The Salon Rated Standard sets out industry standards for:
Insurance and Licences – Insurance must be held for the treatments carried out within the salon
Such as;
Public liability insurance.
Professional indemnity insurance covering all the treatments and/or services provided by the salon.
Relevant local authority licences (if required) to provide certain beauty treatments, for example, electrolysis or sun beds.
Appropriate licences to cover activities such as playing music, showing TV or serving alcohol
Qualifications and Training – The salon should hold accredited training certification. Salons will make sure their team members have:
Qualifications from a recognised UK qualifications body* in a relevant subject and at an appropriate level for the service or treatment being offered, or equivalent industry-recognised training and experience.
Industry-recognised training on the tools or equipment they use.
Premises, tools and equipment are regularly safety tested and maintained to ensure the health and safety of clients.
Rigorous hygiene and cleanliness is observed and reported
Uniforms, other clothing, towels, gowns and linen are clean.
Equipment, such as clippers, tweezers, brushes and combs, is cleaned, disinfected and sterilised as per local authority guidelines.
Clinical waste (eg razors, needles) is disposed of in specially marked containers.
Appropriate personal protective equipment is worn, for example, gloves when providing services such as hair colour, shaving, pedicures or intimate waxing.
Appropriate protective equipment, such as gowns, is provided for use while services or treatments are being carried out.
Instructions and guidance for the safe use of equipment, materials and products is followed.
Age restrictions – A salon must apply age restrictions on treatments.
Beauty treatments are not recommended for under-16s with the following exceptions:
Earlobe piercing (stud and gun method, one hole)
Waxing (not intimate waxing).
Facials.
Manicures.
Pedicures.
Treatments must only be carried out on under-16s with written consent from a parent or legal guardian. A parent or responsible adult (eg carer) must be present.
Treatments should not be carried out on minors who are below the minimum ages recommended by the NHF/NBF, especially for permanent hair colour which is not intended for use on under-16s and UV tanning which cannot be carried out for under 18s (Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 and the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 (Wales) Regulations 2011).
Equality & Diversity – Accredited salons will make sure:
The welfare of any vulnerable clients is protected.
All salon staff understand the different ways in which clients may be vulnerable, including emotional vulnerability, mental health conditions (including body dysmorphia), learning difficulties, physical disability, ageing and those whose first language isn’t English.
Extra time and effort is taken to make sure vulnerable clients understand the treatments or services they have requested and how much they will cost.
Treatments or services the salon considers inappropriate, unethical or potentially unsafe are not provided.
Services should be adapted and marketed to allow accessibility for all where possible.
Allergy alert testing and skin sensitivity testing – Patch testing is a requirement on certain treatments which may put clients at risk. Always refer to your manufactures and insurance guidelines.
Consultation – A thorough consultation should be carried out, including a health questionnaire for beauty salon clients, and especially for new clients, to discuss requirements before agreeing on the service or treatment to be provided.
A thorough consultation is carried out, including a health questionnaire for beauty salon clients, and especially for new clients, to discuss requirements before agreeing on the service or treatment to be provided.
Client consent to the beauty treatment being provided is recorded.
Terms of Service – It is good practice for a salon to define a terms of service and have this accessible for clients to review prior to a treatment. This would cover things such as – The salons refund policy, cancelation policy, opening times, sale of products, loyalty scheme etc. A template of a Terms of Service can be found on the Salon Rated Hub.
Data Protection – As required by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), an accredited salon will maintain accurate and up-to-date client records.
Client information will be kept confidential, securely stored and only used for the purpose for which it was give
Complaints – Salons will: Have a complaints policy which is available for clients to see.
Take immediate action to make sure clients receive a quick and fair response to
Any complaint and aim to resolve it within no more than 8 weeks.
Learn from complaints and identify opportunities to improve services to clients.
Refer clients to Hair & Beauty Mediation, or another certified Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Fully participate if the client wishes to use ADR and accept the decisions made.