Would you go to hairdressers? Or DH to barbers?

[alphasox]

We have a small barbershop, family business, just hubby and 5 barbers. Hubby wants to try and stay open, some of the team want to isolate. None of us/the team are sick yet. But you can’t maintain a social distance when you’re providing a personal service like hair cutting.

Will you keep going to hairdressers or barbers now we are all told to keep a social distance and avoid pubs etc?

We are terrified now what this means for our business and income. We will probably be ruined 😢
Thank you.

I am later this week. It’s pretty quiet, my hairdresser is self employed and if she is willing then I would go.

I don't get it.
The pm's statement was that "now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel"

How is a haircut anything else than non-essential contact?

I went to the hairdressers on Saturday and I’ve booked my next appointment for 5 weeks time. I’m a low risk group and I’m a teacher, I’m just as at risk going to work as anywhere else. I’m going to take ds to the barbers this week - still at school so again no more at risk by going to the barbers really.

Hairdressers in Spain are still open.

I can't get over the sheer selfishness on this thread.
Putting a haircut over peoples lives.

There are ways of supporting people in your community who are taking a financial hit without putting people at risk.

Yes you might be at low risk at spreading the virus, but if everyone across the uk behaves the same the impact would be substantial and people will die.

I'm afraid I cancelled my hairdressers appointment this week. It is such close contact with someone and we are too sti avaois that right now.

I went last week before it really kicked off with social distancing and glad I did now

No, I absolutely wouldn't see a haircut as 'essential': I'm due a cut and realised earlier in the week that I was looking at another 3 months probably. I imagine others still will for a few weeks though.

NB I run a small business and have literally no work scheduled in currently so you have my sympathy, but not my custom I'm afraid!

No, a haircut is not a necessity to me.

I think it is irresponsible of us to not operate on the basis that every one of us is carrying the virus in the incubation period.

If my husband or son needed to go then yes they would (they only went a couple of weeks ago so they're not due to go again for another few weeks.
I will also be going to my nail and eyebrow appointments as long as it's still possible.
The barber runs her own business, my beautician is also self employed. If we don't continue to support them they will struggle. Both always practice good hygiene anyway and I have no doubt will be doing so to an ever higher level now.

3 months? I'd better stockpile hair dye! There's no way I can have 3 months worth of grey, especially after being lectured on another thread about looking presentable for video calls when working from home!

(This is a joke. Well apart from the bit about stockpiling dye!)

I believe hairdressers are still open in Germany where most shops are closed

In Spain they said hairdressers and barbers can stay open but have now clarified that means so older people who can’t wash their hair can stay clean. They are doing house calls - is that an option for you?

How is it selfish if you are fit and healthy? I can understand it being selfish if I was coughing or Ill but I’m not. Should I have to self isolate I wouldn’t go.

Am I selfish for going to a dentist appointment tomorrow? For going to the shops after for essentials?

The only person in the salon will be me and the hairdresser. She can’t just say “Oh well I’ll not work till June”. Like the rest of us, she has bills and a mortgage. I wouldn’t go if she isn’t willing to cut my hair or the hair dresser is busy. But one to one I don’t see the issue with.

No. I cut my sons fringe by myself yesterday because I don't want him going to get a hair cut.

I'm sorry. I imagine that was not what you needed to hear but I didn't want to lie.

My hairdresser has offered to come to me.

I got mine done a couple of weeks ago (first time in 3 months) and finally persuaded DS1 to get his cut after being in a funk and neglecting it since October. I think that's going to be it for the forseeable, though. Might have to replace our useless old clippers.

What I will say to anyone still wanting to keep their hair and beauty appointments, this week, is please tip well.

I wouldn’t for just a cut.

However my colour is due a major refresh in a month’s time (brassy blonde with a few inches of dark regrowth) - so hopefully the situation isn’t as dire by then. If it is I’d leave the hair appointment, but it would certainly look terrible. Then again, it’s not like I’m able to socialise or do much anyway🤷🏼‍♀️

@RasberryRoyale it's all there in the statement. People without symptoms could well be carrying the virus and so have been told:

"So, second, now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel."

A haircut is pretty much the definition of non-essential contact.

Please help keep people like me alive.

Yes, I'm going Wednesday. And I'm in my 60s with asthma. I know my hairdresser and if she says she's taking precautions, then she is.

@RasberryRoyale you’re missing the point completely, people with this virus can actually be asymptomatic. See Idris Elba for example. Therefore you could unwittingly pass the virus onto others if you are a carrier, although you’re personally “fit and healthy”. It sucks but you have to think about the more vulnerable sections of society who are at a higher risk of death.

Yes booked into dentist and kids with hairdressers tomorrow while I know we are low.on virus numbers in our area and then probably not for a little while.

Unless you are your hairdresser's only client then she is not taking appropriate precautions.

How can you not see that close personal contact of this sort is exactly what they are trying to reduce? One hairdresser could potentially infect a huge chain of people. All it needs is one infected hairdresser somewhere in the country.

No, I brought 6 boxes of Nice n Easy on Saturday which will keep me going for 3 months. Dc usually goes to the barbers but I will be getting the clippers out for the foreseeable. Dh hasn’t got much hair left so he will get the clippers too.

Well I would still get my hair cut this time. It hasn’t been cut since the beginning of October. I don’t get out very often and I work from home. It will only be the second journey I will have taken out all week. My hairdresser is spotless and I wouldn’t be seeing anyone. I expect to see more people tomorrow at the dentist and shops. I will avoid things like cinema and concerts and pubs or any place with high numbers. But it’s a moot point as my hairdresser can come to me if we agree.