Current filter:
Hair salons must comply with the Health (Hairdressing) Regulations 1980 (when hair was big ’n glossy). Many of the requirements are what you’d expect, but it’s best you get in touch with us early on in your salon’s development so we can help you tick all the boxes.
All hairdressing premises must comply with the Health (Hairdressing) Regulations 1980. An Environmental Health officer can help you with this. They can do preliminary inspections at any stage of the initial set up.
Here are the basic requirements:
Registration is renewed each year from 1st April or if the business changes hands.
When you are ready to open, contact the Environmental Health Office for an inspection and apply for a certificate of registration. A fee will apply. You may not open until registration has been made and the EHO has approved opening of the premises.
Under the Health (Hairdressers) Regulations 1980 the Napier City Council Environmental Health Officers are required to licence and inspect hairdressing premises and issue Certificates of Registration.
This applies to hairdressers operating in both commercial businesses or from their own homes for profit or reward.
This is a summary of the Regulations which have been prepared to help you set up your hairdressing salon to meet the minimum standards. It should not be seen as a legal document or a substitute for consultation with the Environmental Health Officer.
Interpretation
Service Area means that portion of the hairdressing shop that is set aside for hairdressing.
No person shall use any premises as a hairdressers shop unless they are registered by the Local Authority and are the holder of a current certificate of registration.
No person shall use any premises as a hairdressers shop unless the following requirements are met.
The floor space shall be sufficient to permit easy access for cleaning.
Every room in which customers are attended to shall be of a floor area at least 2.3m² for each customer who can be attended to at the same time as any other customer.
Service chairs used for haircutting shall be at least 1.5m apart.
Where customers awaiting attention are admitted to the service area, an additional 0.9m² of floor space shall be provided for their exclusive use.
Where separate waiting rooms or reception rooms are provided, every such room shall have a floor space of not less than 0.9m² for every person for whom seating is available, but in no case shall the floor area be less than 4.6m².
The floor of that part of the service area where hair is cut or washed shall be covered with a smooth, impervious, durable material. Coving between the floor and walls is recommended.
In any areas where walls are likely to be wetted or fouled they are to be covered with a smooth impervious, durable material.
All other walls shall have a non-absorbent surface that is easily cleaned.
Every shelf, bench or table on which tools of trade or instruments are to be placed shall be finished with a smooth, impervious and durable material. All other shelving and inside cupboards should be made smooth and easy to clean by applying a paint or polyurethane surface.
Lighting of not less than 300 lux shall be provided in all working areas where customers are attended to or where equipment is cleaned. In every part of the shop, the overall light intensity shall be not less than 100 lux 800mm above the floor.
All lighting shall be reasonably free from glare and distributed so as to avoid shadows.
Ventilation shall be sufficient to prevent condensation, excessive moisture on walls and ceilings and to ensure the removal of objectionable odours and fumes.
If sufficient natural ventilation is not available, adequate mechanical ventilation is required.
Note: should a clothes drier be used on the premises it must be vented to the outside air.
Separate washing facilities are required to allow staff to:
At least one wash hand basin shall be installed in the service area for every 10 chairs used for hair cutting and must be within 6m of each chair. This is in addition to the one adjacent to the toilet.
Wash hand basins must be provided with hot and cold running water, soap, drying device and a nail brush.
In every hairdressers shop where hair is cleansed there shall be sufficient shampoo basins or troughs supplied with hot and cold water and used exclusively for shampooing and cleansing hair.
A sink supplied with hot and cold water shall be provided for the cleansing of all hairdressing equipment. These must not be installed in any room used by staff as a meal room.
All hairdressing equipment is required to be thoroughly cleaned after each client and sanitised at least daily.
Should the laundering of towels etc take place on the premises an additional separate room with a tub or washing receptacle for discharge of the washing machine water will be required. No laundering operation is to be carried out in the service area of any hairdressing shop.
Sufficient cupboards, shelving etc is required. No materials or equipment other than those used for hairdressing should be stored in the service area.
Clean dust proof storage is to be provided for towels etc.
When not in use all appliances, tools and equipment shall be kept in containers or cabinets provided for the purpose.
Rubbish and cut hair is to be stored in washable containers with a cover or lid and disposed of at least daily.
Where tea, coffee or other beverages are served to customers, all utensils used in the service of such refreshments are to be effectively cleaned and rendered hygienic. The use of single service disposable utensils is highly recommended.
Disclaimers and Copyright
While every endeavour has been taken by the Napier City Council to ensure that the information on this website is
accurate and up to date, Napier City Council shall not be liable for any loss suffered through the use, directly or indirectly, of information on this website. Information contained has been assembled in good faith.
Some of the information available in this site is from the New Zealand Public domain and supplied by relevant
government agencies. Napier City Council cannot accept any liability for its accuracy or content.
Portions of the information and material on this site, including data, pages, documents, online
graphics and images are protected by copyright, unless specifically notified to the contrary. Externally sourced
information or material is copyright to the respective provider.
© Napier City Council - www.napier.govt.nz / +64 6 835 7579 / info@napier.govt.nz