Hairdressers - any ideas? (and if you are a salon owner...)

[JinglingHellsBells]

I have an appt booked for just over a week's time. They called me with a few weeks ago, cancelling an existing appt.

I honestly can't see them opening and if they do I'm not sure I want to go yet.

I understand that they will have to carry out so many new safety measures that I'm a bit reluctant to be one of the first clients until they have really got it all sorted.

I heard on radio that they should

-spread clients out in the salon (this would work for mine as it's spacious anyway except for the basin area)

-Have a 15 minute gap between clients to clean chairs etc

-Have only one client waiting in the reception area

-Use PPE for staff and possibly masks for clients

As I'm booked for cut and colour ( around 2.5 hours) I don't want to be at risk and I can't see my salon getting all of this in place so quickly and training staff.

Any hairdressers around who have any ideas of what you will do?

Are you in the uk? I'm surprised that they think they'll be allowed to open!

Very much in the UK- not far from London.

I had an appt in late March which was cancelled of course, then it was moved by them to later, then again to mid-May.

Their website says they are / were taking bookings for mid-May onwards and are waiting for the go-ahead.

I've read the government guidance issued today & hairdressers are specifically mentioned as opening earliest 4 July so I don't think you'll be getting your hair done this month unfortunately

Yes it seems 4th July earliest.

Govt update just confirmed earliest from 4th july

July here. I have 4 inches of roots and a lovely halo of white unruly and wiry hair round the front. By July I will look as mad as I feel.
Trying to keep my hands off the box colour but tbh I don't think I'm going to make it.

I’m interested to know how hairdressers are going to survive? I know a few self employed hairdressers who are falling through the cracks already. My hairdresser is just a small local one that only ever has 1 or 2 people in at any one time and is going through all the training for hygiene practises during Covid19 to prepare for reopening

Its looking salons wont open till July.

Small salons that pay no rates would get the 10k grant.
Which thankfully i qualified for, i too just run the salon on my own.
OP i very much doubt you'll be having your hair done this month & will be suprised about next month too.
Social distancing is still in place. Its frustrating but needs must

@AlaskaThunderfuckHiiiiiiiii many won’t survive is the basic gist but those that do will reap the rewards of packed salons with back to back bookings initially

I’m in Scotland and am hoping against hope that hairdressers here can open July time as well considering we are still in lockdown for the next 3 weeks

I don’t think there is anyway wrong with using a semi permanent colour under the circumstances. Why is everyone so against it? I know someone at work that complains constantly about not being able to visit a hairdresser but won’t touch home dye as they think it will look awful. Home dye is fine for me!

I don’t understand why those who work in peoples homes can’t do so if they wear ppe? It makes no sense.

I don’t understand why those who work in peoples homes can’t do so if they wear ppe? It makes no sense - because they can't maintain any kind of distance from a client? Also because they could be going into several homes every day and either bringing the virus with them and spreading it widely or picking it up in one of those homes and tracking it into a few others? It isn't safe for either the client or hairdresser.

But surely if they wear ppe. The client washes their own hair and dries it. They aren’t face to face for any length of time , what’s the risk?

@Millicent10 I won’t touch home dye due to the style my hair is coloured with, last time I tried that my hair went orange so never again and yes I will complain as it is part of my normality

But surely if they wear ppe

How do they acquire this PPE? Bearing in mind that people working with Covid patients in hospitals and care homes often can't get it?

Home colour putting blunt is full of crap, in particular sulphate which not good for the hair.

@bluntness100 this post from an epidemiologist explains really well how it can be spread via breathing, speaking and more, including real life examples with diagrams from commercial premises. Was pretty sobering for me, who is usually a bit of a risk taker!

It's the amount of time that's an issue too - at a men's barber many people would in and out in 15 mins or so (plus waiting time but that could be managed), which is far less risky than someone having a 45 min ladies cut and blow-dry, let alone a 3 hour + full head highlights

www.erinbromage.com/post/the-risks-know-them-avoid-them

But surely if they wear ppe - and if they do manage to get it, how do you know when they arrive at your house that they haven't been wearing the same set all day, for their previous three clients? I don't know how long it takes to cut your hair but mine is heavy and straight so regardless of whether I wash and dry it myself, it is at least 20 mins of the stylist being no more than maybe 60 cms from my head.

I can give you my experience in Portugal having my hair cut and coloured last week.

Clients have to wear masks the entire time we are inside.
Clients are not allowed inside until the entrance way is clear and everything is ready for us
Clients are not allowed mobile phones, magazines, handbags etc - these are put into a locker at the front of the shop
Everything is cleaned as they go along - two trolleys - one with clean stuff, which is then moved to the second trolley which will go for disinfecting
Gowns are one time use only
Towels are one time use only, even on the same person
All chairs, floors, surfaces disinfected after each client
Hairdressers wear masks and visors - gloves most of the time but not when cutting
Hand washing of staff every time they finish a task
One member of staff does one client - no swapping over. If you need someone else for the cut and someone for the colour, then that is two different appointments
No rings, ear rings, bracelets or necklaces.
Temperature taken on arrival
Phone appointment only

All rules were rigorously applied. I felt quite safe. Bored out of my mind waiting for the colour to do whatever it has to do - 35 minutes without magazine or phone showed me how much I rely on not having to amuse myself!

I came out of there feeling like a million dollars - amazing how much a good haircut and removing the strip of grey can make a difference.

Oh - clients have to use gel frequently during the visit as well - forgot that

And the salon is about 1000 square feet with dividers - each client (three maximum) is sitting maximum distance apart.

But surely if they wear ppe - and if they do manage to get it, how do you know when they arrive at your house that they haven't been wearing the same set all day, for their previous three clients

What would it matter if I was wearing ppe?

@m00rfarm this is what I don’t understand a lot of Europeans countries have allowed salons to be amongst the first to open? Some areas of Spain never closed theirs? Why are we so different and salons amongst the last to open?

How does wearing a mask work for the client? Surely it would get in the way?