New Government guidelines in England permitting the reopening of the beauty industry following the COVID-19 pandemic still restrict practitioners performing facial treatments.
On July 9, the Government announced that businesses such as beauty salons, nail bars and tattoo studios can reopen safely from Monday July 13, however imposed restrictions on the types of treatments they can perform.
A press release stated, “Only services that do not involve work in the highest risk zone – directly in front of the face – should be made available to clients. This means that treatments such as face waxing, eyelash treatments, makeup application and facial treatments, should not be provided until government advice changes, due to the much greater risk of transmission.”
The guidance explicitly states that the following treatments are not allowed to be performed at the present time: face waxing, sugaring or threading services, facial treatments, advanced facial technical (electrical or mechanical), eyelash treatments, makeup application, dermarolling, dermaplaning, microblading, electrolysis on the face, eyebrow treatments, intricate detailing, outlining or shaving of beards, advanced beauty therapy and aesthetic treatments.
The guidance also notes that this does not apply to medical settings, which reflects developments earlier this week when it was confirmed by the Department of Health and Social Care that medical aesthetics is exempt. Industry associations have also supported the reopening of medical clinics performing these treatments.
The Joint Council for Cosmetic practitioners state that practitioners must meet certain requirements to ensure their business is not considered as a ‘beauty-related service’, which can be viewed here, while their stance on what makes a medical clinic can be viewed here.
