The effects of the worldwide pandemic caused by the Coronavirus (or COVID-19) have been devastating. All around the globe businesses have been forced to close their doors; some for months and others forever. These shutdowns have affected businesses in all industries but has hit businesses offering non-essential services, like hair and nail salons particularly hard. In one instance, a hair salon owner in Texas was even jailed for keeping her doors open amidst local restrictions that forbid all non-essential businesses from operating. While many non-essential businesses, including hair salons in Davie, have since reopened in many areas, it is crucial to understand how salons can stay compliant during COVID-19. Consider these steps to ensure the health, safety and good legal standing of your hair salon:

1. Abide by Local Regulations and Laws

In some areas, such as rural South Dakota, the Coronavirus has had a relatively low transmission rate. With fewer positive cases than areas like New York City or Miami, the regulations and restrictions are much different. In either case, the most crucial factor in staying compliant lies in following the local orders. These orders are put in place after analyzing data regarding infection rates in specific cities or states. They are intended to protect the public and should be followed, whether it means a closure for non-essential businesses or adopting social distancing practices.

2. Follow CDC Guidelines

The CDC (or Center for Disease Control) has an extensive list of recommendations for hair salons that are operating during COVID-19. These guidelines should be followed as closely as possible, regardless of location and local regulations, to offer maximum protection to staff and customers. These guidelines include (but are not limited to) requiring facial coverings for everyone who enters the salon, limiting salon capacity and providing handwashing stations and/or offering hand sanitizer frequently.

3. Pause High Risk Services

Hair and nail salons require a lot of personal contact, but some services are riskier than others. To remain compliant and protect customers and staff members, it is a good idea to pause these. Some of the services that should be reconsidered during COVID-19 include blow drying, facial waxing, and facials. Other complementary services like offering magazines, snacks and beverages should also be temporarily discontinued to best protect everyone in the Davie hair salon setting.

4. Minimize Salon Time

Another wise practice involves minimizing the amount of time each client spends in the hair salon. Many salons are avoiding the use of their waiting rooms and instead are instructing those who are waiting for an appointment to remain in their cars until the stylist is ready for them. Other ways to minimize salon time include asking clients to arrive with pre-washed hair and skipping extra services like blow drying or styling after a haircut.

5. Limit Salon Capacity

This step is recommended by the CDC and is also required by some local regulations. Even in areas where it is not mandatory, limiting the amount of people in the salon at once can drastically help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. This can be done by requiring all salon visitors to have an appointment and insisting that they arrive to their appointment alone. Having salon goers wait for their appointment in their cars until the previous appointment has finished is also helpful in limiting capacity at any given time.

6. Rearrange the Salon

While you may have spent months or even years agonizing over the layout of your hair salon, rearranging certain areas is a good idea to protect staff and visitors. The most crucial step is spacing out salon chairs. If possible, all chairs should be spaced at least 6 feet away from the next one. If physically moving the chairs is not an option, skip every other chair to provide adequate spacing. Other areas, like waiting rooms or areas in the back, can be reorganized or re-purposed to provide as much separation as possible between staff and guests alike.

While closures and strict regulations are disruptive and disheartening to many salon goers and owners alike, it is crucial that hair salons do their part in slowing the spread of COVID-19. By following these simple steps, salon owners can protect their staff members, their loyal patrons and their communities while also ensuring that they are abiding by the law to protect the future of their business. If you are a customer and want to learn more about how Inscape Beauty Salon in Davie Florida is protecting staff, loyal clients, and the community in general, reach out to us today to learn more before booking your appointment.