PPE in a Salon: Why it's Important and What to Use
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been at the forefront of the public’s mind almost as long as Covid-19. But for beauticians, stylists, and all other professionals in the beauty industry, PPE is old hat.
Beauty treatments of all kinds require getting up close and personal with the client, from waxing to eyelash extensions, beauty therapists can’t respect social distancing in their day-to-day work. Together with sharp tools, harsh chemicals, and the risk of infection through a number of different body fluids, beauty is one industry in which PPE is of paramount importance.
In this article we cover the laws on PPE equipment in a salon, why it’s important, and what you need to use.
What is PPE in a salon?
PPE covers all types of protective equipment a person can wear that protects them from harm, whether through injury, infection, or any other hazard they might be exposed to.
PPE has been used in salons for a long time, but recently Covid-19 has meant that PPE needs to be used more often and in more situations than before. The largest change is that now, customers that enter salons need to use PPE as well as employees.
PPE in Salons: The UK Law
As of November 2021, face masks are legally required in indoor public places in the UK, including “premises providing personal care and beauty treatments (such as hair salons, barbers, nail salons, massage centres, tattoo and piercing studios)”.
Some beauty treatments require access to the lower face, and so cannot be performed with a face mask on. In situations like this, the National Hair and Beauty Federation states that, in accordance with UK law, “Clients can remove their face covering during a service or treatments to these areas but should replace them straight afterwards.”
Face coverings should also be worn if a beautician, stylist, or esthetician is performing a treatment in someone’s home or outside of the salon. If you own or run a salon, it’s your responsibility to make sure your employees have access to the PPE they need.
You should also decide whether you want to provide PPE for clients in a salon. You aren’t required to, but it’ll make it easier to ensure everyone who enters wears a face mask (unless medically exempt).
Which types of face coverings can you wear?
The UK government states that “personal care service practitioners conducting treatments which require them to be in close proximity to a person’s face, mouth and nose should where possible follow good practice and wear a Type II face mask.
A Type II face mask is a medical face mask. It’s made from a protective 3-ply construction. This prevents large particles from reaching the client or working surfaces. Type II face masks are not PPE. However, if you use them correctly, they will reduce potential transmission risks.”
In general, the best type of mask to wear to protect those around you from droplets you exhale is a Type IIR face mask. Their 3 ply construction gives them a bacteria filtration efficiency (BFE) of 98% and they are splash resistant.
Make sure the Type IIR face masks you use are certified to meet British Standards so you know they provide the protection they say they do. Look for the CE mark on the product, packaging, or ask the manufacturer.
Steroplast Type IIR Face Masks are tested to meet British Standards of quality.
Type IIR masks are surgical masks and aren’t technically classed as PPE as they do not protect the wearer from inhaling microorganisms. For protection against inhaling airborne droplets and aerosols, a respirator is needed.
FFP3 respirators are recommended for high-risk situations to protect the wearer. They have a BFE of 99% and need to be fitted to the wearer’s face to create a perfect seal. The valve in an FFP3 respirator ensures moisture is removed when the wearer exhales but shuts when they inhale to filter out harmful particles.
FFP3 respirators can be worn by employees in a salon who want to protect themselves from inhaling particles. FFP3 respirators should be CE marked similarly to Type IIR face masks. Always check the product and its packaging to make sure you have a genuine item.
Steroplast FFP3 Valved Respirators are all tested to meet British Standards and have a filtration efficiency of 99%.
The UK government has advised that face visors do not provide sufficient protection alone as they do not cover the nose and mouth. A face visor is effective at protecting the eyes of the wearer, which can be the source of infection transmission if droplets spray into them. But a visor should always be worn with a face mask to filter out exhaled droplets.
Why is PPE Important in a Salon?
We know that one purpose of PPE in a salon is to help slow the spread of Covid-19 in indoor places that are less well-ventilated than outdoor spaces. But what is the purpose of PPE in a salon other than to minimise Covid-19 transmission?
Contact Dermatitis
Dermatitis is a type of eczema that causes redness, drying, and itching of the skin. Dermatitis can be caused by a wide range of different irritants or even just handling water regularly. The HSE has found that 70% of hairdressers suffer from dermatitis at least once in their careers. Harsh chemicals like hair dye, nail polish remover, and disinfectants can also cause dermatitis.
If not treated, dermatitis can cause chapped, cracked skin which can lead to open wounds
more prone to infection.
Asthma and Other Respiratory Conditions
Chemical aerosol particles, when breathed in, can irritate the airways and lungs causing them to constrict and become inflamed. When you develop asthma as a result of your job this is known as occupational asthma. Occupational asthma can occur in hair and beauty salons as a result of chemicals that are sprayed into the air like hairspray and fake tan.
Fumes from solvents in cleaning chemicals and cosmetics like nail polish remover and hair lightening products can also have an irritating effect on the lungs.
Bloodborne Pathogens
Blood can carry diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. If you accidentally draw blood in a beauty treatment it must be treated as potentially infectious. PPE is important to keep beauticians and stylists safe in the event of a blood spill.
Bloodborne pathogens can enter the body through broken skin or mucous membranes. Because of this, it’s important to use gloves and face masks that act as a barrier.
Injury
The purpose of ppe in a beauty salon is not just to protect against infections. Some beauty procedures require the use of sharp tools such as blades for microblading, or tattoo guns. PPE like puncture-proof nitrile gloves is useful for protecting the wearer against accidental pricks or grazes.
PPE in Hairdressing Salons
PPE in a hair salon should take into consideration any dust or residue that might come off of hair as it is moved around, cut, blow-dried, or shaken. Staff should also be aware that they might inhale particles from products like hairspray. There could be splash-back from washing treatments out of hair too.
Hand contact is a major consideration in hair salon PPE, as staff will need to protect their hands from chemicals and frequent washing of hair. Disposable aprons will keep uniforms and clothes looking tidy and professional while minimising the transfer of chemical residue between treatments or customers.
PPE in a Beauty Salon
In a beauty salon, staff are exposed to many similar risks as those in a hair salon, harsh chemicals present a risk through direct skin contact, splash-back, and inhalation. Frequent washing of hands, equipment, and wet procedures increase the chance of dermatitis. Staff in beauty salons are also at risk of injury from blades, needles, and other sharp tools.
Face masks, respirators, disposable aprons, and vinyl or nitrile gloves are essential in a beauty salon.
PPE in Nail Salons
While nail bars don’t involve as much moving around as other beauty treatments might, there is still a risk of infection from airborne droplets or from contact between people. The main PPE nail salons should stock up on is face masks and gloves to protect beauticians and clients when they cannot be socially distant.
Some nail bars might also have clear perspex shields installed to provide a barrier between beautician and client.
Salon PPE Checklist
Use this checklist for salon PPE and infection control to protect yourself, your customers and your staff.
| Type IIR face masks | |
| Face Visors | |
| Vinyl gloves for low-risk tasks like routine cleaning | |
| Nitrile gloves for medium-risk tasks like using harsh chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, or for stylists who need to wear gloves when cutting hair. | |
| Disposable Aprons |
Other infection control essentials:
| Perspex screens for reception desks | |
| Hand sanitiser | |
| Disposable paper towels | |
| Antibacterial hand soap | |
| Detergent wipes for spot cleaning and damp-dusting | |
| Disinfecting wipes to clean down chairs and surfaces between customers | |
| Biohazard waste bags | |
| Biohazard spill kits | |
| Sharps bins |
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