Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Would you wear a mask in this situation?

65 replies

captainsandyscrew · 04/07/2023 06:59

I have a stinking cold which my toddler brought back from nursery - spent yesterday in bed feeling sorry for myself. Feeling slightly better today, and have a long-awaited haircut booked in (DH has a weeks annual leave so is looking after our baby giving me the chance for some 'me time').

I took a Covid test which was negative. But despite there being zero rules around mixing/mask wearing I feel really rude going maskless to my hairdresser while knowingly feeling rough. I'm not really coughing or sneezing all over the place, just a runny nose and very sore throat at this point, and shattered.

Would you wear one in this situation?

OP posts:
Brefugee · 04/07/2023 07:29

captainsandyscrew · 04/07/2023 07:07

I'm really surprised so many people are saying cancel - as PP said, pre-Covid we were all walking around doing our usual business with colds. If I wasn't on mat leave i would have gone to work feeling like this.

pre-covid in many respects many people were complete twats passing on their "mild cold" to someone immunocompromised who was just going about their day. Sneezing all over an office full of people because of presenteeism.

I would have hoped we'd all learned something.

Call the hairdresser. Offer to change the appointment or wear a mask.

for the pp who said a cold doesn't ruin your life: it can be worse for some than others and prevent you taking part in plans you'd had for ages, or stop you babysitting grandchildren etc etc.

MariaVT65 · 04/07/2023 07:29

Masks won’t do anything. I refuse to wear one now in all situations. See how you feel in an hour? Have a good breakfast, drink lots and take lots of drugs.

If I had a cold I have always been expected to go into work, especially before covid.

Also, what kind of haircut are you having? For example, I personally only have a basic trim and I don’t have a fringe, so the hairdresser doesn’t technically get too near my face, just mainly the back of me.

Mrsjayy · 04/07/2023 07:30

I never go to the hairdressers with a cold imagine how many people you'd pass it on to ? Wear a mask or not it's up to you.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Clothing
GeorgeMichaelsCat · 04/07/2023 07:31

captainsandyscrew · 04/07/2023 07:10

Had DH not been at home I wouldn't have spent the day in bed yesterday, I would have just got on with it. If I cancel the hairdresser is down £60 and they have a 2 month waiting list (haven't had a haircut since last November)

If she catches your cold and can't work for a few days, she'll be out of pocket a lot more than £60.

Brefugee · 04/07/2023 07:32

captainsandyscrew · 04/07/2023 07:19

The appointment is at 9am - they open at 9 so I can't call and ask. DH hasn't caught it, baby hasn't caught it, it's just me. I'll take a mask with me and will give them the option to rearrange or wear it

and you should have called yesterday
If they are so choc a bloc, they probably have the opportunity to fill a slot. (my hairdresser has a waiting list they call for cancellations

Butteredtoast55 · 04/07/2023 07:32

So basically you were ill enough to be in bed all day yesterday and still feel rough with a stinking cold. People have said cancel the appointment but you're going to go anyway. OK.

Remaker · 04/07/2023 07:33

I’d cancel. I also used to cancel hairdresser and beautician appointments before covid if I got a bad cold. It’s close contact and if they catch it they can’t work and then other people miss out on their treats that they’ve been waiting for.

Dolphinnoises · 04/07/2023 07:33

Go, and wear a mask. She will appreciate your consideration. Most people would just go.

Original poster
captainsandyscrew · 04/07/2023 07:34

@Floofydawg the question wasn't whether or not I should go, but whether or not I should wear a mask

OP posts:
Brefugee · 04/07/2023 07:34

but the answer is that you should have called to reschedule yesterday instead of passing on a cold that had you in bed for a day FFS.

You're an adult: behave like one

dudsville · 04/07/2023 07:35

I think post covid we're all more aware of the impact of lost income due to illness. Give your salon the choice by ringing.

Londontown12 · 04/07/2023 07:37

captainsandyscrew · 04/07/2023 07:07

I'm really surprised so many people are saying cancel - as PP said, pre-Covid we were all walking around doing our usual business with colds. If I wasn't on mat leave i would have gone to work feeling like this.

Before covid if I had clients that were ill they would message and ask if the should come or cancel I always asked them to reschedule because I would lose a weeks wage if I caught it ! X

Hugasauras · 04/07/2023 07:38

Yes I would (and have) cancelled for similar. I think one good thing to come out of Covid is that we are now a lot more aware of how disruptive passing illnesses along can be, and where we have the flexibility to change our plans to minimise the impact on others then I think we generally should.

A hairdresser is in close contact with you for a number of hours. I wouldn't expose mine to a nasty cold. If I had to go in to work then so be it, but my work now asks people to work from home if they are unwell as they've realised it minimises overall absence levels if someone isn't spreading stuff all over.

Upsizer · 04/07/2023 07:40

Since covid I’ve realised how many vulnerable older people my hairdresser sees (and feels responsible for!). I’d also cancel.

Morechocmorechoc · 04/07/2023 07:43

Yeah you're missing the point, it's selfish people like you that are worried about their hair that risk spreading things to vulnerable people without giving a crap

marshmallowfinder · 04/07/2023 07:44

In answer to your question, wear a mask. There shouldn't be a question mark over this. You have a very infectious cold. A mask is the least you can do. Don't ask her, just wear it, please!

RattyHealy · 04/07/2023 07:47

captainsandyscrew · 04/07/2023 07:07

I'm really surprised so many people are saying cancel - as PP said, pre-Covid we were all walking around doing our usual business with colds. If I wasn't on mat leave i would have gone to work feeling like this.

I would have cancelled pre-Covid too. I've always felt it was really selfish to share my germs around.

SirKurtBored · 04/07/2023 07:59

I would go on - pre Covid we would not have cancelled appointments or missed work for a cold.

I think a mask is a nice gesture

CwmYoy · 04/07/2023 08:02

A mask is the right way to go, to avoid spreading the germs.

Floofydawg · 04/07/2023 08:17

@Hobbi yeah I got confused... apologies. It's been so long since mask wearing that I forgot which way round it was.

Hobbi · 04/07/2023 08:22

@Floofydawg

It's ok, there's so much disinformation out there, if you have no reason to be still concerned (I have, unfortunately) it's not surprising you'd get confused.

TenoringBehind · 04/07/2023 09:26

I would have postponed the appointment

Wisterical · 04/07/2023 09:30

The hairdresser will lose much more than £60 if she has to take time off work ill. You should cancel. But you're obviously not going to.

WhenIWasAFieldMyself · 04/07/2023 09:35

How does someone in bed one day not actually think of cancelling a 9am the following day?
Foresight is a great thing clearly.

AddieLoggins2 · 04/07/2023 09:42

Long long before Covid I remember moaning at work about people coming into the office with colds. No-one wants your germs.

If one good thing could come from Covid I'd hope it would be that we all become more aware of how things spread and maybe try to keep our germs to ourselves.

I definitely would like people coughing, sneezing and spluttering in public to be looked down on (beyond the odd hayfever/dust/bright light/drink going down the wrong way etc type situation obviously).

I realise it's past your appointment time now, but for others reading this in a similar dilemma- yes wear a mask if you're still going to attend or if you're doing something which can't be avoided. At the very least it will hide your red snotty nose!