How to prepare for a public health inspection in your lash salon

Does it make you break out in a cold sweat to think that one day a health inspector will knock on your salon door? There's no need to be stressed about it. Just follow a few basic rules and there's no risk of any serious problems. Together with Karolína, we've put together a brief overview of the legal regulations and practical advice on running a salon to make your job easier.

A bit boring at first, but necessary bureaucracy. According to Act No. 258/2000 Sb. (Act on the Protection of Public Health), lash salons fall under the category of body care services and are considered a so called epidemiologically serious activity. In layman's terms, the law looks at them as beauty salons and they are dealt with by the administrative authority - the Regional Public Health Authority . The principles of operational and personal hygiene are regulated by Article 51 and Article 52 of Decree No 137/2004 Sb., on hygiene requirements.

Karolína sums up the requirements of the public health authority in a few sentences, "What do the workers of the Regional Public Health Authority actually check, you ask? First of all, whether you have a garbage bag in your trash can and whether your first aid kit is adequately equipped. They are also interested in how you clean your salon and what cleaning products you use, how you disinfect your tweezers, and they will also ask for a trade certificate, operating regulations, safety data sheets for UV lamps, expiry dates, serial numbers for adhesives or other liquids and other similar documents."

Now, let's get deeper with a little more detail.

First, the inspector will make sure that you have a trade licence for the services you provide. It's like showing your driver's license.

The operating rules are your salon's green card. Keep it handy at all times. If you don't present it to the inspector, you're in trouble. It's a document that clearly outlines what you're doing to protect your health and the health of your clients. So don't underestimate it, detail it and hang it up for all to see.

Business location documents - public health officials may want to check that the salon premises are registered with the building authority as a body care service (beauty salon). They may also ask for a certificate of approval. In short, they will check that your salon is not registered for example as a hardware store. It wouldn't help you, if you made such a mistake.

You need to have safety data sheets and maintenance instructions on hand for UV lamps and other tools. For adhesives and other fluids, for example, inspectors will look at the expiration date and serial number.

You're going to be asked about cleaning and cleaning products. How do you clean the salon and how do you manage waste? Where do you pour the water after cleaning and are you sufficiently equipped with disinfectant for hands, tools and surfaces? You must have a handwashing sink in the salon with both hot and fresh water. Similarly, there should be a sink with running drinking water in the toilet (up to 5 staff, one toilet is sufficient and it's not mandatory for clients).

Public health inspectors will also be interested in the procedure and in your method for sterilizing instruments after each use (typically tweezers).

Don't forget your first aid kit and check its contents from time to time. Focus on the expiry date of the medication and its overall condition. Think about the proper storage of the first aid kit so that it isn't just sitting in the sun when the inspection comes.

Also check the condition and location of your fire extinguisher and keep an eye on its revision date.

I was wondering how the inspection went at Karolína's salon. She said it was pretty cool:

"In general, I've always had only positive experiences with public health inspections. In the county where I work, the health department employs nice ladies, so every visit was very pleasant. However, when they happened to find a small issue, all I had to do was correct it within a week, send them a photo and it was done."

We teamed up with Karolína to will give you some simple rules that will make your job easier and put your mind at ease during the public health inspection.

Use single use pads, sticks, tampons, sheets, towels, headbands, masks, in short, anything you can. This will ensure sterile working conditions. The risk of transmitting skin or eye diseases is minimised.

As far as disposable equipment is concerned, safe and high-quality eye pads are essential for lash stylists. They reduce the risk of allergic reactions, skin or eye irritation. They help to ensure a high level of hygiene and minimise the risk of transmitting bacteria and other pathogens. Customers may be sensitive to some of the materials and chemicals that cheap, low-quality pads sometimes contain.

Stylist Karolína advises:

"Personally, I pride myself on the high quality of my work, so I can't imagine doing it without certified products. For example, with non-certified glue, I would be worried that it would cause an allergic reaction or some other problem. In addition to certification, with liquid products I also focus on my own quality testing and reviews. The certified adhesives from Lashes PRO have been the most successful for me. I have to admit that with these products, very often a suspiciously low price also means low quality."

The choice of false lashes significantly affects the results of your work and thus the reputation of your salon. Lower quality lashes are not only harder to work with, but they tend to be weak or warped and hard to achieve the desired result. Don't skimp on the most valuable instrument you use in your work.

Working with a client who has a cold puts your health at risk, and therefore the salon's operation, if you don't have someone to stand in. A slight cold or sniffle is not a problem if clients are willing to wear a mask. Clients should be lead to being considerate and politely advised to cancel their booking if they are ill. A cold will not make your work go smoothly.

Are you interested in more tips and tricks for working efficiently? Read my article I'm shocked! Haven't you heard of these 10 tricks to be efficient with eyelash extensions?

Keep client cards - you'll be able to see what products and styles a client requires or what to look out for in terms of health.

Always have tools for the job ready on your desk so you can use them immediately. This means sanitized tweezers and lashes in lengths according to the client's lash map.

Instruct clients not to consume alcohol, coffee or sweets. These substances can cause eyelid restlessness, which wouldn't exactly make your job easier. It's also a good idea to make sure that customers use the restroom and are properly makeup-free before applying lashes.

Cleaning the lashes perfectly and preparing them for the application of false eyelashes is crucial for better adhesion of the glue. You won't do your client much good with greasy and dirty lashes.

Take extra care with the glue and other fluids - there are a number of things to keep an eye on. Especially expiration dates, how unopened and opened adhesives are stored, and room conditions. Regularly check the correct temperature and humidity of the room. Our Lashes PRO Fusion S glue can withstand a wider range of temperatures. However, not all adhesives have these properties. When you use a UV lamp, all these complexities are eliminated. You don't have to worry about humidity or temperature.

Frequently ventilate or turn on the air conditioning. Fresh air is needed because of the smell of the glue. Some clients might even get sick. Ventilation also helps to maintain proper temperature and humidity.

Proper care of eyelash extensions - eyelash retention is of course also influenced by how clients treat their false lashes after application. If they wash their eyes, don't use cleansing foam and forget that they must not use mascara, then all your efforts are in vain. Take time to explain to them everything about eyelash care.

"In conclusion, I would like to mention that it really pays off if you take care of your salon conscientiously, draw up the operating rules correctly and keep other details in order. You will be rewarded with restful sleep and the fact that even an unexpected visit from the Regional Public Health Authority will not catch you unprepared," says Karolína Zalabák in conclusion.

I would add that quality and safe tools and materials also play an important role. You will be rewarded with satisfied clients who will appreciate your precise work because their eyelashes will last for several weeks in perfect condition. They will be happy to come back to you.

Tips for further reading:

10 tips for great lash retention

The complete guide to lash lifting

False lashes that hold - 5 principles for working with glue

Eyelash extensions