What the new beauty restrictions mean for YOU: How long you can go for without getting your nails, laser, Botox, hair and lashes done - and the easy DIY tricks for maintaining them at home

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The Australian government has announced full restrictions on all beauty therapy, including tanning, waxing, nail salons, spas and tattoo parlours, beginning from midnight on Wednesday.

The only services exempt from the new 'draconian' measures are hairdressers and barbers, who are permitted to continue so long as they strictly manage social distancing and the patrons only stay on the premises for 30 minutes.

However, this isn't necessarily long enough for women to get their roots touched up or colour applied - it's just enough time for a simple cut. 

To help Australian women (and men) navigate these new rules, beauty experts have revealed to FEMAIL just how long you can last without getting your nails, cosmetic treatments and laser hair removal done - and how to conduct some of those treatments at home.

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NAILS

If you've just had varnish applied to your fingernails or toenails by a technician, fear not, this can simply be taken off with alcohol-based nail polish remover when it starts to chip.

The bigger problem is for those who have had SNS or acrylic nails applied in recent days and will require a top-up in the coming weeks.

According to Good Housekeeping, SNS - otherwise known as a dip powder manicure - can last two or three weeks without chipping or fading, making them comparable to gel-applied nails in terms of staying power. 

USA Nails salon in the affluent Sydney suburb of Double Bay was crammed with women early on Wednesday, desperate for one last beauty treatment before new coronavirus regulations come into force

Despite being seated in their usual positions, the store manager claimed they were complying with social distancing regulations

A full set of of acrylic nails - which are created by brushing a combination of liquid (monomer) and powder (polymer) onto your nails before shaping and air-drying them - can last six to eight weeks but ordinarily you'd need to head into a salon every three weeks to 'fill in' the growth. 

As this will no longer be possible under the new rules it's important to know how to safely remove the nails while at home.

A nail technician posted in The Makeup Social with a foolproof method, with many saying they had tried it on gel, acrylic and SNS - and it had been successful.

To start with you must hand file the top clear coat of nail varnish off first. Then fill a metal or ceramic bowl with just enough acetone to cover your nails.

Just around the corner at Le Nails Day Spa, women - young and old - were allowed to sit next to each other in massage recliner chars, or at tables while receiving a manicure

A nail technician posted in The Makeup Social with a foolproof method, with many saying they had tried it on gel, acrylic and SNS - and it had been successful

Soak them in the mixture for a minimum of 15 minutes. When you pull them out the nails should look 'gooey' and melted, if they don't, you haven't taken enough of the clear top layer off.

'Now buff the nails as much as you can until it becomes too hard to get off,' she said.

Repeat the soaking and buffing procedure until there is no acrylic, gel or SNS lacquer on your nail, although it's important to buff slowly to reduce the damage to your natural nail.

Once you're satisfied ensure you moisturise your fingernails and nail beds as much as possible because the alcohol from the mixture will dry them out.

It is possible to apply your fake nails at home but it is a delicate process and requires a number of products - including a lamp, chemical powders, nail primers and cuticle removers - so for the sake of your natural nails, this is not recommended for amateurs.

Repeat the soaking and buffing procedure until there is no acrylic, gel or SNS lacquer on your nail, although it's important to buff slowly to reduce the damage to your natural nail

LASER HAIR REMOVAL

Even if you managed to schedule in a visit to your laser hair technician on Wednesday evening you are still going to have to re-visit them in four to six weeks if the hair was on your face, or eight to ten weeks for top ups on your body hair.

If you miss your appointment beyond the 10-week mark you'll likely need more treatments to remove the hair in general because the growth phases have been interrupted.

Hair grows in three stages: the anagen (growth) stage, the catagen (transitional) stage and the telogen (resting) stage. 

Dylan Mullan is the inventor of Happy Skin Co

Professionals space out treatment sessions to target hair follicles in the growth (anagen) stage but not all hair follicles will be in the same stage at the same time.

For this reason, skipping an appointment could lead to increased hair regrowth post treatment due to missed hair follicles, or a longer treatment period, Glow med spa reported.

A simple way to continue removing hair is to invest in a portable machine, like the $299 device created by entrepreneur Dylan Mullan called Happy Skin Co.

Australian-owned and made it's the first company to launch an at-home Intense Pulsed Light laser hair removal handset.

His $299 device works in the same way the in-clinic laser treatments do but can be done at home (Tammy Hembrow pictured)

 The handsets work because the light energy from IPL is absorbed by the melanin in the hair, which then turns to heat and destroys the hair cells

The handsets work because the light energy from IPL is absorbed by the melanin in the hair, which then turns to heat and destroys the hair cells.

'Most people will see complete results by the time they've completed their 12th session, so long as they zap the area once a week. At this point, hair generally stops growing completely however this doesn't mean it will never grow back,' Mr Mullan told FEMAIL.

'You actually have to be careful when anyone claims "permanent" laser hair removal as all forms of laser hair removal will require maintenance or eventually the hairs will start growing back.

'After completing your initial session, you would only have to use your handset about once every three months to maintain smooth, hairless skin.'

BROWS

National Brow Artist Hannah Mutze

While brow services are a luxury - and tend to be booked in every four to six weeks for a tidy up - National Brow Artist for Benefit Cosmetics Australia Hannah Mutze said we can certainly survive with fluffier, less defines brows if we have to.  

She told FEMAIL that it's 'actually quite easy' to maintain your shape at home by avoiding tweezing every couple of days, because it interferes with the natural growth cycle, and instead setting aside time every two to four weeks for a full tidy up. 

'At-home waxing is risky business, DIY tweezing/plucking is a much safer and easier option,' Miss Mutze said.

'Invest in a quality pair of slant tip tweezers (Benefit have a great pair as do Tweezerman) and use these to maintain your brows. 

'You'll also need a spoolie brush or similar, a brow pencil to trace your shape and if you have long/curly or unruly brows, get yourself a pair of small nail/cosmetic scissors for some at home tweezing.' 

Use your brow pencil to draw an outline around the shape of your brows and exaggerate the thickness of your brows to make sure you don't take a couple of hairs too many and keep the lines straight as opposed to curved. 

'Use this line as a guide when tweezing and only remove hairs that sit outside these lines,' she said.

• For precise lines, align the flat edge of your tweezers with the straight line of your brow outline, this will also make gripping the hair a little easier.

• Remove hairs one by one, and always pull in the same direction the hair grows in (this will change depending on what area you are working on).

• Support the skin by gently pulling it tight with your non tweezing hand.

'If in doubt, resort to brow products to keep your brows looking groomed,' she said

To trim, use your spoolie to brush your brow hairs up, then with your scissors trim away the excess length that extends above the natural line of your brow. Go slowly, and snip hairs one-by-one or a couple at a time to prevent blunt edges. 

'If in doubt, resort to brow products to keep your brows looking groomed,' she said.

'Tinted brow gels like Gimme Brow+ are the easiest way to fake a brow tint, just brush through and you're good to go.

'Curly/unruly brows will love a clear brow gel like 24hr Brow Setter to set hairs in place, the strong hold will prevent any hairs acting out throughout the day.'

WAXING

If you're used to waxing your underarms, legs, arms and bikini line every four to six weeks you'll need to turn your attention to at-home treatments after midnight tonight. 

But a seemingly 'crazy' hack video shared on the Facebook group Five Minute Crafts reveals how you can make your own body wax using sugar, water and lemon juice.

The clip suggests combining a cup of sugar, a quarter of a cup of water and a quarter of a cup of lemon juice in a hot saucepan.

Regular trips to the salon for a wax can be a costly business - but there may be a cheaper way to banish your unwanted leg hair: a DIY sugar wax

After giving it a good stir, let the concoction boil for five to seven minutes, at which point its texture changes into a thick, honey-like substance

After giving it a good stir, let the concoction boil for five to seven minutes, at which point its texture changes into a thicker, honey-like substance. 

Pour the mixture into a bowl and allow it to become cool to touch - which usually takes between 10 and 20 minutes. 

Then smear it onto an area and pull it back off against the grain of the hair. 

Known in the beauty industry as 'sugaring' it is said to be a safe and natural way of removing body hair using at-home ingredients.

It should prevent hair from growing back for the same amount of time that regular waxing would do.

Pour the mixture into a bowl and allow it to become cool to touch - which usually takes between 10 and 20 minutes

No sooner had the volunteer in the video spread the thick golden gloop across their skin, they then rapidly ripped it off, taking the hair with it

TANNING

Those who like to look bronzed all year round have the least to worry about in the beauty department, because there are a range of faux tanning products you can apply at home.

While you'd normally spend $25-$30 visiting a professional salon, you can purchase products like Isle of Paradise ($39), Bondi Sands ($17-$20) and Eco Tan ($34.95) that can be used upwards of eight times over.

British-born Jules Von Hep has bronzed the likes of Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and Lily James before starting his own brand, called Isle of Paradise, which is available in Australian Mecca stores.

British-born Jules Von Hep (pictured) bronzed the likes of Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and Lily James before starting his own brand called Isle of Paradise

The successful beauty guru told recommends a tanning schedule of two weeks 'on' and one week 'off', giving your skin time to breathe between treatments.

Otherwise you'll constantly be reapplying over tan residue, causing a build up and not-so-clean looking application.

When it's your 'on' week, start by exfoliating two days before you're going to apply the product, as well as the night before.

The successful beauty guru recommends a tanning schedule of two weeks 'on' and one week 'off', giving your skin time to breathe between treatments

So if your tanning night is Friday use an exfoliating glove to scrub away dead skin on Wednesday night and then try a chemical exfoliant on Thursday evening.

Before you swipe the brown mousse down your leg, have a cold shower to ensure any open pores have been closed and wait at least five minutes after getting out of the water before putting it on.

This is because freshly washed skin isn't hydrated enough to soak up the tanning chemicals, so you'll want to put on a light coating of moisturiser to help with the process.

His favourite moisturiser to use on your wrists, feet, ankles and knees ahead of a tanning day is Vaseline's Intensive Care Body Lotion Aloe Soothe ($12.99).

Finally, remove all manner of deodorant and and fragrance from your skin before a treatment because the ingredients will cause the area to turn green.     

Shani Grimmond (pictured) posed with the bottle of fake tan as she showcased her transformation using Bondi Sands at-home products

HAIR 

Michael Piastrino from Ibiza Hair

Hairdressers and barbers are allowed to remain open for the time being, so long as they have a four metre square radius around each patron and only allow them to stay in the premises for 30 minutes.

This isn't enough time to colour, tone and tint your strands, but some pros have lended their expertise to help you master your favourite look at home. 

Revlon Professional and hairdresser Michael Piastrino from Ibiza Hair in Victoria said he would normally encourage a client who was unable to attend their next appointment to use the Eksperience™ Color Protection range for coloured and treated hair because it creates a protective barrier to maintain colour. 

Hairdressers and barbers are allowed to remain open for the time being, so long as they have a four metre square radius around each patron and only allow them to stay in the premises for 30 minutes

Hairdresser Jaye Edwards shares his best tips for at-home treatments:

As Australia braces for an avalanche of business closures and weeks - if not months - of social distancing, Mr Edwards says this is the perfect opportunity to let your hair rest and breathe.

He shared these tips with Daily Mail Australia.

Jaye Edwards blow drying a mannequin

1. Avoid heat styling: Take the chance to air dry your hair and leave straighteners, curlers and crimpers to the side until this is all over.

2. Invest in a good leave-in conditioner: Mr Edwards' favourite is the $42 'Refresh and Purifying Leave-In Conditioner' from Virtue Labs.

3. Start bonding your hair: Bond building products are designed to prevent damage and protect your hair from chemicals found in permanent dyes. High quality bonding products repair hair and reconnect damaged strands, making hair softer and stronger. Mr Edwards' go-to bond builder is Redken's pH Bonder which costs $33 for 150ml.

4. Treat yourself to a mask: Hair masks are famous for adding shine, softness and moisture to dull, lacklustre locks. They also reduce frizz and hydrate the scalp, making it healthier and less inclined to flake. Mr Edwards recommends the $30 Restorative Treatment Mask from Virtue Labs, which should be left on for five minutes for best results. 

Source: Jaye Edwards

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'Using the hair cleanser and sealing mask adds extra colour protection, which in turn preserves colour,' Mr Piastrino told FEMAIL.

To ensure your hair looks well looked after - even in isolation - he recommends eating protein-rich foods, avoiding heat styling tools where possible, skipping the daily shampoo to prevent breakage and frizz and finish your shower with a cool rinse. 

'I recommend using the UNIQONE™ SUPER10R Hair Mask to strengthen, nourish, and repair hair that is damaged or has split ends,' he said.

'Also, we encourage using a microfiber hair towel to soak up water quickly so minimal damage is caused when rubbing hair into a frizzy state to get it dry.'

For men with a fade it's important to use a nourishing conditioner to help maintain it.  

'Conditioners give your hair extra moisture, protect your hair from drying out and losing too many oils,' he said.

'The American Crew Daily Hair Shampoo and Conditioner is a gentle, natural cleanser and conditioner that doesn't strip natural oils from the hair. Well cared for hair will grow healthier and the haircut will last longer. 

Jaye Edwards, owner of Edwards and Co salons, has already transferred much of his business online, creating 'home colour kits' which clients can use to treat their own hair until restrictions are lifted.

He told FEMAIL he is already shipping dozens of kits to clients across the country, providing them with their choice of dye, brush and mixing bowl, towel, gloves, foils to prevent colour transfer and detailed instructions on application. 

Basic kits start from $119.95 with free shipping and contain enough dye and equipment to colour hair three times, making them an purchase for anyone practicing social distancing or living in self-isolation.

Mr Edwards and his team are also offering $25 FaceTime consultations for new customers to help them find their perfect colour match. 

LASHES

Eyelash extensions are applied by a technician who hand-glues the extensions on top of your natural lashes, under normal circumstances.

As their personal services will no longer be required - but need to be put back on every six to eight weeks after they fall out like your natural lashes do - it's worth having another option in mind.

You can purchase individual lashes, like those from Ardell for $10 at Priceline, or an entire strip of lashes for $28, like that sold by Huda Beauty.

Eyelash extensions are applied by a technician who hand-glues the extensions on top of your natural lashes, under normal circumstances

You can purchase individual lashes, like those from Ardell for $10 at Priceline (pictured)

Otherwise a good quality mascara and eyelash curler can do just as good a job, for a temporary time, like the Covergirl Lashblast Mascara Waterproof Very Black ($15.99).

Experts don't recommended that you try and expertly apply extensions at home if you don't have the professional glue or application tools.  

COSMETIC INJECTABLES

Founder of The Manse Clinic in Sydney, Dr Naomi McCullum, understands that her patients will miss their regular cosmetic injectables, which will cease from midnight on Wednesday. 

'Patients will last about three months after their last botox and from 6-12 months after their last dermal filler,' Dr McCullum told FEMAIL.

'Cosmetic clinics are going to be very busy after this pandemic calms down. Beauty lovers will be so unhappy without their regular fixes. It's their pleasure, a hobby and such a calming ritual for them.'

Dr Naomi McCullum (pictured), who works out of her exclusive Sydney clinic called The Manse, said part of her job is 'weeding out' people who aren't going to be happy with their end results

'Patients will last about three months after their last botox and from 6-12 months after their last dermal filler,' Dr McCullum told FEMAIL 

While the pandemic is in full force her clients will be 'all about DIY and looking after their skin at home', she said. 

'Our clinic is creating skincare and beauty device offers on our social media every week for patients to use at home. For example, our next offer is a hand-held home LED with some active skincare.'

She said that 'beauty achievers' will not give up and that's what she loves about them. 

While a focus on skincare is paramount - particularly given the amount of time people have at home now - you won't be able to get injections until personal services are over.

 While a focus on skincare is paramount - particularly given the amount of time people have at home now - you won't be able to get injections until personal services are over

SKINCARE

Most reputable skincare companies will already have a website that sells their products - or have made one now that the coronavirus pandemic is upon us.

You're still able to purchase online goods and have them delivered to your door. The only change now is that Australia Post will no longer be asking for a signature and will simply leave your things in a 'safe place'.

For those who are used to getting a facial, Sephora Australia has some suggestions on how to create an at-home spa at home.  

Sephora Collection's Glow Peel Pads ($24) will keep your skin glowing when your microdermabrasion's have been put on temporary hold.

Sephora Collection's Glow Peel Pads ($24) will keep your skin glowing when your microdermabrasion's have been put on temporary hold

Skin Gym's Face Sculptor ($119.00)

The peel pads contain natural glycolic and peptides to exfoliate skin easily.

Skin Gym's Face Sculptor ($119.00) is designed to mimic the effect of a professional massage by fitting the contours of your face to lift, firm and tone, leaving you with a radiant glow and rejuvenated appearance.

The brand's Goldie device ($118) is studded with non-invasive peaks, so the roller refines pores and stimulates collagen production, renewing skin to allow deep absorption of products.

SKIN INC's Goldie mask, which is also $118, combines a blend of botanical and vitamin C extracts, enhanced with purifying charcoal and previous pure gold to help your face shine in isolation.