Information Sheet 5.

4-8

Good Housekeeping

Before and after the service we must maintain cleanliness in our

area. Whatever the type of business, the law states
that every workplace must be a fully hygienic environment. This is extremely
important in an establishment such as a hair or beauty salon that sees so
many different people passing through every day. On top of heavy footfall,
working in a salon environment also means that you are exposed to many
different clients and performing treatments everywhere from their hair and
scalp, to their fingernails and toenails, to their most intimate areas.

With all of this in mind, as a salon worker, it is imperative that

excellent salon hygiene and good housekeeping within your business is at the
forefront of your mind, not only for your staff but also for your visitors and
clients to ensure that your business continues to run effectively and nobody’s
health is put at risk.

Why is it so important to maintain standards of hygiene in a beauty salon?

Maintaining high standards of hygiene in your salon is vital to prevent the

risks of cross contamination. Whether it’s from yourself, other clients or dirty
tools, fungi, viruses, parasites and bacteria can easily spread if you don’t do
your bit to put a stop to them.
Tools such as combs, scissors, tweezers are prime candidates for cross
contamination – plus, clients would probably feel a little grossed out if they
knew you’d used the same scissors on all clients without cleaning them!
Germs can easily spread between clients this way, and can cause infections
that will make them very unlikely to come back to you.
The best thing to do is make hygiene a priority in the day-to-day running
of your salon. You could have a salon hygiene checklist to remind the whole
team of best practices and give training on the best ways to keep the salon
clean.
Safe and hygienic working practices in a salon. Who is responsible for
maintaining a hygienic salon?
It is the responsibility of working within your salon business to practice
basic hygiene at the very least. Ensure that all hygienic responsibilities, such
as sterilizing combs or keeping the floor clean after a client has had a haircut,
or their nails filed have been delegated to your stylists, therapists or salon
support staff. We recommend creating a daily duties checklist to assign tasks
and to keep a record of when each job has been carried out and by whom. This
includes all areas, from the salon floor, to the toilet, the kitchen, the reception
area and everywhere in between. This will ensure that nothing can be
forgotten whilst keeping your salon running efficiently.

Keeping salon furniture clean

It goes without saying that your salon premises should be kept clean and
hygienic at all times. Treatment areas with a high volume of daily use, such
as beauty couches and chairs, should be thoroughly cleaned between each
client and/or a new covering placed over the surface.
 Most salon chairs are made from PVC or vinyl, making them easy to wipe
down and clean with disinfectant. However, it is important to make sure you
use the right cleaning products. It is worth noting that any disinfectant
containing alcohol should be avoided as it is likely that it will react with the
PVC or vinyl, making it brittle and eventually causing it to crack. Once you get
a broken surface on any material, it is extremely difficult to disinfect it
properly, resulting in an area where bacteria can harvest and multiply.

Avoiding cross-contamination of equipment

It is really important that any equipment is thoroughly cleaned between

usage, and it is imperative that this procedure is not shortcutted. Tools that
come into contact with multiple clients such as combs, brushes, rollers,
clippers and nail tools should be repeatedly cleaned between usage and be
kept in a clean and dry condition when they are not required.

If a client comes in who clearly has a bacterial or fungal infection, or even

a wound on the area you are treating, it’s often best to err on the side of
caution and not treat them. Not only will they increase cross contamination
risks, but you could also make the condition worse. However, be careful to not
offend or embarrass the client – ask them if they can get advice from a doctor
first, as you wouldn’t like to cause them further harm.

We always recommend following the advice on the label of your chosen

cleaning solution for any special requirements, though disinfectant and hot
water is also effective in keeping tools sterile. Towels and other linen should
also be washed regularly as stained, used towels not only look unsightly but
could also harbour germs if left lying around damp.

Keeping the salon floor clean

With a heavy flow of footfall, the floor of your salon is a hive of activity and
therefore needs to remain clean at all times. If fly away nail extensions have
gone awol, or a buildup of hair has accumulated around your cutting area, for
example, this needs to be cleared away quickly, not only to avoid accidents
such as slips and trips but to also avoid bacteria spreading from location to
location. At the end of each day, ensure that you undertake a thorough floor
clean, ready for the next day!

The importance of personal hygiene in a salon

It is important that all salon staff understand the importance of personal
hygiene when working in a hair or beauty salon. Firstly, it’s important to
maintain a professional image that ensures your client is confident in visiting
you.
Secondly, poor personal hygiene can lead to the spread of bacteria – things
like dirty nails and unwashed hands and clothes can harbours germs, which
could potentially transfer to clients.

For some treatments, disposable gloves might be preferable to hand

washing alone when it comes to very sensitive areas and treatments, such
as eyelash application and dermaplaning.
 It goes without saying that it is your duty to ensure that your staff keep
themselves clean when undertaking treatments from client to client. Simple
practices such as ensuring hands are clean and uniforms are free of any nail
shavings or hair are all basic things to help your salon stay hygienic.
Keeping on top of salon hygiene isn’t tasking and is a serious practice to
ensure that your salon complies with the necessary regulations. It also
ensures that your business not only looks more appealing but builds trust
with your clients as a salon that pays attention to detail.

Salon hygiene products checklist

Do you have everything you need in your salon to maintain safe and
hygienic working practices?

Check you have the following, and see our full salon hygiene range for more.
Disinfectant for tools
Disinfectant jar
Disposable gloves
Hand soap and sanitizer
Clean towels and paper towels
Antibacterial surface cleaner
Beauty couch roll or clean covers
Reference: https://www.google.com/search?r

5’S or Good Housekeeping

5S or good housekeeping involves the principle of waste elimination

through workplace organization.

What Is 5’S?
5S is a systematic form of visual management utilizing everything
from floor tape to operations manuals. It is not just about cleanliness or
organization; it is also about maximizing efficiency and profit. 5S is a
framework that emphasizes the use of a specific mindset and tools to
create efficiency and value. It involves observing, analyzing,
collaborating, and searching for waste and also involves the practice of
removing waste.

What Does 5’S Stand For?

5’S, sometimes referred to as 5s or Five S, refers to five Japanese
terms used to describe the steps of the 5S system of visual management.
Each term starts with an S. In Japanese, the five S's
are Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke. In English, the five S's
are translated as Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain.
There are five key practices involved in 5S. They are as follows:

Japanese American
Definition
Term Term

Seiri Sort Sort through materials, keeping only

Japanese American
Definition
Term Term

the essential items needed to complete

tasks. (This action involves going
through all the contents of a workspace
to determine which are needed and
which can be removed. Everything that
is not used to complete a work process
should leave the work area.)

Ensure that all items are organized and

each item has a designated place.
Organize all the items left in the
workplace in a logical way so they make
Seiton Set in Order tasks easier for workers to complete.
This often involves placing items in
ergonomic locations where people will
not need to bend or make extra
movements to reach them.

Proactive efforts to keep workplace

areas clean and orderly to ensure
purpose-driven work. This means
cleaning and maintaining the newly
Seiso Shine organized workspace. It can involve
routine tasks such as mopping,
dusting, etc. or performing
maintenance on machinery, tools, and
other equipment.

Create a set of standards for both

organization and processes. In essence,
this is where you take the first three S's
Seiketsu Standardize and make rules for how and when these
tasks will be performed. These
standards can involve schedules,
charts, lists, etc.

Sustain new practices and conduct

audits to maintain discipline. This
means the previous four S's must be
Shitsuke Sustain
continued over time. This is achieved
by developing a sense of self-discipline
in employees who will participate in 5S.