Squeaky Clean
While most pandemic-style precautions are now a thing of the past, it is worth considering what hygiene related measures should endure in order to facilitate the sustained protection of those passing through your salon’s doors.
It’s been almost 16 months now since the World Health Organisation declared an end the COVID-19 global health emergency and for many of us, those long months of lockdown-ing, social distancing, home schooling, Netflix marathon-ing and banana bread baking seems like some sort of distant fever dream, the evidence of which we’d prefer to banish to the deepest depths of our memories. Yet one thing that it’s impossible to erase is just how aware we all became of the contamination of spaces. Every surface we came into contact with, every person we encountered, every object in close proximity, suddenly became a potential site of infection.
Yet hair and beauty professionals have always been aware of such risks. Utter the name of only a few conditions – Folliculitis, Ringworm, Impetigo, Tetanus, MRSA, Hepatitis – to send shudders down many a salon owner’s spine. Not only are the symptoms very unpleasant (and in some cases even life-threatening) but an outbreak traced to your business can be nothing short of detrimental as trust is gained in drops but lost in buckets.
BARBICIDE products can be found in over 70% of the world’s salons and barbershops but that means very little if they are not being used correctly. We must not slip into post-pandemic complacency when it comes to disinfectant regimes. Below is some essential information to help you remain knowledgeable and vigilant a when it comes to salon safety.
First and foremost, cleaning and disinfecting are NOT the same thing. Cleaning is the removal of visible or surface debris from an object where pathogens are not destroyed, just superficially removed.
Effective BARBICIDE disinfectant requires the following three things:
• Correct concentration of solution 2:32 ratio
• Adequate contact time 10 minutes of full immersion
• Fresh solution BARBICIDE should be changed daily or earlier if the solution becomes contaminated with debris (always clean tools ahead of disinfection)
The ultimate way to showcase your commitment to superior salon safety is by completing the BARBICIDE certification. This certificate can be printed out and displayed in your salon, giving clients reassurance that they are receiving a service in an environment that prioritises their health.
This straightforward and condense programme can be found on the BARBICIDE website and was completed by just shy of 1 million hair and beauty professionals in 2020 in response to the pandemic. It is imperative that the industry keeps up this momentum to maintain the highest possible standards for hygiene to minimise the spread of future outbreaks.
Don’t forget to tag us in your certification pictures on Instagram @barbicideuk.
