It feels like forever since we’ve been able to heat up the wax pot and pick up a pair of tweezers, but throughout the UK it looks as though the end of lockdown is in sight.
We’re still waiting on confirmation from the UK government on when beauty salons (not hairdressers) in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland can reopen. That date is sure to creep up on us all, so now is the time to get prepared to get back to doing what you love most: brows.
Behind the scenes, Team HD have been working hard to ensure we’re able to support you as you return to work. From a brand new hygiene course, PPE, tips on reopening your businesses safely and how to practice self-care, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading find out how we’re helping you get #BackToBrows.
Back To Beauty COVID-19: Hygiene & Safety Course
Establishing strict hygiene measures has always been a huge part of HD Brows. Due to her background in permanent make up, our CEO, Karen Betts, has always implemented exceptionally high levels of hygiene and safety across the Nouveau HD Beauty Group brands. We have come together as a group, combining all of our expertise with Karen’s industry-leading knowledge to create a virtual Back to Beauty: Hygiene & Safety course.
This course has been designed to provide you with information about the COVID-19 pandemic and the steps you can take to help prevent the spread of infection while working. The course includes interactive modules and you’ll be able to choose an in-depth, relevant ‘back to work’ section depending on your working situation (whether you’re a mobile stylist, have your own salon or have a beauty room in your own home). You can download the course here.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is not only essential to keep you and your clients safe, it demonstrates that you’re taking the necessary precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and instills a sense of confidence. Anyone who has trained with us will know that we have always taken pride in our exceptionally high hygiene standards. That’s why (by working together as a group) we’ll be able to provide you with PPE – which you’re be able to purchase directly here.
We know the demand for PPE and hygiene products has been outweighing supply, which has seen prices increase, and that’s been the case with our suppliers too.
As part of Nouveau HD Beauty Group, we’re making a promise to all of our customers that we will share any savings we receive on pricing from suppliers with you. This might mean our pricing changes every now and then with new stock, however we want to ensure where we save, you save.
Review your costs
Now is the time to review your treatment costs and ask yourself whether you’ve been charging the correct prices, as well as reviewing any overheads. In the wake of COVID-19, you not only need to consider the cost of treatments and products (including hygiene products and PPE), but also the ‘cost’ of your time. Given the time that will be needed to thoroughly sanitise and disinfect your work area and professional tools before and after treatments, the number of client appointments you can schedule per day will be reduced, unless you increase your working hours. This also applies to mobile stylists; although you don’t have a salon or beauty room to disinfect, you’ll need to allow time to thoroughly sanitise (both your hands and professional tools) and dispose of your PPE after your client appointments.
Waiting lists
After more than 3 months in lockdown, your clients will be pretty desperate to get booked in for a long overdue brow appointment. To try and avoid a mad rush on your first day, many salons have created waiting lists for appointments. A waiting list is a great way to ensure that your loyal customers can get those precious early appointments.
The fairest, most logical way to organise your waiting list is by prioritising clients who had appointments booked in after the UK went into lockdown (on the 23rd March) and look to rebook them. By establishing an order of appointments that have been cancelled, you can reschedule appointments efficiently.
Alternatively, why not organise your clients by how regularly you see them? For example, clients who visit your salon on a monthly basis can be prioritised over someone who comes in for an appointment twice a year. Being organised will avoid stress in the long run. Decide whether you’ll accept new clients or reopen for existing clients temporarily. A phased approach to this might work, where you only allow existing clients for the first 2 to 3 weeks. Whatever you decide, your clients will be understanding as you adjust to a new way of working.
We’ve created some HD Brows waiting list social media graphics for you, which can be downloaded here.
Marketing support for reopening
We are always here to support our stylists, especially when it comes to your marketing. We wanted to do something that will give you and your clients a little reassurance. After completing our COVID-19: Hygiene & Safety Course, you will receive a certificate; make sure you display your certificate in your salon or beauty room and take pride in your achievement. If you’re a mobile stylist, take it with you to client appointments. We’ll also provide you with a social graphic (a safety certified stamp) that you can post on your Instagram feed, demonstrating your achievement to your clients.
To help you in your #BackToBrows marketing, we’ll be adding social media graphics to this marketing support pack over the coming weeks.
Check your stock levels
For all of your treatment essentials, check your stock levels and stock up on any products you’re running low on. You’re going to be super busy when you get back, so running out of Brow Dye or Swizzle Sticks is the last thing you want. We might even have a few sneaky offers coming up to make it even easier for you to stock up.
You’ll also need to consider your PPE stock levels, as well as hygiene products. Do you have an adequate supply of hand sanitiser, disinfectant wipes and PPE? Ensure you have enough stock and create a designated area where staff and clients can sanitise their hands, as well as pedal bins for hygienic disposal.
Kindly ask clients to put on PPE as soon as they arrive and show them where to wash their hands (it’s a good idea to display a handwashing guide).
Demonstrate your professionalism by displaying how prepared and dedicated you are to hygiene and safety. For mobile stylists, take the necessary hygiene measures before entering your client’s home and after treatments; stock hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes in your car. Make sure you put on PPE before entering your client’s home and remove and place in a sealed plastic bag once you return to your vehicle. When you arrive for a treatment, call them to let them know you have arrived, to reduce contact points.
Get prepared
We want you to feel as confident as possible on your return to brows. Our HD Brows stylists get access to The Collective, a private Facebook group and Instagram account, where you can watch refresher videos, chat to stylists and get support from our trainers. We’re all in this together.
Be sure to revisit your training manuals to give you a confidence boost and keep an eye out for supporting content that will be sent out to you on email (make sure your contact preferences are up to date, so you don’t miss out).
Self-care
Wearing PPE for long periods of the day may cause your skin to become dehydrated – spots and bumps may appear around your chin and mouth due to dampness that builds up underneath face masks. Ensure that you are drinking lots of water and stick to a nourishing skincare routine to avoid flare ups.
You’re bound to be incredibly busy when you first get back to work and it’s easy to fall into the trap of extending your working hours to fit everyone in. Although it might seem like a good idea, remember that it’s important not to overwork yourself and always take a little time out for yourself. Whether it’s reading a book, taking a bath or doing some yoga, find ways to relax and unwind during your first busy few weeks. Read more on creating a self-care routine that you’ll actually stick to, here.
We know this is a daunting time, but we’re here with you every step of the way to ensure your return to work is safe, smooth and a little less stressful. Keep an eye out for further updates on our PPE and hygiene and safety course, which are coming very soon. You’re not alone in this, so feel free to get chatting in the collective; after all, there is no power greater than a community. In the meantime, stay safe and keep positive.
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