Face treatments allowed in England from Saturday, August 15
Face treatments will be allowed to resume in England from Saturday, August 15.
The Government has announced that the plan set out in the "roadmap to recovery", which was paused for two weeks, will resume from Saturday August 15 in England – except for specific areas where local restrictions are in place.
A statement confirmed that, from August 15, "Beauty salons, tattoo studios, spas and barbers across England will be able to offer all close contact services – including front of the face treatments such as eyebrow threading, eyelash treatments and facials from August 15 under new guidance."
The face treatments now allowed
Close contact services that involve work directly in front of the face will now be available to clients, including:
• microblading
• eyelash and facial treatments
• eyebrow threading
• intricate beard work
• facial massages
• facial waxing
• make up application
• Botox"
The Government has now published an overview of the new rules on its website here.
The news will come as a huge relief to most in the beauty sector, who have been campaigning hard this week for increased financial support while they have been unable to fully reopen.
Face masks now mandatory for beauty therapists and hairdressers
New guidance now states that all staff offering close contact services, including hairdressers as well as beauty professionals, "should now wear a face mask (type 2 surgical), in addition to a clear visor that covers the face. This will help protect the customer and staff from respiratory droplets caused by sneezing, coughing, or speaking."
The above guidance also applies to businesses that operate remotely, such as massage therapists working in people’s homes, and those learning in vocational training environments.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: “From Saturday, salons, spas and other close contact services across England will once again be able to offer all services in a way that is safe for workers and clients.
“I am pleased to give these often small, independent businesses a much-needed boost as we progress with our plan to kickstart the economy to protect jobs and incomes.
“Opening up the economy is conditional on our continued success at controlling the spread of coronavirus. Therefore it remains essential businesses comply with Covid-19 secure measures to protect workers and the public."
The Government will continue to review these measures, which are based upon the latest infection rates, and guidance from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).
A series of new enforcement measures will also be announced to target the serious breaches of social distancing restrictions, including fines up to a maximum of £3,200 for people who repeatedly break face covering rules.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “At every stage I have said our plan to reopen society and the economy is conditional and that it relies on continued progress against the virus.
“Today, we are able to announce some further changes which will allow more people to return to work and the public to get back to more of the things they have missed. However, as I have always said, we will not hesitate to put on the brakes if required, or to continue to implement local measures to help to control the spread of the virus.”
The specific areas where local measures are currently in place include: City of Manchester; Trafford; Stockport; Oldham, Bury, Wigan, Bolton, Tameside, Rochdale, Salford, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Preston, Rossendale, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees.