With a gradual relaxation of the lockdown, salons in the city are reopening and welcoming customers back. Consumers are also keen to get their regular hygiene and grooming regimen on track. However, given the new COVID19 environment, they are looking for brands that have a strong focus on enhanced safety and hygiene measures.

In response to this situation, Pushkaraj Shenai, CEO – Lakme Salon, India’s most admired national salon network for over 40 years, and with 47 salons in the city said, “As a Unilever company, rigorous hygiene protocols and high-quality products have always been top priorities for us at Lakme Salon. In the new normal, the safety of our team and customers is the key focus area.”

Lakme Salon is a part of Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), maker of Lifebuoy, India’s leading hygiene brand. HUL has pledged Rs.100 crores, to support the fight against COVID-19. In collaboration with experts and medical professionals, the Lakme Salon team has reengineered the customer experience journey across all touchpoints and developed stringent operating guidelines to ensure the highest levels of safety and hygiene for customers and staff. The key themes are:

1. Rigorous and continuous screening of salon teams with the Aarogya Setu app and customers with the app and self-declaration forms. Clients in high risk groups will be advised not to get treatments.
2. Strict social distancing through 50% staff strength and limited pre-booked appointments.
3. Daily deep cleaning and regular disinfection of every touchpoint throughout the day with a biosurfactant cleaner
4. Protective gear – masks, gloves, visors, disposable aprons – for the team
5. Single-use kits for 90% of services
6. Revised processes for skin, hair and make-up services to reduce touch
7. Biodegradable disposables in all services
8. Sterilization of tools and equipment after every use
9. Contactless billing and payments
10. Contactless home delivery for post care products

Dr. Sneha Prabhudabholkar, a medical professional and the National Creative Director – Skin Care at Lakme Salon, has reviewed and enhanced the service protocols, “As many as 55 new hygiene practices have been implemented across Lakme Salons. We have updated the steps in performing services – across basics like threading / waxing, manicures/pedicures and even facials and hair services to reduce the chances of transmission. The new protocols reduce direct person-to-person contact, eliminate sharing of products and consumables, protect the customer and expert with sanitization protocols built into the service steps and adopt use of protective gear and disposables to make the service experience extremely safe and comfortable. We will continuously improve this as more scientific knowledge is available.”

Pushkaraj adds, “We have made significant investments in strong safety protocols delivered by high quality hygiene products. We have used the lockdown period to digitally train our team –housekeeping staff, experts, salon managers and business partners – in these new methods to ensure complete adherence to protocols. Our 5000 team members have also attended a cumulative 500,000 plus hours of high-quality education during the lockdown to enhance their skill and execute the highest standards of hygiene and safety. Your safety is our first priority; your beauty is a close second.”

Says Dr. Soumya, a practicing doctor who also owns four Lakme Salons in Karnataka, “As an experienced medical practitioner, I understand the need for increased hygiene, disinfection practices and staff awareness about the infection, its spread and ways of prevention. At Lakme Salon, the operating and service processes have been revised to adopt new hygiene practices & social distancing methods, along with extensive staff trainings. The new practices are comparable to the sterilisation methods followed in any hospital and are as per the government guidelines. We have reviewed the standard control measures together to arrive at the new ways of operations. I’m very confident about these measures and their implementation on ground.”

Roopa Malpatty, Lakme Salon -Whitefield Franchise adds, “We are adhering to all the safety standards and maintaining very high levels of hygiene to ensure that our customers are provided services keeping their health and safety as top priority. The Lakme Salon team has put in place strict audits to ensure that we are following all the prescribed 55 processes. All employees have to clear the COVID-19 screening, provide a self-declaration and sanitize themselves as soon as they enter the salon every day and wear PPE during services. During the 8 weeks of lockdown all our employees have been rigorously trained in these new processes to deliver them confidently on ground. In the few days since re-opening, we see that our customers are very appreciative and are feeling safe in our salon- Roopa Malpaty – Lakme Salon, Whitefield Franchise

Lakme Salon operates with a vision to BEAUTIFY THE FUTURE – of their customers, staff and partners. With 55 enhanced safety measures designed in collaboration with medical professionals, in line with government and Beauty and Wellness Skill Sector Council guidelines, customers will have a safe experience in the controlled salon environment across all touchpoints.