It takes a lot of blue to stay green…
With “day zero” looming ahead in the Western Cape, we’ve had to seriously consider the way we look at how our industry affects our environment.
Leonardo Da Vinci said: “Water is the driving force of all nature.” We so heavily rely on this valuable commodity for overall health and wellness… Drink 2 litres. Cleanse from the inside. Cleanse on the outside. Baths. Steam rooms. Jacuzzis and saunas. Foot soaks. The list is endless. In an industry that is so dependent on water, we’ve had to dive deep into our creative minds to make sure we take only what we need and not a drop more…
Facing record drought conditions, salons and spas in Cape Town are re-evaluating their water usage, looking for ways — both big and small — to cut back on all levels. We’ve seen salons take steps from installing flow restrictors on showers to discouraging the use of gowns to cut down on laundry. Unfortunately, no matter where we live, water is a dwindling resource. Fresh, clean water is something most of us take for granted in our everyday life,” says Tamara Jercha, founder of the National Association of Eco-Friendly Salons & Spas (NAEFSS).
In the past year we’ve seen many Cape Town spas shutting down their hydro facilities in an attempt to be part of the solution and not the problem. Using grey water from treatments in their gardens and swopping water soaks with compresses and mittens. It’s not ideal, it’s not what we know to be luxurious, but it certainly is necessary.
Farnaaz Banderker, Principal of Beauty Therapy Institute Cape Town advises on some tips we’ve put in place in our Beauty Therapy Institute classrooms to help our city and country save as much water as possible.
Facials:
After a full day of make-up, the make-up combined with the environmental factors can be a bit tougher to remove. We now advise our students and clients to use pre-cleanser on dry cotton wool to avoid using a lot of water. With the tougher layer off, use your professional cleanser to quickly give a deeper cleanse. We advise our guests to do the same at home to ensure they still receive their full cleansing skincare routine.
Manicures and Pedicures:
Who doesn’t love the first 10 minutes of your feet being soaked in warm water when you go for a pedicure? Unfortunately this is a luxury we need to forgo without losing the relaxing aspect of the pedicure within our salons. We now use a warmly compressed towel to cleanse and exfoliate the feet which still ensures our clients of a relaxing, comfortable pedicure and manicure.
Hygiene = Priority
We make use of waterless steriliants wherever possible to ensure 100% hygiene is kept at all times. This we cannot compromise.
A change in mind set, into how we view wellness is in order and it’s both fascinating and exciting to be a part of an industry that is forced to evolve to accommodate the needs of its environment. How wonderful it is to know that through it all, we can still offer quality treatments & education without compromising efficacy and value.
With all the changes and strategies, one thing has stayed the same from last year … our prices. The Beauty Therapy Institute campuses have had a short-term price freeze on our upcoming 2018 courses.
For more information, please contact us on admin@beautytherapyinstitute.co.za or call us on +27 78 562 8935. Visit our website www.beautytherapyinstitute.co.za to find out more about our courses.