This guidance is intended for planning purposes. Employers and workers should use this planning guidance to help identify risk levels in workplace settings and to determine any appropriate control measures to implement. Additional guidance may be needed as COVID-19 outbreak conditions change, including as new information about the virus, its transmission, and impacts, becomes available.
Below are some of the top-level guidelines for salon and barbershops operators to follow:
Temperature Checks
Salons should consider use of a touchless infrared thermometer to check the temperature of employees each day and of each client who enters the salon/shop. Maintain a log of all appointments for the DOH with phone numbers.
Screening Questions
For your safety and the safety of your customers please ask the following questions: Have you had a cough? Have you had a fever? Have you been around anyone exhibiting these symptoms within the past 14 days? Are you living with anyone who is sick or quarantined?
Limit People In Shops/Salons
Salons/shops must see clients by appointment only. Salons/shops should consider telephonic or online scheduling. Limit the number of persons in the waiting area of the salon/shop.
It is recommended that clients wait outside the salon/shop in their vehicle until the cosmetologist or barber is ready to serve them. It is recommended that persons not being serviced in the salon/shop wait outside the salon/shop.
Maintain Social Distancing
Spacing between persons in the salon should be at least six feet at all times. Salons/shops should consider additional spacing between booths, divider shields, and/or alternate work schedules.
Use of Personal Protective Equipment and Best Practices
Salon/shop employees will be required to wear masks at all times. Clients should wear face masks to the extent possible while receiving services. Employees must wear masks while attending to customers (take breaks in between customers). It is highly recommended that employees wear a face shield or eye goggles while performing services.
Salons/shops should also make use of gloves, disposable or re-washable capes, smocks, neck strips, etc.
These items should be disinfected or disposed of between each client.
Employees must change clothes before leaving the salon/shop each day.
Hand washing with soap and warm water, for a minimum of 20 seconds will be required by employees between every client service. Hand sanitizer is readily available to clients and staff.
Disinfection
All salons/shops should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to reopening. Disinfect all surfaces, tools, and linens, even if they were cleaned before the salon/shop was closed.
Salons/shops should maintain regular disinfection of all tools, shampoo bowls, pedicure bowls, workstations, treatment rooms, and restrooms.
Additionally, salons/shops must remove all unnecessary items (magazines, newspapers, service menus, and any other unnecessary paper products/decor) from reception areas and ensure that these areas and regularly touched surfaces are consistently wiped down, disinfected.
Avoiding the exchange of cash can help in preventing the spread of the virus, but if this is unavoidable, be sure to wash and sanitize hands well after each transaction.
The use of credit/debit transactions is preferred, using touch/swipe/no signature technology.
Administration
Employees who are sick will be expected to stay home.
Salon/shop owners/managers should provide training, educational materials, and reinforcement on proper sanitation, hand washing, cough and sneeze etiquette, use of PPE, and other protective behaviors.
Ensure break rooms are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized and not used for congregating by employees.
Be flexible with work schedules/salon hours to reduce the number of people (employees and clients) in salons/shops at all times in order to maintain social distancing.