COVID-19 Health Protocol List

Effective May 8, 2020, cosmetology salons may operate provided they can ensure at least 6 feet social distancing between operating workstations. Because of the proximity between individuals in these facilities, stringent compliance with these protocols is strongly recommended. The following are the minimum recommended health protocols for cosmetology salons choosing to operate in Texas. Cosmetology salons may adopt additional protocols consistent with their specific needs and circumstances to help protect the health and safety of all employees, independent contractors, and customers.

Getting Lash and Glow salon, employees, and contractors ready to open:

• Notify employees and contractors of all COVID-19 processes and procedures and require them to sign a statement acknowledging they understand and will adhere to the guidelines.

• Screen employees and contractors before coming into the cosmetology salon:

  • Send home any employee or contractor who has any of the following new or worsening signs or symptoms of possible COVID-19: 

    • Cough

    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

    • Chills

    • Repeated shaking with chills

    • Muscle pain

    • Headache

    • Sore throat

    • Loss of taste or smell

    • Diarrhea

    • Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit

    • Known close contact with a person who is lab confirmed to have COVID-19

  •  Do not allow employees or contractors with new or worsening signs or symptoms listed above to return to work until:

    • In the case of an employee or contractor who was diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to work when all three of the following criteria are met: at least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications); and the individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared; or

    • In the case of an employee  or contractor who has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and does not get evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, the individual is assumed to have COVID-19, and the individual may not return to work until the individual has completed the same three-step criteria listed above; or

    • If the employee or contractor has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to work before completing the above self-isolation period, the individual must obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis.

  • Do not allow an employee or contractor with known close contact to a person who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19 to return to work until the end of the 14 day self-quarantine period from the last date of exposure (with an exception granted for health care workers and critical infrastructure workers).

• Consider implementing a similar policy for clients.

  • For temperature checks, the preferred method is a no-contact thermometer, such as a forehead thermometer, if possible.

  • Do not use a contact thermometer on multiple persons without disposable guards or disinfection between persons.

• Provide resources and a work environment that promote personal hygiene. For example, provide tissues, hand soap, alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60 percent alcohol, disinfectants, and disposable towels for licensees to clean their work surfaces. 

• Disinfectants must come from this list: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectantsuse-against-sars-cov-2

• Provide a place to wash hands with hand soap water, disposable towels, and a no-touch trash can.

Before an appointment:

• Appointments should be scheduled to limit the amount of people in the salon.

• Do not allow clients to bring extra people to the appointment, such as children.

• Only schedule the number of clients that will allow for social distancing of at least six feet from others. 

• Contactless payment is encouraged. Where not available, contact should be minimized.

• Signs should be posted at check-in notifying clients that people with symptoms of COVID-19 or who have recently been exposed to someone with symptoms must reschedule their appointment.

• Do not provide services to a client if you have reason to believe that they are sick or have a contagious condition.

•  If possible, provide face coverings for clients or ask them to wear one if services can be provided with it on.

Once inside Lash and Glow:

• Do not let clients touch/handle retail supplies.

• Suggest all clients to wash their hands upon entering the salon and after checkout.

• Take measures to ensure that clients do not interact with each other in the salon.

• Face masks or fabric face coverings should be worn, if services can be provided, by at least either the contractor or client, even if individuals are practicing social distancing.

• Clients receiving services for which a mask may not be worn should wear a mask or face covering before and after they receive the service.

Providing services:

• If gloves cannot be worn for a service, then hands must be washed with soap and water prior to providing services. Hands must be washed for a minimum of 20 seconds.

• If at any time an employee or contractor touches their face, nose, eyes, cell phone, door, credit card machine or any surface they have not sanitized, they must immediately change their gloves or rewash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.

• Use disposable supplies to keep from having to handle and disinfect multi-use supplies.

Continue to service clients with the cleaning and sanitation you already practice:

• All surfaces must be wiped down and sanitized between use including computers, landline phones, etc.

• All towels must be stored in a closed container.

• Multi-use equipment and tools must be cleaned and disinfected before use on each client.

• Single-use equipment and tools must be discarded after use on a single client.

• All clean and disinfected tools and materials shall be stored in a clean, dry, debris free environment when not in use.

• Clean and disinfected tools and materials must be stored separate from soiled tools and materials.

• Floors shall be thoroughly cleaned each day.

• All trash containers must be emptied daily and kept clean by using plastic trash bag.

• Towels used during services must be removed and placed in the laundry hamper after each client.

• When washing the towels from the laundry basket, we will spray sanitizing spray into the basket once dirty towels are removed for washing and it should never be used for clean towels storage.

• Towels must be washed in hot water and chlorine bleach and only clean towels shall be used on clients.

• Clean towels should only be handled by someone who has cleaned their hands immediately before touching the towels or someone who has a fresh pair of gloves.

• All on-site laundry rooms or laundry storage rooms must be fully sanitized daily.

Additional items:

• If an employee or contractor tests positive for COVID-19, immediately report that to the local health authority and provide notification to employees, contractors, and clients. The notification may be made via phone call, e-mail, or text. The notification to the local health authority and to employees, contractors, and clients must occur no later than 24 hours of receiving information of a positive test result.