Hello! It is hard to believe that we have been closed for well over an entire month! All Scott and I can say is that we hope that you and yours are as safe and healthy as we and all of our employees are. I have to tell you, I really really really miss the daily interactions with each of you and I cannot wait to see you again - SOON!

SO, it is our plan, and we will be ready, to open on May 15th – and in so doing, you will notice new procedures, new physical items and a few limitations. These best practices have been designed with input from experts around the country to create the safest working conditions for our employees and to provide a safe, stress-free and healthy experience for our customers. It is important to note that much of what we will do is not new – cleanliness has always been a priority of our daily operations since the day we opened in 2002. BTW - If you have a helpful idea that is not listed, send me an email and let me know about it.

The biggest difference you will notice will be Touchless Hygine Stations at all entrances and throughout the spa and everyone wearing masks and gloves all the time. We have also added powerful UVC Sterilization and an overnight Ozone generator to our HVAC Ventilation System. On May 8^th, Bactronix will perform a hospital-grade cleaning and sanitation and all of our employees will undergo a mandatory training by Bactronix on proper cleaning and continuing sanitation. And while we are a Barbicide Certified Spa, we will be using Bactronix C3 as our primary disinfectant as it is just as effective than Bleach or Barbicide but less toxic. Rest assured that we are committed to stopping any and all unwanted organisms from disturbing your experience. Period.
 

Daily Temperature and Health Check

Whenever an employee or a customer enters the spa - we will use a touchless infared thermometer to take your temperature. Any employee or customer who has a temperature above 99.9°F will be sent home immediately and asked to not return to the spa until they have no fever and no evidence of any COVID-19 symptoms.

Prior to entry, we will ask every customer entering the spa the following questions:

• Have you had a cough?

• Have you had a fever?

• Do you now or have you recently had any flu-like symptoms?

• Have you been around anyone exhibiting these symptoms within the past 14 days?

• Are you living with anyone who is sick or quarantined?

• Have you traveled recently to any areas that have an increased level of Covid19 infection.

Maintain social distancing to increase a healthy spa environment

• To enhance and maintain proper social distancing, we are arranging our schedule to have fewer customers in the spa at any given time.

• We have created alternate and extended work schedules for our staff to accomplish this. We plan to offer services between 8am and 9pm 7 days per week, including Sundays.

• We are increasing the amount of time between appointments to allow for detailed sanitation between customer appointments.

• We are removing inside waiting areas where individuals may congregate.

• We are encouraging online scheduling as much as possible.

• We will ask that customers wait outside the spa in their vehicle until your licensed professional is ready for your appointment.

• We will ask customers to read, sign and email back to us an Intake Form prior to their appointment.

• Spacing between any customers in the spa will be at least six feet apart

• We will further separate all manicure tables, pedicure stations and salon chairs. We have added plexiglass dividers wherever possible, will incorporate single-use linens and have installed Touchless Hygine Stations throughout the spa.

Personal Protection

• Wearing masks: all employees will be required to wear masks at all times. We encourage customers to wear face masks to the extent possible while receiving services.

• Employees will wear their hair pulled back during work.

• Employees will remove all rings and jewelry during work.

• Employees will wear disposable aprons and replace them for each new customer.

• Face Shields: when possible, our employees will wear face shields when servicing customers.

• Gloves: Our employees will wear disposable gloves when servicing customers and change gloves between each customer.

• Capes: Salon customers will be draped with a clean, single-use, disposable capes and dispose of the cape after it is used. Non disposable capes and gowns will be laundered immediately after each customer.

• Smocks: Employees will wear a clean disposable apron/smocks and dispose of the smock after use on a customer. Non disposable employee aprons/smocks should be laundered between each customer.

• Hand-washing with soapy, warm water, for a minimum of 20 seconds will be required by employees between every customer service.

• Employee clothing: Employees will arrive at the spa/shop showered and wearing clean surgical scrubs. Employees should change clothes before entering their homes when they return after work.

• PPG such as gloves, gowns, drapes, linens and eye coverings will be changed between each customer. These used items will be cleaned and disinfected or discarded in a closed container.

Disinfection 

• On May 8^th, ESSpa will be thoroughly cleaned, disinfected and electrostatically certified prior to reopening by Bactronix. All surfaces, tools, and linens will, again, be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. This treatment has been tested to provide up to one year of antimicrobial protection.

• On May 12th, the entire staff will attend a mandatory Training Seminar to each become Bactronix Certified Specialists.

• We will use disinfectants that are EPA –registered and labeled as bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal.

• Disinfectant for immersion of tools, will be mixed daily and replaced sooner if it becomes contaminated throughout the work day. Disinfectant only works on a clean surface so clean all surfaces and tools with hot soapy water, sanitizer or cleaning wipes (if using wipes, be sure to cover surface thoroughly) before disinfecting.

• Contact time on label will be observed for disinfectant to work. Contact time refers to how long the disinfectant is visibly wet on the surface allowing it to thoroughly destroy all of the pathogens. Typical contact time for immersion/sprays is 10 minutes, for disinfectant wipes is 2-4 minutes.

• Disinfection is for hard non-porous surfaces, glass metal and plastic.

• Porous/soft surfaces will not be disinfected and will only be used for one customer and then discarded (tools such as cardboard files, buffers, drill bits etc.) immediately thereafter.

• All non-disposable linens, towels drapes, and smocks will laundered in hot soapy water with bleach and dried at the warmest temperature allowed and store in an airtight cabinet. Store all used/dirty linens in an airtight container.

Reception area 

• All unnecessary items such as magazines, newspapers, service menus, any other unnecessary paper products and decor will be removed. All seats, tables and doors will be constantly cleaned and disinfected.

• Wipe reception desk with disinfectant. We will migrate to non-contact check-in, checkout and payment options.

• Employees will frequently wash their hands after the using the phones, computer, cash register and/or credit card machine. Wipe these surfaces between each use.

• Any cash and/or checks will be sterilized utilizing UVC light to sanitize all paper and fiber as necessary.

• The use of credit/debit transactions is preferred, using touch/swipe/no signature technology. You will be able to pay by phone for all services and products.

• Constantly clean and disinfect all retail areas, daily, including products. ESSpa staff will handle all retail products for customers.

• There will be no open testers. If you would like a tester, please ask your service professional for a complimentary sample.

• Provide hand sanitizer and tissues for employees and customers.

• Install stickers and signage that provide guidance for social distance.

• Placement of visible and appropriate signage to communicate to the customer that thorough sanitation procedures are in place.

Restrooms/Locker Rooms

• Clean and disinfect ALL restroom surfaces including floors, doorknobs, vanities, lightswitches, sinks and toilet bowls. Paper products will be stored in a closed cabinet and we will provide touchless antibacterial hand sanitizer.

• We will be essentially eliminating the use of lockers. For those customers who must change for their service - we will provide all necessary items in the individual treatment rooms.

Shampoo Bowls

• Clean and disinfect all bowls, hoses, spray nozzles, foist handles, shampoo chairs and arm rests. Wipe down all back-bar products and shelves. Discard and replace any products that have not been stored in a closed container.

• If available, wrap shampoo bowls in plastic and discarded between each customer.

• Stylists will always use proper PPE including gloves and face-shields for those employees providing shampoo, color and salon services.

Work stations

• Constant cleaning and disinfection of all work area surfaces. Clean and disinfect massage tables, chairs, head rest, arm rests (the use of harsh disinfectants can damage leather chair, and cloth chairs cannot be disinfected, which is why we will be using Bactronix C3). Clean and disinfect all reusable tools and store in an airtight closed container. Clean and disinfect all appliances, sheers, clippers, clipper guards, rollers, combs, brushes, rolling carts and any other items used in connection with servicing customers.

• All products such as lotions, creams, waxes and scrubs shall always be in a closed container.

• All single use tools such as paper files, drill bits and buffers will be immediately thrown away.

• Clean and disinfect all linen hampers and trash container and only use such container that can be closed and use with liners that can be removed and discarded.

• Provide hand sanitizer at all work locations for employees and customers.

Pedicure Bowls

• We do not have typical Pedicure "thrones" because they are almost impossible to keep clean. We use solid, copper bowls for all of our pedicure services. After each service, the bowl will be cleaned with soap and water, rinse in clear water and then immerse into properly diluted disinfectant for full recommended contact time.

• Scrub bowl with soap and water.

• Rinse with bowl with clean water.

• Fill bowl with again with clean water and proper amount of disinfectant and let stand for proper time (at least 10 minutes).

Treatment rooms

• Clean and disinfect all surfaces such as, chairs, tables, electrical appliances (don’t forget the cords).

• Clean and disinfect all linens and store in a closed container/cabinet.

• Clean and disinfect all hampers that hold soiled linens and be sure to use one that can be lined and closed.

• Remove and discard any products that could have been contaminated by improper unsanitary use. Replace with new product.

• All wax pots will be cleaned and disinfected between each customer. Any individual, non-disposable item (wax sticks, etc.) shall be immediately thrown away.

Administrative Controls

• Employees who are sick will be expected to and asked to stay home.

• Owners and Management will provide best-behavior modeling as well as frequent training, educational materials, and reinforcement on proper sanitation, hand-washing, cough and sneeze etiquette, using PPE, and other protective behaviors.

• Employees will not congregate in the break-room. Staff will be limited to 1 individual at a time and proper PPE shall be worn during breaks. Any personal items are to be single-use only and shall be immediately thrown away after use. Individuals will clean and sanitized the room prior to leaving.

• All sinks in the workplace have touchless antibacterial soap available and paper towels.

• Handwashing signs will be posted in the restrooms.

• Personal cell phones shall be left in cars or remain in purses or other closed container.

• Provide EPA disinfectant wipes, liquid disinfectant containers, and EPA approved disinfectant for disinfecting technical implements and all work areas.

• Ozone generators and UVC lights will be turned on at the close of business to further disinfect and enhance the cleanliness of our space.