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  Ziba Beauty Launches the Prestigious The Art of Threading; Mastery Certification Program [Artesia, Ca] — Ziba Beauty, the premier eyebrow threading and waxing studio and recognized industry leader in the United States, is proud to announce the launch of its exclusive The Art of Threading; Mastery Certification Program. This innovative course, previously only available within Ziba Beautys internal training regimen, is now being offered to the public for the first time. Celebrating over 34 years at the forefront of eyebrow artistry, Ziba Beauty has meticulously crafted a 5- day certification course designed to revolutionize the standard of eyebrow threading. Through Ziba Academy, students will be instructed by a team of highly trained educators who have mastered the intricacy and finesse of threading, an art form that Ziba Beauty has pioneered and perfected. The Art of Threading Mastery Certification Program is not just a course; its an immersive experience designed to empower aspiring beauty professionals with unrivaled expertise in eyebrow threading, said Sumita Batra, CEO of Ziba Beauty. Our goal is to elevate the craft and ensure that every graduate is not only certified but also confident and equipped to deliver the highest standard of service. With a legacy of shaping over a million eyebrows annually, Ziba Beautys artists are celebrated as the best in the industry. Their talent and dedication to the craft of threading have contributed to the company’s success and helped place professional threading on the map in the U.S. Course attendees can look forward to a hands-on learning journey that includes:  Comprehensive training in the fundamental and advanced techniques of eyebrow threading  An in-depth understanding of brow aesthetics and facial symmetry  Personalized mentorship from experienced threading professionals  Practical experience gained in a controlled, supportive environment.  The unique opportunity to learn from a brand that has shaped more eyebrows than any other brand in America. Upon completion, certified artists will be recognized as experts in threading, carrying the prestigious seal of Ziba Beauty, synonymous with excellence in the industry. Enrollment is now open for beauty professionals looking to elevate their careers and master the revered art of threading. Spaces are limited to ensure personalized attention and optimal learning conditions. For more information on The Art of Threading Mastery Certification Program or to register, please visit www.zibabeauty.com or contact Suman Patel at [email protected]. Join us at Ziba Beauty, where beauty and artistry intertwine, and master the art of threading with the best in the business. About Ziba Beauty Ziba Beauty has redefined the art of eyebrow threading and waxing for over three decades, boasting 6 premier studios across California. As a beacon of excellence in beauty and customer service, Ziba Beauty prides itself on creating the ultimate experience in beauty care, setting a benchmark that many aspire to reach. Note to editors: For media inquiries, interviews, or additional information, please contact Suman Patel using the information provided above. High-resolution images and supplementary materials are available upon request.

The outbreak of Covid-19 saw a massive rise in the demand of hand sanitizers even though the various health authorities stated that using regular soap and water was quite as effective. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (with an ethanol content of at least 60%), if soap and water are unavailable. This means soap and water should be the first choice. However, we know you can’t go about carrying soap and water everywhere we go, like a compact hand sanitizer allows. Because of the spike in the consumer demands for hand sanitizers, there were shortages in the availability of hand sanitizers. This forced a lot of people to attempt producing hand sanitizers at home. It also created an avenue for new companies to start manufacturing these products. While some companies were honest and diligently used approved ingredients in their right proportions, some manufacturers decided to exploit the panic caused by the pandemic. These bad actors produced hand sanitizers that were either substandard (containing the active ingredients in less than the appropriate quantities) or outright toxic (using similar but dangerous chemicals for manufacturing the product). Thankfully, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) created a do-not-use list for hand sanitizers. The products on this list are contaminated with harmful types of alcohol, contain less than the recommended amount of active ingredients, or have misleading labels on the product’s package. Currently, over 150 hand sanitizers are on this growing list. Different types of alcohol exist, but there are only two types that are acceptable in hand sanitizers. The first one is known as ethyl alcohol – commonly known as ethanol or alcohol. The second is isopropyl alcohol – commonly called isopropanol or 2-propanol. So what are the harmful ingredients you should look out for when you want to select a hand sanitizer? Apart from the two mentioned earlier, other types of alcohol are not acceptable due to their toxic nature in humans. The most recent FDA tests discovered two potentially harmful types of alcohol that are being used in hand sanitizers. The first is methyl (also known as methanol or wood alcohol) while the second one is 1-propyl (or 1-propanol). How bad is methanol for humans? Methyl alcohol (or wood alcohol) is what is used in making antifreeze and rocket fuel. It is a highly toxic form of alcohol, and it should not be rubbed on the skin or ingested. When swallowed, wood alcohol can lead to headaches, nausea, coma, seizures, permanent blindness or death. If you visit the CDC website, you can find more information about individuals who lost their lives or their eyesight permanently as a result of ingesting hand sanitizers containing methyl. How dangerous is 1-Propanol? 1-Propyl alcohol is the major substance used in making industrial cleaning chemicals and can be dangerous to humans when ingested. Severe symptoms, such as breathing difficulty and decreased heart rate occur in people who drink a hand sanitizer contaminated with 1-propanol. This alcohol type also causes death when swallowed. If your skin or eyes are exposed to this alcohol, it can cause irritation. The FDA reports that a few people have even complained of having allergic skin reactions after a hand sanitizer with 1-propanol came in contact with their skin. How can you protect yourself from these bad ingredients? Always the check the label: You should know that a vast majority of hand sanitizers made using these potentially dangerous alcohol types do not usually list these harmful ingredients on the label. However, if you see names like methanol, wood alcohol, methyl alcohol, 1-propyl alcohol, or 1-propanol on any hand sanitizer’s label, do not buy it. If you already have one of such, please stop using it immediately, and trash it. And by trash, we do not mean putting it in just any trash container; instead, you should dispose of it in a hazardous waste container. Also know that wood alcohol is a very flammable substance, so don’t put it near any fire. Do not ingest hand sanitizers: Hand sanitizers should never be swallowed because it can lead to alcohol poisoning. You cannot know if a hand sanitizer contains these hazardous types of alcohols just by looking at it or even smelling it, so don’t attempt to drink it. Also, alcohol poisoning (either from acceptable or toxic types) can lead to health complications or even death. Some hand sanitizers have packaging that makes them look like sweet drinks, and this has caused many children to ingest them accidentally. Kindly warn all kids and teenagers about the dangers of swallowing hand sanitizers. Please call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or 911 immediately you find out anyone has swallowed hand sanitizer. Keep hand sanitizers out of the reach of pets: Do not use hand sanitizers on the skin or paws of pets, and you should never allow them to swallow it. If it gets on your pet’s skin or it is mistakenly consumed, it can lead to alcohol poisoning, health complications, or the animal may die. Please call your vet or any poison control center for animals immediately you discover a pet has ingested hand sanitizer or it contacts their skin. Check the FDA do-not-use list for info: Endeavor to check the FDA do-not-use list from time to time so that you can be in the know regarding newly discovered toxic ingredients used in hand sanitizers. Check to see if any hand sanitizer you want to purchase is on that list before buying it. Your Safety. Our Priority.  At Ziba Beauty, we cherish your health and we hope that we will soon get rid of the Coronavirus. In the meantime, try to use soap and water as much as possible in cleaning your hands. Only when you can’t access soap and water should you use hand sanitizers. And please make sure that the hand sanitizer you use contains ethanol or isopropanol in adequate proportions – any other types of alcohol, including methanol and 1-propanol are red flags. Also, do

Ziba Podcast Episode 1 Maya: Hi everyone it’s Maya Batra. Thank you so much for tuning in. If you’ve been a part of the Ziba Family for many years, thank you so much and if you’re new Welcome. I am the founder’s granddaughter and the CEO’s daughter and my mom is here today with us. The CEO of Ziba Beauty Sumita Batra Sumita: Hi Maya Maya: Hi! So we’ve been getting a lot of feedback and a lot of comments and questions etc. So we can discuss this today. Sumita: Hello everyone. I actually dreamt about sitting and doing this podcast this morning. Clients are asking us why we can’t just pitch a tent in front of our stores and open? When we closed, we were 14 studios and it’s not easy. For us to shutdown it took us a few weeks. We are still dealing with vendors. It’s been almost five months now and we still have vendors that are sending us utility bills. So that’s one of the reasons. The second reason is, you’re gonna start to see a campaign brewing with us saying Your Safety is Our Priority. Safety overall has become a very big conversations and focus for us and it is a priority. I just don’t feel it is safe for my team to step out there and do this. And until I feel it is safe to conduct touch services, I still maintain what I have maintained from the beginning and we are going to stay shut. Maya: It’s not an easy decision. Obviously, it’s our livelihood, but it’s our Family Business. I’ve literally grown up here. Our employees have become family as well. That’s our company culture. Sumita: Yes. I mean, we thought we were gonna open on August 1st prior to the second shut down. We’re ready. Today we set up. We are moving the Artesia location downstairs again. We are shutting down four studios who have already been shutdown which is: The Santa Anita location inside the mall as well as the Cerritos mall location. Those two studios will not open. We’re going to shut down Montebello as well as West Covina. That leaves us with 10 studios Post COVID. We’re starting to set up. We’re getting ready. We have a a 3 week action plan. We need at least 3-4 weeks from the time that everyone says it’s safe. We will stabilize and then start things like Get in Line or Reserve with your Favorite Artist. Cerritos Artists are going to get consolidated with the Artesia location. Santa Anita Artists are going to get consolidated with the Century City location. We’re talking to all our artists and there’s an extreme amount of training that is involved and needs to happen and a lot of set up towards safety. We really cannot afford to keep opening and closing. It’s just something we cannot financially afford. At the moment how we’re surviving is through kindness and support and generosity of our clients that are shopping with us. We’re really trying to be respectful. We’re trying our best to offer value. Products and services. That’s how we’re surviving. So for us, it’s important that we get the message across to everybody. that we’re still going to be opening. We’re gonna be a little smaller, tighter. It’s going to be by appointment. It’s going to be very safe. We’ve got the first of 10 UVC Robots that are going to be used to sterilize our studios daily. All the protocols that we’re putting into place just take time. It’s important that we do the protocols that we’re doing and create an environment that is safe for everybody. Maya: We’re looking forward to seeing everyone. Just as much as you miss us, we miss you too. I’ve spoken to a lot of customers that have been really really kind, and so I just want to say thank you for that. Sumita: We would not be who we are, where we are as a family, as a brand if we did not have the support of our clients. So we’re nothing without you. We’re looking forward to coming back and opening our doors at a point when its safe. Please continue to stay tuned because we will be in touch with you. We just want you to know that this is not an easy decision and it is not a quick decision for us. It is something that takes us time to do because we have a lot of people to mobilize and a lot of studios to mobilize. It isn’t something that happens overnight. Maya: Yes, so thank you for you patience and we will keep you updated. Sumita: More than everything, thank you so much for your support. zibabeauty.com was the smallest part of our business and today it is the largest part of our business. And that’s still not even close to being10% of what we were, but it’s still keeping the lights on, and keeping us busy. It’s keeping us in touch with all of you and it makes us feel like we’re making a difference. So we really really appreciate it. Maya: Yes, thank you so much and we will be in touch soon! Sumita: Remember, Your Safety is our Priority.

In late March, we temporarily closed our 14 California-wide studios due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Even though government regulations okayed our reopening in June, we decided to remain closed for a little longer for your safety and ours due to the high contact nature of our business. We are going to be reopening soon and we just want everyone to be educated on hygiene for the safety of all. In this post, we’ll be discussing two decontamination processes – disinfection and sterilization. Basic Distinction between Disinfection and Sterilization Disinfection is the killing or reduction of harmful microorganisms from various objects and surfaces while sterilization is simply killing all microorganisms (whether harmful or not). This is what really sets both processes apart. Sterilization also eliminates the spores of organisms that can be found on objects, surfaces, in liquids, medications or anywhere else they are present. The extreme nature of sterilization makes it suitable for hospital use, surgical procedures and in industrial and laboratory processes. Disinfection is less extreme and this makes it more suitable for everyday use. The major way to disinfect is by using chemicals called disinfectants. Disinfectants vary according to strength, toxicity, ease of use and cost. You might find some disinfectants to be very effective against a wide variety of germs while others might be limited in the number of germ species they can kill. Sterilization on the other hand, can be carried out by three major methods: physical (which involves using heating, filtration and radiation techniques), chemical (this involves making use of liquid and gaseous chemicals) and physiochemical (a method that combines attributes of the physical and chemical sterilization methods). Types of Disinfectants Air Disinfectants: Examples of chemicals used include triethylene glycol and propylene glycol. These disinfectants are spread in the air either as aerosols or in vapor form. They are meant to be dispersed at an appropriate concentration in order to significantly reduce the number of infectious microbes in the air. Alcohols: Ethanol and isopropanol are some of the most commonly used alcohols for disinfecting. Your hand sanitizer is an example of an alcohol based disinfectant.  At high concentration levels, alcohols can be used to kill viruses such as the coronavirus, HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and more. They are relatively safe to use in homes, although you have to be cautious around inflammable items. They are also quite inexpensive. Aldehydes: Formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde are examples of aldehydes notable for their disinfectant properties. Asides being able to kill and reduce germs, they are to some extent able to kill spores and fungi. Oxidizing Agents: Common household bleach (sodium hypochlorite solution) is one of the most inexpensive disinfectants for home use. Thanks to the strong oxidizing nature of chlorine and oxygen, household bleach kills germs that can be found on surfaces, toilets, drains, pools, sinks and more. Phenolics: Chemicals like phenols and chloroxylenol are phenolics used for disinfection. Phenolic compounds are the active ingredients in popular disinfectants such as Dettol, IZAL, mouthwashes and others. Quats: They are also known as quaternary ammonium compounds. An example of these chemicals is benzalkonium chloride. Although they can be classified as low level disinfectants, they are still quite effective nonetheless. Biguanides: Polyaminopropyl biguanide is a biguanide polymer known for its disinfectant and preservative properties. It is used for skin disinfection and it is also found in chemicals used for cleaning contact lenses. It is highly effective against bacteria at very low concentration levels. UV Light: High intensity shortwave ultraviolet light can be used to significantly reduce the number of microbes on various materials. Sodium Bicarbonate: The common baking soda is also known to be a highly effective disinfectant. Types of Sterilization Methods Steaming: This process is carried out in machines known as autoclaves. These machines make use of steam heated to temperature levels of 121 – 134oc (250 – 273oF) to sterilize objects. This method is used to eliminate all bacteria, fungi, viruses and bacterial spores. Heating: Dry heat, boiling, tindalization, incineration and flaming are all heating procedures that can be used to kill and inactivate microbes in different objects such as powders, glass and metals. Boiling objects in water for about 15 minutes is enough to kill most microbes except bacterial spores.Tindalization is one heating method that can kill spores as well as other microorganisms. It involves boiling an object in water for 20 minutes and cooling, then repeating the boiling and cooling process for three times. Dry heating is usually reserved for powders and other items that can withstand very high temperatures of heat. Chemical Sterilization: Chemicals such as bleach, ozone, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, pthalaldehyde, ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, silver and more are examples of substances that can be used to sterilize items that are not heat resistant (like plastics, electronics, fiber optic materials, biological substances, etc).Ozone and ethylene oxide are gases used in oxidizing most organic substances. Although bleach, glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde are also disinfectants, they can be used to sterilize materials in higher concentration levels. The materials to be sterilized are usually immersed in them for long periods of time in order to achieve effective sterilization. Radiation Sterilization: Disposable medical equipment such as needles, syringes and cannulas can be sterilized using x-rays, gamma rays, electron beams or subatomic particles. Biological safety cabinets can also be sterilized by irradiation and reused. Sterile Filtration: This is a slow process carried out using pores that are smaller in size than the microorganisms that need to be filtered out. This process is ideal for clear liquids that cannot withstand heating, chemical and radiation sterilization methods.

Our CEO, Sumita Batra, was interviewed by International Business Times to discuss the challenges of reopening its business operations. Ziba Beauty temporarily closed its 14 California-wide studio locations in late March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will remain closed until safety permits otherwise. Read the full interview transcript below, as posted on  International Business Times by Anne Field on July 8, 2020. — Businesses across the country are opening up. That’s good news, of course. Or is it?  Fact is, for many companies, from retail stores to interior designers, re-opening involves a great many challenges. And the situation has been made even more formidable as such states as Florida and Texas order the re-shuttering of some businesses, while others, like New York, slow down schedules or change the parameters of the re-opening phases. Here are some of the top challenges facing small companies as they attempt to make their COVID comebacks. Unpredictability “The single biggest issue for small businesses is uncertainty,” says James Cassel, chairman of Miami-based investment banking firm Cassel, Salpeter & Co. That’s especially true for enterprises serving customers from a physical location. Perhaps their patrons aren’t ready to spend a lot of time inside. But even if they are, there are logistical questions for staff, both now and down the road: Are camps and day-care centers opening? what about schools holding in-person classes in the fall? If they don’t, how to juggle childcare and work schedules? And of course, underlying it all: Will a new surge of cases force companies to close up again?   The result: Small businesses are struggling to plan in an unpredictable environment. “They’re trying to determine an optimal strategy that will enable their businesses to be profitable when there are so many variables out of their control,” says Johana Schwartzman, who heads Go Blossom Consulting, a business and marketing strategy consulting firm in Toronto.  Ideally, according to Schwartzman, businesses can develop at least a “plan b” to fall back on, if not a “plan c,” too–different options to follow depending on, say, whether they face a second COVID wave or employees need to stay home with children. She points to a company that typically teaches art to students at their physical location. In case the business has to close again, the owner is considering stocking up on art kits to sell to parents and holding classes via Zoom. Perhaps the most pressing issue related to uncertainty is cash flow. According to Brian DeChesare, founder and CEO of finance blog, Mergers & Inquisitions, about half of small businesses are concerned about how much cash they have on hand. “They might be able to afford to reopen, but they won’t be able to sustain operations for an extended period of time if profits are down significantly,” he says. Safety Concerns Companies need to take steps to ensure the safety of not only customers but employees, as well. In March, Sumita Batra, CEO of Ziba Beauty, an Artesia, Cal.-based eyebrow threading salon, closed all 14 venues, selling supplies like gloves and hand sanitizers to keep the business alive. Because the service is high-touch, requiring close contact between client and employee, however, Batra’s employees, many of whom live with elderly parents, are wary of returning. “How can they keep social distancing? It’s impossible,” she says.  The upshot: In June, although she was allowed to open under California’s rules, Batra chose to remained closed through July. (Several counties also pushed back their opening dates to later in the month.) With customers clamoring to schedule appointments, Batra launched a social media campaign on Facebook and Instagram to explain her decision to stay closed. That included a video in which eyebrow threaders address customers, explaining their reluctance to return. According to Batra, customers have responded positively.  Once she opens up, like many business owners, Batra will face another safety-related problem: paying for PPE and other cleaning and sterilization measures. According to Batra, the equipment is both more difficult to find and more expensive than usual. To cut costs, she’s trying to re-negotiate the terms of her leases with her landlords. New and Old Business Models Since March, many retailers, as well as wholesalers that sell to brick-and-mortar stores, have expanded their e-commerce sales to stay afloat. But that creates a conundrum: As stores open up, how much resources to put into traditional channels vs. new ones? “It calls for a re-prioritization of funding,” says Alexander Kehoe, who runs Caveni Digital Solutions, a digital marketing company in Philadelphia. Kehoe points to a wholesaler that added a direct-to-consumer e-commerce capability about six weeks ago. Now that many of its regular retail customers are opening up, however, it’s unclear how to divvy up dollars, and directives. The firm is dealing by staying loose: Should those older clients experience normal levels of demand, then the company will most likely focus more on its original market. On the other hand, if that business is slow, the e-commerce side will require greater attention. “It means being ready to do both,” says Kehoe. Re-Connecting with Customers Just because a company has reopened, doesn’t mean it’s business as usual. And that can affect relationships with new and existing customers.Take Ryan Novak, the owner of Chocolate Pizza Company, a gourmet chocolate maker in Marcellus, NY. While the company’s manufacturing facilities stayed open during lockdown, Novak had to close his retail location, which he re-opened in June. But, according to Novak, an essential ingredient in his company’s success has been the ability for retail employees to chat with customers and build a rapport. Now, however, employees are separated from patrons by Plexiglass, face masks and social distancing, while customers tend to get in and out quickly rather than spending time to browse. “It’s hard to build a relationship,” says Novak. To create more of a personal connection with customers, Novak recently asked his retail staff for patrons’ most frequently asked questions. Then he added wall art with interesting, eye-catching tidbits about the company to answer those queries, like the single largest order (31,000 “chocolate pizzas”), and

Four simple words that symbolize the foundation of Ziba Beauty, so it is only fitting that both our offline and online appearances, emulate this statement. That being said, we’d like to welcome you to Ziba Beauty’s newly redesigned website – made just for you. Ziba Beauty knows brows. For over 30 years, Ziba has continued to lead and pioneer the brow industry, bringing authentic eastern beauty to the modern world and has continued to expand its services offered including The Art of Threading® and The Art of Waxing®. To mirror the unparalleled in-studio Ziba experience, we revamped our online presence to give you, the client, access to all that we do and to get to know us a little better. With this new site, we offer you a place to find your go-to Ziba Studio, shop your favorite Ziba Cosmetics products and read all about how we’ve intertwined our roots in Eastern Culture with the West, in our blog. All of our services are also listed online, giving you an overview of everything we offer, including two new Eyebrow Services; The Brow Fit and The Virgin Brow. Last but not least, we’re excited to announce our Heritage and Specialty Services, including the infamous Art of Mehndi, which has adorned the hands of celebrities such as Madonna and Beyoncé. And now clients also have the opportunity to purchase the services of our expert Bridal Henna Artists and Eastern Styling Consultants, whose talents and experiences make them the best in the industry, for all special events from birthday parties to weddings. With all that said, we hope you enjoy browsing Ziba Beauty’s new website and as always, if you have any questions or want to learn more about any of our services, we encourage you to contact us at any of our 13 locations. Our goal is to provide every client with a one-of-a-kind experience, that gives them the confidence to rock their natural beauty! Til next time, Team Ziba