NEWS

SA’s National Minimum Wage increases by 9.62%

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On 21 February this year, the Minister of Employment and Labour, Thembelani Waltermade Nxesi, published a Government Gazette giving notice of an increase in South Africa’s National Minimum Wage.

As from 1 March 2023, the ordinary hourly rate increased by 9.62% up from 2022.

The EOHCB (Employers Organisation for Hairdressing, Cosmetology & Beauty) has made the following calculations based on a 45-hour week. The new rate is now R25.42 per hour; R1,143.90 per week; and R4, 956.86 per month.

Salon and spa owners who have entered into Learnership agreements with learners must remunerate learners according to Schedule 2 of the new rates. The EOHCB has calculated the following rates based on a 45-hour week. Entry Level Learners – R1,657.70 per month; Level 2 Learners – R3,315.23 per month; Level 3 Learners – R5,111.13 per month; and Level 4 – R7,459.39 per month.

For more information go to https://www.eohcb.co.za/and click on the Resources tab.

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Alternative therapies top spa searches

Currently the most searched for spa treatment of the year according to a survey conducted by SpaSeekers.com is the yoni steam, which is otherwise known as vaginal steaming.

Regarded by some as a controversial treatment, searches for yoni steam have increased by 124% during the past 12 months. Practitioners of yoni steam treatments believe this therapy helps to regulate the menstrual cycle and ease period cramps and bloating. However, these claims are disputed.

The second most searched for spa treatment is another alternative treatment – crystal healing massage, which is up by 91%. This type of massage involves placing healing minerals and crystals around the client so that they can benefit from their healing properties while receiving their massage.

According to the SpaSeekers.com research, massage treatments are set to be extremely popular with consumers in 2023, with traditional Turkish bath massages up 85% and gold massages (a type of massage carried out using 23-karat gold to give the skin a dewy glow) also up by 84%.

Ayurveda massages ranked in ninth position on the list of most searched for spa treatments, with searches for the traditional massage, which uses specific warm oils to restore the body’s balance, up by 50% in the last year.

The facial treatments set to be the most popular in 2023 are lymphatic drainage facials (+83%) and light therapy facials (+49%).

Sound baths, colonic hydrotherapy and salt saunas all also featured in the top trending treatments of this year, with searches having increased by 83% for each. (Source: https://www.spaseekers.com/spa-insider/inspiration/ spa-trends-2023/)

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Salons reminded that SARS- COV-2 Code of Practice is still applicable

On the 27th of January 2023, the Department of Employment and Labour published a correction to the 24th of June 2022 Government Gazette referring to Hazardous Biological Agents promulgated in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Readers are reminded that the Covid-19 virus and all its variants are regarded as ‘Hazardous Biological Agents’ and that it is the duty of employers, employees, workers and self-employed individuals to adhere to all regulations stipulated in the Code of Practice: Managing Exposure to SARS-COV-2 in the Workplace.

For ease of reference, the EOHCB (Employer’s Organisation of Hairdressing, Cosmetology, Beauty) has published the updated Code of Practice on its website – click here https://www.eohcb.co.za/post/updatedcode-of-practice-managing-exposure-to-sarsvoc-2-in-the-workplace

The Code of Practice requires the following in the workplace:

• A Risk Assessment

• A Covid-19 Compliance Officer

• A Screening Questionnaire

• An Inspection List

• A Vulnerable Employee Disclosure Form

• A Vaccination Status Questionnaire

• A Vaccination Policy (Voluntary/ Mandatory/Combination)

• A Vaccination Objection Form

• Worker Awareness Collateral

• Remote Work Protocols If Applicable

To read the full Government Correction Notice on the EOHCB website click on https:// www.eohcb.co.za/and go to ‘Resources’.

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Scientist questions conventional theories about sun damage

A renowned retired professor from University of Illinois in Chicago, Dr Win L Chiou, has published numerous articles challenging conventional concepts on skin ageing and skin cancer.

He pointed out that the pioneering work of Dr Sam Shuster’s group in the British Journal of Dermatology (1975) on the dominant effect of intrinsic factor on skin ageing (i.e. skin collagen contents totally unaffected by sun exposure) in a very large number of subjects was completely ignored by scientists over the last 5 decades. Shuster’s work was recently supported by Chiou’s exponential kinetic analysis of their data that also clearly contradicted conventional accelerated ageing theory. The above is also confirmed by his analysis of other published data showing total lack of sun exposure on ageing of superficial capillaries in humans. Chiou was the first one to demonstrate exponential ageing kinetics of human hearts, our body engines, indicating the paramount importance of reduced cardiac output, nutrients, or even water on ageing that has been almost completely ignored in molecular dermatology.

Controversially, Chiou advocates not using sunscreen in our daily lives “as non-burning, moderate healthy sun-exposure can provide numerous benefits such as vitamin D and immunity enhancement, lower risk of bone fracture, high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke, as well as, ironically, protection against skin cancer. Use of sunscreen for intense intermittent sunbathing should be strongly discouraged mainly due to an SPFindependent missing applications that may eventually result in sunburn and skin cancer; this may mainly account for exponential increases of skin cancer incidences in USA and many other countries in recent decades”.

Chiou suggested the notion of wrinkles caused by chronic sunlight exposure is simply a statistical impossibility as the whole face, not just wrinkling lines, is exposed to sunlight evenly. He postulated that wrinkling primarily reflects our body’s defense mechanisms by reducing effective surface area to minimize water loss from the skin caused by decreased cardiac output and sun and wind exposure. He said conventional experiments to demonstrate such wrinkle etiology were fundamentally flawed. Chiou suggests using long-acting moisturizers such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin as effective anti-photoaging, anti-skin cancer and skin-firming agents. Chiou’s articles in 2022 were published in Journal of Dermatology Research and have received over 200,000 views to date. (Sources: https://www.prnewswire.com/ news-releases/conventional-theories-of-photoaging-and-skincancer-challenged-by-scientist-dr-win-l-chiou-301749808.html; Dr Win L Chiou)

Latest lip trend to sweep social media

The butterfly lips trend involves lifting the lips with tape before injecting dermal filler to create an exaggerated Cupid’s bow effect.

According to Aesthetic Medicine magazine, experts warn that the treatment should be approached with caution.

Instagram #butterflylips @tarnocziarceztetika

Butterfly lips have been trending on both Instagram and TikTok, with reality television personalities Lauren Goodger and Katie Price having opted for this plumping procedure.

In an interview with OK.co.uk – a website where many women go to seek celebrity-influenced beauty ideas - the registered nurse and founder of Emma Wedgwood Aesthetics, Emma Wedgwood explained: “I wouldn’t recommend this treatment to my patients as it is very unsafe and can carry a high risk of infection from the tape itself. It’s also important to note that taping your lips will not change their natural anatomy. Other side-effects include prolonged downtime and lip filler migration caused by too many injections being administered too close together.”

Some users on Tiktok, identified by Ok.co.uk, were concerned about how good butterfly lips would look in real life, not just on camera. Furthermore, there were discussions about lip evenness and swelling from the procedure too. (Source: https://aestheticmed.co.uk/ site/shownewsdetails/what-is-the-butterfly-lip-trendand-why-is-it-prob)

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Reality TV driving demand for aesthetic treatments among teens, says survey

A whopping 92% of girls aged between 15 and 18 surveyed in a Safety in Beauty campaign say they are keen to try aesthetic treatments.

The research attributes this demand to reality shows like ‘Love Island’ and the influence wielded by contestants.

Aesthetic Magazine reports that, most concerningly, 92% of the girls surveyed would seek treatment irrespective of it being legally allowed or not, meaning they were prepared to lie to get access to the treatment or provider.

The findings are likely to reanimate conversations around young peoples’ self-image, especially the body image and mental health of young and impressionable reality TV show viewers. Indeed, 79% of those surveyed believed that female contestants on ‘Love Island’ represent what boys look for in girls in relation to beauty.

There is a noticeable spike in demand for certain procedures within certain age groups when shows such as ‘Love Island’ go on air. For example, in another survey by Safety in Beauty, conducted on 100 UK-based women, the most popular enhancements searched for after watching ‘Love Island’ were lip fillers, hair extensions, and breast augmentation. Permanent make-up, cosmetic nose enhancements, and fat reduction treatments also showed increased demand.

“We do typically see increases in enquiries when a celebrity or influencer undergoes a particular procedure,” says the consultant plastic surgeon and founder of CLNQ, Mr Reza Nassab. “Love Island’ contestants are often in swimwear, which may make people more conscious of their bodies.”

For practitioners, these research findings should provide cause for concern but also opportunities for education, especially around why aesthetic treatments are suitable or not suitable for an individual. Plus, it has never been a more important time to emphasise the value of expertise and experience over discounts, social media following, or the trend for cheap cosmetic surgery abroad. Controlling client expectations is important too. (Source: https://aestheticmed.co.uk/ site/shownewsdetails/92--of-girls-surveyed-would-seekaesthetic-treatme)