Hair and beauty businesses continue to uphold facemask requirements

Hair and beauty salons and spas are continuing to ask customers to wear facemasks inside following the “Freedom Day” change on 19 July, which saw the mandatory requirement for facemasks scrapped in England.

Skinwork Soho, the skincare business founded by skin and beauty expert Eilidh Smith in 2018, said it would be “maintaining its Covid-19 protocols for the time being.”

“Our staff will continue to wear PPE for our clients’ and teams’ protection.

"Social distancing remains in our waiting areas and we ask our guests to continue to wear facemasks in public areas if able,” the business, which recently relocated to a custom-built treatment studio and store in Soho, London said.

Lush, which operates eight spas around the UK, in addition to its network of retail stores, also said that all Lush Spa therapists were continuing to wear PPE and that strict cleaning procedures remained in place.

Lush is also asking customers who are going in for a treatment to wear a facemask, unless medically exempt and is encouraging customers to wash hands on arrival.

Beauty and spa brand Champneys, which operates six spa hotels around the UK, has also continued to mandate the wearing of facemasks in all public areas for all guests.

Guests that have an exemption to wearing facemasks are required to display a sunflower lanyard at all times.

The spa is also asking all visitors to respect social distancing guidelines at all times when inside.

Meanwhile, the 57-strong hair salon group Headmasters has also decided to keep facemask requirements for customers and staff.

A statement on the company website said: “Although restrictions on social distancing and the wearing of masks has lifted, we are following the government advice to recommend to our clients that they still wear a mask when inside our salons, especially at busy times.

“Our staff are no longer required to wear visors, but will continue to wear facemasks during appointments.

“We also ask that all clients continue to sanitise their hands upon arrival and we will ensure that our cleaning protocols are maintained.”