As of April 24, Georgia became the first state to release guidelines and allow salons to open. Even though guidelines will be mandated state to state (not a federal thing), looking at what Georgia’s doing will give us a rough idea of what most states will put into place when they allow salons to reopen.
This is a good place to start when trying to understand what our new reality will be and how we can best prepare.
Let’s do a quick, nitty-gritty rundown of what Georgia’s up to so you can start stocking up and make sure you’re ready to open when you get the green light.
No waiting rooms
No waiting rooms are allowed, so guests have to wait in their car until stylists are ready to see them. This is already happening in certain states in any business of sort that’s appointment-based (like doctors’ and physical therapy offices).
Prepare some kind of protocol to let the guests know when you’re ready to see them. Maybe a sign in the window, but don’t be afraid to get creative. Just make sure it’s clear to your guests when it’s safe for them to come in.
Be prepared to ask clients about their symptoms
You have to ask each client entering the salon the following questions:
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Do you have a cough?
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Do you have a fever?
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Have you been around anyone exhibiting these symptoms in the last 14 days?
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Are you living with anyone who is sick or quarantined?
Georgia is also suggesting temperature checks using a touchless infrared thermometer, especially to check each employee at the start of the day. Anybody with a temperature above 99 degrees should not be allowed to enter and should stay home until they’re fever-free for at least 24 hours.
You also might want to have an electronic or physical consent form. Think about what works best for your business.
Maintain social distancing guidelines
There were a lot of rumors that there can only be five stylists and five clients in a salon at a time. But it doesn’t look like that’s what’s happening in Georgia; they’re basically just saying stay six feet apart and maintain the social distancing guidelines.
If your salon has stations that are closer than six feet, you need to figure something out to meet these guidelines and protect your team and guests.
(In contrast, as of April 29, CO’s guidelines state that there should be no more than 10 people in a facility at one time and a maximum of 50% occupancy.)
Everyone in the salon must wear a mask
Stylists, clients, anyone in your salon space must wear a mask, even when shampooing guests.
Some stylists are selling disposable masks to their clients so if they don’t come in with one, they have the option to buy a mask or reschedule their appointment.
Georgia even suggests using a face shield if available and recommends employees wear disposable gloves when servicing clients and changing them between guests. It’s suggested, not required, but it’s something to think about.
Have a clean cape for each guest
You have to use a clean cape for each guest. Most salons already do, but there are some that reuse the same cape all day long. You can’t do that anymore.
You either need disposable capes, laundry on-site where you can wash capes in hot water, or a closed labeled bin with a lid where all of the old linens live until they can be washed.
Smocks must be cleaned between each client
Do you wear the same smock or apron all day long? Under new guidelines, smocks have to be changed between each client and then laundered after use. You have to have a clean cover for yourself for each guest.
That’s a huge change for most of us. You can’t wear the same apron every day and wash it at the end of the week. So make sure you have enough aprons, smocks, or whatever coverup you prefer to get you through each client.
Stop using neck strips
In cosmetology school, most of us were taught to use neck strips, right? But then, once we got into the real world, maybe your salon used them, maybe they didn’t. Under these new guidelines, it’s required to stop using neck strips altogether.
Let’s talk about disinfection
You have to use EPA-registered disinfectants before opening and between each guest (wipe down your station and chair). Also, make sure you wash your hands a minimum of 20 seconds between every service.
It’s just as detailed when it comes to your tools. Disinfectant for immersion of tools must be mixed daily and replaced sooner if it becomes contaminated (defined as hair in the disinfectant). Basically, as soon as there’s a floating hair in it, you’ve got to change it.
Do you have enough disinfectant for your clips, combs, brushes, clippers, shears, and everything you use? Remember, it’s now required to change it frequently. If not, you should place your order now.
Be prepared to scrub down your phone and computer frequently (at least daily). Having the proper alcohol or EPA disinfectant wipes, liquid disinfectant, containers for disinfecting technical implements, even at the reception area, are legal requirements in Georgia.
Remove all non-disposables and paper products from the premises
All unnecessary items – such as magazines, newspapers, non-disposable service menus, and any other paper products or decor – need to be removed from the premises.
Georgia is suggesting no business or appointment cards. If you still do appointment card reminders, now is the perfect opportunity to switch to digital booking.
Have a hand-washing station for guests
Guests need to have a readily available space with soap to wash their hands. Some salons don’t even have a private bathroom, and that will be a problem. Make sure you have a public restroom onsite for guests.
Consider social distancing floor stickers
Have you seen those stickers on the grocery store floor space six feet apart? Georgia is suggesting that for salons as well. It might not exactly go with the decor of your salon, but right now, it’s all about keeping your stylists and guests healthy and safe.
Make sure every employee knows how to use PPE
Make sure that all of your employees are trained to use PPE (protective personal equipment) and everybody follows those guidelines.
This is the big one for the reception area because this is one of the most high-traffic areas of any salon. A lot of salon owners have been nervous that their stylists won’t do it, but you can be fined if they aren’t. Dedicate some time to making sure your staff is prepared, comfortable, and on board with using PPE before you open the doors.
It looks like Georgia is trying to be as efficient as possible. They aren’t doing a cookie-cutter method or blanket strategies, like five stylists and five clients in a salon.
These might just be Georgia’s guidelines, but they give us a sense of where things are headed and how you can prepare and have everything you need when you get the green light to open.
To stay up to date with the latest guidelines in your specific state, please check regularly with your state’s government’s website.
To hear detailed breakdowns and predictions about what we can further expect, head over to Britt’s pandemic support IGTV channel.
