no longer be necessary to think about what to do, but just take automatic steps for the sake of total safety without any concern.

Sanitizing the waiting room

The waiting room is certainly one of the most visited areas and most subject to exposure of external agents. It is not the place where the treatments actually are carried out, but this cannot be an excuse for you to turn a blind eye to various aspects. On the contrary, it must be a matter of great concern.

If it is true that “there is never a second chance to make a good impression the first time”, then the care of a professional and well-run beauty center starts right from how the clients feel welcome. This way, they will be able to get a clearer idea of how professional the beauty salon is.

Especially in times of pandemic it is good practice to place right at the entrance, in the area adjacent to the door, a sanitizing floor mats to allow people to step on the mat to sanitize their footwear. A sanitizing gel dispenser will also be essential to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria through this way.

To always keep the floor clean, it is also advisable for you to always have a broom at hand. Since it is a bustling area, you will definitely need to often clean the floor, to restore the level of optimal cleaning.

At the end of the working day, or if you prefer, before you open, you should clean the floor to remove any stains, and above all the smells, thus airing out the environment and cleaning. Besides the traditional detergent, you can add a sanitizer and anti-bacterial floor cleaner for a double action.

Sanitizing the Workspace

The core remains the workspace. Here the level of hygiene and safety must be maximum. Therefore, it will not be an in-depth cleaning once a day, as it is in the waiting room. This area should be cleaned and sanitized after each client.

The furniture must be sanitized and it is highly recommended the use of disposable covers for spa beds and chairs, which can be replaced every time.

It is advisable to select chairs, stools, spa beds and furniture made of specialized technical materials that thanks to their composition can maintain the highest level of hygiene. Responsiveness to this aspect will make it easier and more immediate.

Sanitizing the tools

Keeping the equipment not only clean but deeply sanitized is the most important and sensitive issue, to be handled with greater care.

Since tools often come directly into contact with the client, they carry bacteria more than other things. Their cleanliness and hygiene must therefore be impeccable.

Sanitizing combs, brushes, nail tools, manicures, pedicures, etc. every time you use them is not enough.

You need to know how to sterilize your stools.

A correct sterilization is carried out following 4 simple steps:

• – A first step concerns disinfection, aimed at removing bacteria from tools coming into contact with the skin.
• – You have to dry manually your tools wearing sterile protective gloves. Drying is essential, because water can definitely be a breeding ground for bacteria.
• – Then comes the ultrasonic cleaning
• – The sterilization process ends with autoclaving.
• – Sterile tools can now be stored in an appropriate cabinet/container which is always disinfected and ready for use.

Every client must have their own set of wipes and towels, which then must be replaced after each use. Once used, they should be stored in a special container and then cleaned and disinfected.

Since water and moisture are the greatest breeding ground for germs and bacteria, it is highly recommended not to let them air dry, but to use a dryer, avoiding the possibility of potential contamination.

In general, be sure that you follow this rule: everything that is used, every environment that is visited, must be cleaned and sanitized carefully. Upon the arrival of the new client, all spaces and all tools must be as new and on the first use.