Changes in sanitary rules for beauty salons and replacement of SanPiN with SP

The beauty salon industry is always changing, both in terms of business operations and trends and techniques. The sanitary regulations that govern beauty salons have undergone significant changes recently. The old SanPiN regulations have been replaced with a new set of regulations called SP. The way beauty professionals maintain hygiene and make sure their clients are safe is directly affected by these changes.

Anyone involved in the beauty industry, from nail technicians to salon owners, must comprehend these new regulations. Professionals must remain informed and compliant as the updated standards aim to improve the general safety and hygiene of beauty services.

The main modifications to these hygienic regulations will be explained in this article.

Old SanPiN Standards	New SP Regulations
SanPiN focused on strict hygiene rules for beauty salons.	SP emphasizes updated, practical guidelines to ensure safety and hygiene in beauty salons.
SanPiN required specific equipment sterilization protocols.	SP allows more flexible methods for sterilizing equipment while maintaining safety standards.
SanPiN was more rigid with waste disposal practices.	SP provides more adaptable waste management rules, focusing on sustainability.
SanPiN had detailed personal protective equipment requirements.	SP streamlines PPE guidelines, making them easier to follow while still protecting staff and clients.

What has changed

The SanPiN 2.1.2.2631-10 and SP2.1.2.2630-10 sanitary rules and regulations that governed the operations of hair salons and beauty salons were revoked. On January 1st, 2020, SP 2.1.3678-20 became operative, having been authorized by the Chief Sanitary Doctor’s No. 44 decree dated December 24th, 2020.

The document governs not only the beauty industry but also the operations of other establishments that offer services to the general public, such as pharmacies, gyms, dry cleaners, medical facilities, and swimming pools.

Although the Sanitary Rules SP 2.1.3678-20 for hairdressers and beauty salons were changed to ease the burden on masters and owners, the changes actually raised more questions than they answered.

Who are the rules applicable to

To meet the new requirements, the following must be done:

• hairdressers and beauty salons registered as individual entrepreneurs or legal entities persons;
• self-employed citizens.

The fact that the self-employed, who are essentially individuals, are now subject to additional requirements is particularly significant. This was not the case under the previous SanPiN, and those who made the switch to self-employment were unaware of the rules.

SP 2.1.3678-20 is divided into nine sections. Section 8 governs the activities of the beauty industry, beginning with paragraph 8.2. While it retains the essential tenets and prerequisites of the previous regulations, it contains some very important modifications.

Equipment and placement

Requirements for placement

Prior to January 1, 2021, the SanPiN 2.1.2.2631-10 regulations 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 restricted the locations of salons and hair salons. Only distinct buildings, additions to residential buildings, and social organizations (stores, spas, hotels, etc.) were permitted to have objects. First floors of residential buildings, basements with excellent artificial lighting, rest homes, and boarding schools were also permitted.

Regardless of its intended use, a beauty services organization may be established on any floor of any building following the SanPiN’s 2021 amendments going into effect.

Location of offices

• Requirements for the location and operating procedures of manicure and pedicure rooms have been regulated. According to paragraph. 8.2.4 SP 2.1.3678-20, different cosmetic services must be provided in separate rooms.

One room can have any number of workstations in it. It was feasible to combine specific service types in a single room in the SanPiN that was in place before. This clause has been removed from the new regulations; everything must now have its own room.

• Significant amendments have been made to the clause on combining the workstation of a manicure and pedicure specialist. Previously, the Sanitary Requirements did not provide a clear understanding of how such a workstation should be used. Now the situation has become clear – manicure and pedicure in such places must be carried out alternately, with mandatory hygienic treatment of equipment after each manipulation. This provision excludes the possibility of providing a 4-hand service, when two masters simultaneously provided nail services to one client.

The requirements for partitions in spaces where cosmetic services are offered have been modified; see the new requirements in paragraph 4 of clause 8.2.4. The height of the partition used to vary, ranging from 1.8 to 2 meters. The current sanitary regulations are more specific, requiring that the structure’s height be limited to 1.8 meters.

• Requirements have been supplemented regarding equipping hairdressing salons with sinks for washing hair. In particular, clause. 8.2.6 states that sinks are not required in hairdressing salons providing dry haircutting services, without the use of water. Such a norm was not fixed in the previously existing rules.

• Also, a requirement has appeared for unhindered access of clients to the sink and toilet – clause 8.2.19. Previously, there was no such categoricalness in the sanitary requirements.

Disinfection and sterilization

There has been an addition to the equipment sterilization process. The revised rules, P. 8.2.29, include a longer list of disposable items.

Among them are:

• cotton pads;
• cotton balls;
• gauze napkins.

These one-time use consumables are kept in sterile containers.

The requirement of a single use for these materials is the only addition, if you consider that the core of this point has not changed. However, it is improbable that anyone has ever reused a napkin or cotton ball.

Regarding reusable tools and supplies, they are still sanitized before being stored in unique containers. Every package has an indication on the date and time of processing.

• According to paragraph. 8.2.21, information about sterilization is recorded on paper or electronic media. The previous rules did not provide for the possibility of storing data in electronic form. The legislator does not provide precise instructions in this part. Therefore, the owner of the facility decides for himself how, in what file and format to store information.

Since test strips are glued into paper journals, there is a question about how the quality of sterilization will be verified in light of the shift to electronic management. This part is also devoid of explanations.

The requirements did not previously specify the amount of disinfectants, PSO, or sterilization products that should be kept on hand. This information has now been determined. These days, hair salons, cosmetic rooms, and beauty salons have to keep a minimum of three days’ worth of merchandise on hand.

Sterilizers

The absence in the text of a clear cancellation or, on the other hand, a clear indication of the required presence of instructions in Russian and a registration certificate from Roszdravnadzor in the kit with the sterilizer is one of the main confusing and ambiguous places in the new SP regarding equipment.

It should be remembered that the sterilizer, whether thermal or infrared, is classified as a medical device of potential risk class 2a by GOST 31508-2012. This is a medium-risk class for which state registration is required for all preliminary exams.

We must not overlook the fact that production control is the responsibility of hairdressers and beauty parlors. This control includes an evaluation of the sterilizing apparatus’s effectiveness. Non-medical devices that lack technical documentation typically don’t offer high enough cleaning quality.

As part of the control, bacteriological control must be carried out by setting up biological tests, such as Vinar or IBCmp, prior to turning on the sterilizer. This kind of research, like that done for industrial control implementation, is carried out by specialized organizations.

We would also like to remind you that the primary sterilizing tool in a beauty salon cannot be a glass bead sterilizer, which is a flask filled with heated balls. The use of glasperlen is mentioned in SanPiN 3.3686-21 on the prevention of infectious diseases, but there is no outright ban on it in the new sanitary requirements for manicure salons and other beauty establishments.

Accordingly, paragraph 3608 indicates that small instruments that are fully submerged in a heated environment can be processed using glass bead sterilizers. The same paragraph makes clear that this sterilization technique is inappropriate for partially sterilizing large instruments; you cannot sterilise an instrument by lowering its working part into a flask.

This paragraph relates to dental offices; however, as previously mentioned, we advise consulting the Sanitary Rules for medical organizations when dealing with contentious issues as it is a safer course of action than assuming randomness.

Sterilization of instruments

The process for implementing disinfection and sterilization measures is one of the most contentious aspects of the new sanitary regulations for beauty salons. In the past, used instruments were rinsed off right away and then submerged in a disinfection solution. This was brought on by the increased possibility of bacteria and viruses spreading across walls, sinks, and hands.

The rules have now changed, requiring that equipment used in procedures involving skin damage be cleaned under running water after each use. After that, it is dried and given a disinfectant treatment.

These potentially skin-damaging procedures include:

• tattooing;
• depilation;
• peeling and scrub-peeling;
• manicure, pedicure.

Medical professionals involved in the preparation of materials for the NAILS Journal state that a process like this for performing disinfection measures could be related to the properties of disinfectants. The truth is that certain substances can adhere to organic fragments, such as skin or biological fluids, on the surface of instruments. Aldehyde-containing medications, such as Saidex, Tigasept FF, Lzoformin, Kods-por, and others, can have a similar effect.

How reasonable it is to follow the new disinfection protocol when using different types of disinfectants is a question that experts are unable to definitively answer.

It is no longer customary to store clean linen in separate packaging. It is not regulated by SP 2.1.3678-20 how reusable robes and napkins are kept. Employees at the salon are free to decide for themselves. The method of storage must adhere to hygiene regulations above all else.

• Clause 8.2.30 SP 2.1.3678-20 introduced a new provision on disinfection of electrodes of cosmetic equipment. It should be carried out before each use. In the previous version of the rules, there was no clarification on when to process the electrodes, but there was a detailed disinfection scheme. Now, the electrodes must also be disinfected according to the viral mode, but at the time specified in the instructions for the disinfectant.

Manicure and pedicure

Prior to the implementation of the new SP, foot baths in pedicure rooms were submerged in a disinfectant solution following every guest. Legally speaking, wiping with disinfectants instead of immersing is now a valid cleaning technique. The guidelines for maintaining the cleanliness of manicure trays have not changed. Even so, after every use, they should be submerged in an antiseptic.

• The requirement for moisture resistance and regular disinfection of disposable napkins for manicure and pedicure has been canceled. The new version of the rules does not contain direct instructions on how to clean these items. Therefore, it is assumed that napkins should be washed with detergents after each use.

Cleaning

In the past, certification attesting to the safety of the finishing materials was necessary for the floor, wall, and ceiling coverings. There is no such clause in the new SP. The general provisions that apply to all business entities are described in paragraph 2.7 of the new rules, along with information about surfaces and requirements for them.

It is still necessary for ceilings, floors, and walls to be resistant to cleaning agents and detergent treatments.

Furthermore, as of 2021, a hairdresser who detects lice, also known as pediculosis, in a client is not required to take the client to a sanitary checkpoint for anti-pediculosis treatment. These days, stopping the cutting process and giving the equipment a thorough cleaning with a disinfection solution is sufficient.

It is no longer necessary to designate a specially trained worker to oversee daily disinfection and compliance with the anti-epidemic protocol. Given that the prior standard was reasonable and natural, this innovation is highly contentious. As before, hygienic physicians advise following this guideline and designating an employee to be in charge of the cleaning and sanitation schedule.

Production control

All business entities, regardless of ownership structure or nature of operation, are required by law to implement production control. Hairdressers and beauty parlors are not an exception. This rule is not new; in fact, it was in place prior to 2021. The industrial control provision, however, was established by Federal Law No. 52 of 30.03.1999 and SP 1.1.1058-01 rather than being a part of the actual rules. The implementation process was complicated by the sheer volume of regulatory documents.

Now, p. 8.2.38 SP 2.1.3678-20 makes it clear that industrial control is required.

Beauty salons and hair salons ought to assess:

• microclimatic parameters – temperature, humidity – in the warm and cold seasons;
• proper sterilization of equipment – 2 times a year;
• checking the serviceability of equipment – 2 times a year;
• level of illumination of the premises – 1 time per year.

Specialized businesses that offer labor protection services are hired to carry out industrial control. Services related to production control are compensated. Verify that the company has Rospotrebnadzor accreditation before signing any contracts. The Federal Accreditation Service’s official website has a list of these businesses.

Recall that the Sanitary and Epidemiological Rules SP 1.1.1058-01 and Federal Law No. 52-FZ, "On the Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare of the Population," establish the duty to carry out industrial control. A fine is assessed for each administrative offense—noncompliance with the requirement—against the organization, the manager (official), and the individuals who were involved in the infraction.

Chemical indicators, or substances that show variations in the concentration of organic or inorganic compounds, such as bacteria and microbes, should be used for daily quality of sterilization monitoring. A bacteriological evaluation of the sterilization apparatus itself, including autoclaves, dry-heat cabinets, and other sterilizers, is required both during installation and twice a year thereafter.

Ventilation and air exchange

The rules pertaining to air exchange within the building have been somewhat modified. The changes in paragraph 2.6 of SP 2.1.3678-20 are approved. Thus, an additional local ventilation system is installed in offices that have equipment that contributes to the emission of heat, dust, or chemicals. Furthermore, it is no longer necessary for proprietors of beauty salons to certify their ventilation systems. Nonetheless, the clause pertaining to the evaluation of exhaust system efficiency in a laboratory persists.

The efficiency of ventilation is evaluated.

• before putting the equipment into operation;
• 24 months after installation;
• 10 years after installation.

The standard that forbade the placement of ventilation systems next to rooms where people are frequently present or the use of exhaust chambers as utility rooms has been revoked. Exhaust chambers in beauty salons may be used as "utility rooms" and storage spaces after the new regulations take effect, so long as their structural integrity and functional qualities are preserved.

Recent updates to the sanitary regulations for beauty salons have replaced the antiquated SanPiN guidelines with the new SP guidelines, bringing with them updated safety and hygiene standards that both salon employees and owners must adhere to. These adjustments, which have an impact on everything from waste disposal to sterilization procedures, are meant to guarantee a better standard of hygiene and customer safety. This post will discuss how salon operators should adjust to remain compliant and what these new regulations mean for day-to-day operations.

Retained provisions

As was previously mentioned, the major provisions of the Sanitary Rules have not changed despite multiple revisions.

Equipment

• the requirement to equip salons and hairdressers with central water supply and sewerage systems or autonomous systems, if there is no centralized water supply and sewerage in the locality, has been retained;
• natural ventilation of premises is still permitted if the organization has no more than three workplaces;
• in manicure, pedicure, and decorative cosmetics rooms, a combination of two types of lighting is mandatory – local and general. Hairdressers only need general lighting.
• in pedicure rooms, the requirement remains for 2 bathtubs with hot and cold water supply and a sink for washing hands, with the exception of rooms where there is only hardware pedicure – there is enough sink for hands;
• furniture should have a washable coating that is resistant to disinfectants;
• there must be a place for visitors" clothes, inventory, garbage, hair;
• it remains possible to combine auxiliary rooms – a place for eating and a cloakroom for workers – if there are less than 10 of them per shift, a lobby, a cloakroom and a waiting area.

Disinfection and sterilization

• it is still mandatory to carry out daily disinfection of walls, furniture, floors, ceilings as part of routine cleaning, as well as periodic treatment against pests;
• the requirement for a room or place for processing tools with a sink equipped with hot and cold water has not gone away;
• the requirement for containers and storage of working solutions has been preserved – in closed containers, indicating the name, concentration, dates of preparation and expiration dates;
• reusable underwear must be washed after each visitor, disposable – disposed of;
• washing is still carried out in two ways – centrally in the laundry room, or in an equipped place located in a separate room.

Hairdressing

• tampons for wetting during perm are changed after each client;
• reusable devices – clips, curlers, caps are washed under running water with detergents after each client;
• combs, scissors, brushes are sterilized pre-washed, or soaked according to the fungal mode in a solution with disinfectants;
• knives and blades are treated with a disinfectant.

Manicure and pedicure

• a foot pillow requires an oilcloth cover, which after use will withstand treatment with a disinfectant solution according to the fungal mode;
• hand baths are soaked by complete immersion in a disinfectant solution;
• for offices and halls there must be a set of standard tools – at least 3 sets per 1 workplace.

Cleaning

• daily – twice a day using detergents and disinfectants;
• general – at least once a week;
• inventory for different categories of rooms should be separate, with markings and a dedicated storage area.

Excluded items

Certain items from the previous hygienic requirements were changed, if not completely eliminated.

The revised regulations did not allow for:

• requirements for the first aid kit – previously, item 9 was devoted to this.30. Now, when assembling a first aid kit, it is recommended to be guided primarily by Order No. 1n dated January 9, 2018;
• information on passing medical examinations – in SanPiN 2.1.2.2631-10, paragraph 9 was responsible for this.29. But this does not mean that manicurists, hairdressers, eyebrow artists and other workers will not have to undergo an annual examination – its necessity is regulated by Order of the Ministry of Health No. 29N dated January 28, 2021.

SP 2.1.3678-20 – the updated study guidelines are available to download

From the Editor:

Many market experts, including ourselves, agree that the new SPs did not streamline or organize the hygienic and epidemiological requirements for market players. Many topics are unclear, and many things are not explained at all.

This specifically relates to the sterilizing apparatus that is being used. Many people believe that since sterilizers are no longer registered with the State Register of Medical Devices, you can use any device that does not have a registration certificate. We want to highlight that the sterilizer is still a medical device, even after the new SP was released, so drawing such conclusions is premature in our opinion. We don’t think it’s worth it to rush into purchasing sterilizers without a certificate.

A major change in the industry has occurred with the recent modifications to the sanitary regulations for beauty salons, specifically the substitution of SP for SanPiN. By modernizing and streamlining the standards, these new regulations hope to make sure salons follow more current and pertinent guidelines.

It’s critical for salon owners and staff to remain aware of these changes and make the necessary adjustments. Compliance involves more than just abiding by the law; it also entails keeping both clients and employees in a safe and healthy environment. Additionally, this can improve the general reputation of your company and foster a culture of trust.

Even though some adjustments may be necessary, these updates ultimately help to raise the standard of services provided in the beauty industry. Salons can maintain their superior quality of service by accepting these changes.

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