The nail industry in covid-19 was full of fear and uncertainty. Rhi Rhi Nails It was booked to attend industry training before the global pandemic of Covid-19 kicked off. These sessions were due to take place on the same weekend as the Professional Beauty Show, hosted at London’s Excel. Alternatively, these events were cancelled. The venue was transformed into an emergency hospital, consisting of 4,000 beds.

In the 15 weeks of lockdown Rhi Rhi Nails It has worked tirelessly to ensure we are following all the government guidelines. Additionally, partaking in all COVID-19 beauty training and webinars available. Most importantly working to keep you, everyone you know, along with me and everyone I know safe.

We need to say the biggest thank you to The British Beauty Council. They lobbied so tirelessly for our industry. Importantly, they are the reason we are getting back to work.

Training fact file

Rhi Rhi Nails It worked through the additional knowledge gained in this time of misinformation. Let’s start with the problem, INFECTION! The infection incubation period varies vastly with a time frame anywhere between 6 hours to 10 years.

Micro-organisms were one of the 1st forms of life on earth. A Micro-organism is bacteria / viruses / fungi / spores / Protozoa.

Bacteria is not visible to the naked eye and doubles every 20 minutes at room temperature. 

Viruses need a living host to survive i.e. animals / humans.

Fungi is not as dangerous but very visible.

Then there’s the big leagues, Protozoa, an example of this is Malaria and Spores like C.Diff!

These micro-organisms go from Agent – Host – Environment.

The agent – That’s your hands, your nose, your mouth.

The host – That’s the body. More susceptible bodies are those who have a suppressed immune system or have a pre existing medical conditions.

Environment – The warm hot sweaty gym / the warm hot sweaty spa / tight spaced airplane or the busy shopping centre.

Then you begin the game of jigsaw. A sneeze from your nose whilst another human is walking past, in a busy shopping centre = microbe transmission.

Lastly, now we take all this infection knowledge and apply it to navigating the nail industry, in covid-19 safely.

What Rhi Rhi Nails It needs to do:- 

• Towels and uniform rewashed at 60 degrees

• Disinfection of Nail kit items. Including bottles, equipment and mani/pedi tool.

• Wash hands between every treatment
• No longer taking cash payments
• Single-use files, buffers etc. (dispose of these safely)
• Wearing freshly laundered uniforms that have been washed at 60 degrees
• Wear a suitable face mask
• Clean gloves to be worn for every client (and for cleansing afterwards). These gloves should be powder-free nitrile gloves in the case of latex sensitivity
• Following manufacturer instructions, tools to be disinfected

In addition to these steps, 24 hours before your appointment, Rhi Rhi Nails It will need to ask a series of questions. This is to confirm you, and your household are healthy. Rhi Rhi Nails It will endeavour to provide you with the same information.

Nevertheless, most of these actions are standard procedure for nail professionals.

What the client needs to do:-

• Wash hands with liquid soap and warm water for 20 seconds
• Do not touch face or any personal belongings during your treatment
• Wear a suitable face mask

Here is our Covid-19 Infection Prevention Policy. As advised via the Beauty Guilds Covid-19 Training Course.

Attached below are the completed risk assessments.

In conclusion, the nail industry in covid-19 was educational, reflective and extremely challenging. Finally, help by supporting small businesses to recover after such a testing time.