The health and well-being of our clients, staff, and community are of the utmost importance to us during these uncertain times. While we remain committed to our high standards of service, current conditions require us to take significant protective measures in order to provide services safely. For the foreseeable future, your Visible Expression by Amaè experience will look and feel very different. We appreciate your patience, cooperation and support as we navigate your salon experience. Our plan is to go well beyond what is required, and we believe the safest approach is to treat everyone, including ourselves, as if they could be infected.
The following practices and procedures were based on both local and state statutes and guidelines, as well as best practices and research compiled from the following primary sources: World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Infectious Disease, New York State Department of Health (NYDH) and the Schenectady County Public Health Services (SCPHS). We continue to monitor guidance from these organizations and all relevant government and health agencies, to assess and update the precautions we will take going forward. Please review the following so you are prepared for your next visit to the salon.
Here's what we expect from you
Preparing For Your Visit
1. Be healthy. Please do not come to your appointment if you are sick or experiencing symptoms. If you have been ill, or around someone who has been ill, please cancel your appointment and wait fourteen (14) days to reschedule it. Even if you are not feeling well, please reschedule. Last minute cancelations are fine. There will be no questions asked and no cancelation fees. However, if advance notice is possible, it is appreciated. We will not be able to service anyone exhibiting flu-like or serious cold-like symptoms.
2. Pack lightly. Bring as few personal belongings with you as possible. Whatever you do bring must be placed in a bag or sanitized container (that we will provide) and it must accompany you during your visit.
3. Clean hair. Please come to the salon with clean hair. Most cut clients will be shampooed before their service, and color clients after the color service. In both cases, clean hair upon arrival is required.
4. No guests. Please come to your appointment alone. No family members or friends without an appointment will be permitted in the salon. No exceptions.
5. Wear a mask. Bring a face mask that loops around your ears to your appointment. Masks are mandatory to enter the salon and for the duration of your visit. Masks with ties or bands around the head are not acceptable because your mask must remain on during your hair service. Disposable masks will be available to clients when necessary.
6. Gloves are optional. Wearing gloves is optional so long as you're following hand sanitizing procedures while in the salon. Disposable gloves will be available for those who choose to wear them..
7. Gratuities. We encourage clients to handle gratuities directly with staff through the mobile payment service Venmo (www.venmo.com) or in some other way.
8. No magazines provided. You may want to bring something to read as no books or magazines will be available in the salon.
9. No food or beverages. There will be no beverage service in the salon. With the exception of bottled water, food and beverages are not permitted.
10. Limited self-dry bar. No styling products or brushes will be available at the self-dry bar. For clients receiving color services only, a brush, comb and product will be provided upon request for a short blow dry after your service.
11. Possible color upcharges. After consultation with your colorist, please understand that there may be an additional charge if necessary for additional color used or corrective measures needed. You will be advised of any additional charge before the service is performed.
12. Retail products. All retail products are available for final sale purchase either over the phone for pick up, or during your visit to the salon. Please refrain from touching the product shelves --staff members will retrieve retail product for you. We are NOT accepting any product returns at this time.
13. Possible cancelations. Be prepared for possible last-minute cancelations in the event that your colorist or stylist feels ill, or does not successfully complete their required daily health assessment, and is required to stay home.
14. Sanitation. Restroom and private coat check-in area is sanitized after each use.
15. Behave! Failure to comply with these guidelines or verbal direction from our staff while at the salon may result in your removal from the premises.
Arriving For Your Appointment
16. Be right on time. We love punctuality, but please do not arrive more than five (5) minutes before your appointment time. Arriving five (5) minutes before your appointment allows for time for your check in procedure as described below.
17. Check-in. Upon entry with a mask, we will check you in by administering a brief health assessment, comprised of having your temperature taken with a touchless, infrared forehead thermometer, and successfully completing, and signing, a short health questionnaire. Anyone with a temperature reading of 100.4° F or above will be considered to have a fever in accordance with CDC guidelines, and will not be permitted in the salon. Anyone indicating illness symptoms, or contact with an infected person, will not be permitted in the salon. The Client Health Assessment form you will be required to complete and sign, can be found at the end of this document. Please review it and be prepared to complete and sign it upon your arrival.
18. Wash your hands. After being admitted to the salon, you will be asked to wash your hands and will be directed where to sit.
Your Time At The Salon
19. Masks. Please wear your mask at all times. Disposable masks will be available to clients when needed.
20. No hugs or handshakes. As happy as we are to see you, there should be no touching for now. We'll be giving you a smile under our masks!
21. Social Distancing. To the extent possible, clients and staff will maintain social distancing while in the salon. Free movement around the salon will be somewhat limited. Please follow our direction while in the salon.
22. Restrooms. Restrooms will be available for client use, and there will be posted sanitation procedures to be followed after each use.
23. Personal Hygiene. Please commit to protective personal hygiene while in the salon, frequently washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water, and avoiding touching your mouth, eyes and face. Paper towels and tissues will be abundantly available throughout the salon to cover your mouth/mask when coughing or sneezing. Sanitation stations will be located throughout the salon and will be stocked with disinfectant products and hand sanitizing gel.
24. Keep Chatting to a minimum. The less we all talk and socialize, the better. For this reason, please understand if our staff isn't quite as talkative as usual. It's for the increased safety of all of us!
Here's What You Can Expect From Us
Administrative Controls & Personal Protective Equipment
1. Face Masks & Shields. All staff will wear face masks and/or face shields at all times.
2. Gloves. Staff will wear disposable gloves, when appropriate. When worn, disposable gloves will be disposed of and changed between each client.
3. Staff Testing. Our staff has been advised about the seriousness of potential risks, and are encouraged to self-monitor for symptoms and stay home if they aren't feeling well. If they are exhibiting flu-like or serious cold-like symptoms, they will be sent home. Each employee will undergo, and must successfully complete, a daily individual health assessment and temperature check in order to enter the salon. Any employee deemed to have any symptoms or other risk factors, will be sent home and not permitted to work.
4. Training & Education. All NY stylists and colorists must complete required sanitation classes in order to receive their state issued license.
(1) an additional Barbicide™ Disinfectant Certification program is completed
Safe Work Practices & Engineering Controls
5. Personal hygiene. We have provided resources and a work environment that promotes personal hygiene. Established sanitation stations throughout the salon contain tissues, paper towels, disinfectant spray/wipes, alcohol based hand sanitizer and touchless trash cans. Hand soap, paper towels, disinfectant and alcohol-based hand sanitizer are available in all restrooms.
6. Extensive cleaning & sanitation. We have substantially expanded our daily cleaning procedures so that all service carts, styling chairs, and other surfaces can be disinfected with increased frequency throughout the day. Stylist & colorist stations & chairs will be disinfected after each client. Shampoo bowls, chairs, and neck rests are also disinfected after each client use. All high traffic areas, including the reception and retail areas, lounge areas, self-dry bar, and restroom door handles, are disinfected hourly.
7. Tools disinfected. Already in place sanitation procedures for stylist and colorists have been increased, including the disinfecting of all hair tools, and combs, clips and brushes between each service.
10. Waiting & processing areas. All seated areas where clients will sit and/or process for color appointments, are configured to maintain social distancing at all times.
11. Capacity Monitoring. The number of people in the salon is controlled throughout each day. To ensure that, we schedule mostly private salon sessions and where possible, social distancing will be sufficiently maintained.
12. Cleaning. As always, the entire salon is cleaned every evening using hospital grade disinfectants on all surfaces, including high touch surfaces such as floors, door handles, faucets, flat surfaces & more.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we welcome you back to Visible Expression by Amaè as safely as we possibly can. Although your experience with us will look and feel quite different, rest assured that the quality of our work will not be compromised. We can promise you that.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
