Hairdresser charging customers for PPE?

[Inspiralcarpetry]

Mum has asked me to ask for S&B opinions!
Her hairdresser has booked her in for her first post lockdown haircut, but has increased her prices, presumably to cover some losses from lockdown.
She has also told mum she will make an additional £5 charge to all customers as she has had to purchase PPE (mum will need to bring and wear her own mask obviously.) She is the salon owner and prices aren't cheap to start with.
The other issue is she is offering blow dries and mum is worried about an increased virus risk.
I'm a bit perplexed, as my own hairdresser hasn't mentioned any price increases and PPE charges and is so reasonable anyway, he's going to get the fattest welcome back tip from me next week! My hairdresser is clear that their salon won't do blow dries, due to the risk.
Mum will obviously go ahead as she's desperate for a cut, but would appreciate opinions on the PPE charge and also the idea of a blow dry with both parties wearing a mask please?
TIA.

Also I think it's profiting from this crisis £5 every customer, the ppe has not cost them that much .
In a week they will recoup the costs or even less .
They could make a extra few hundred pounds in a week extra .

As pp have said the PPE will be tax deductible. My hairdresser is open from 7:30 am - 8pm Monday to Saturday now to make up for their losses, and they are excellent, and I am happy to support them.

I am a hairdresser and I am adding 5 pound to each client. I have had to buy all ppe including disposable gowns, masks and towels for each client plus extra equipment including brushes and tint bowls As they need sterilising between each client. I cannot do as many clients per day. All clients are happy to pay an extra 5 pound to cover this as they they haven’t been able to get an appointment for 15 weeks. I can’t wait to get started again even though it’ll be very different for all of us.

@imsooverthisdrama my hairdresser is a little salon with 3 stylists, it's not really comparable to somewhere like Tescos. Big companies like that can probably absorb the costs a bit more than a small independent business. Plus they don't need the same amount of PPE in retail as you can easily stay 2m apart.

My hairdresser is charging £2.50 for ppe. They are not doing dry cuts only cut and blow dry.

Are you in England Cool Carrie? As hairdressers here are not allowed to open until 4th July.

Tax deductible doesn’t mean they get the cost back. It means that if the PPE costs £5 they don’t have to pay the roughly £1.60 tax on that part of their income.

My hair appointment is booked. I haven’t asked the price but expect an increase from last time to cover costs. If they can’t cover costs plus a reasonable profit then what’s the point in opening.

Charges of people in service industries who have had to mKe adjustments will rise. As a customer you either pay it, or go elsewhere.

My hairdresser is charging £2.50 for PPE and all customers need to wear a mask, either their own or purchase one in salon for £1, gloves optional and bring your own beverage. I think this is fair enough

@Popc0rn but it would still be a big fat NO from me .
I wish you all the luck with your business but I'd be surprised if your customs will be happy paying the extra each time they visit .

Mine has put her prices up by £2.50 per service and is charging £1 for sterile facemasks for customers. My cut and colour will cost an extra £6. Considering the overall cost this isn't a huge increase to me and I am happy to support her.

The sceptic in me thinks they won't be bringing it back down when it's not needed anymore.

Imsooverthisdrama- considering my hairdresser re-opens on 4th July but her first available appointment isn’t until the 14th I think plenty of customers will be happy to pay.

@imsooverthisdrama I don't own a hairdressing business, I was talking about my hairdresser. And seeing as they have a 8 week waiting list, they're doing okay!

I'm fairly low maintenance with my hair, but my friends who pay £75+ every 6 -8 weeks for highlights etc aren't put off by paying an extra £2 - 5.

Personally, I think it's absolutely fine under the current global circumstances that they charge more and for PPE. They are now a premium service having to cut their capacity, potentially not had any earnings for more than 3 months, heading towards a recession/depression and the ones at more risk being in the salon all day than us customers for one appointment. It is a choice to use this service. With dental PPE costs, I would say this is a vital health service and the government should be addressing their woeful provision of NHS support for dentistry and PPE to the NHS in general. I would hope those entitled to free treatment would not have to pay this surcharge but also I do understand why they are doing it though the ultimate blame lies at the door of No.10 for a whole catalogue of disasters that have impacted NHS provision for decades.

But hair salons, yeah, I think it's fair. There's a deadly pandemic still ripping through the world.

That's fine if others customers are happy but I'm NOT and I'd be very clear too .
My appoint not till the middle of July either but I'd still not pay extra .
Is this a one off fee or every time you go until whenever this pandemic ends ?
I normally have a cut & blow dry every 6-8 weeks and include a tip . It'd be no tip if this was the new rule .
I personally think it's a cheek of the hairdressers, they potentially will be making money out of this pandemic.
Yes they have been shut for months but most people have been furloughed me included on 80% I haven't got a extra £5 to pay for ppe .

This is why I love my mobile hairdresser, she is charging £2 for the PPE she will be using when they are allowed back to work. Plus I am not in a salon with other people, just in my own home. And it costs less than a salon because there are no building overheads.

Am sitting in my hairdressers now.
2 stylists and 2 clients. Normally there would be at least 4 stylists and 2 junior staff. It will be 2 stylists and 2 clients for the foreseeable future. Am wearing a disposable gown for which there is no charge. I have my own mask - if I didn’t there would be a small extra charge. There is a garden at the back of the salon which has been revamped so people can sit outside and take masks off.

How are you going to tip if they're not taking cash - just contactless?

I'd be happy to pay a reasonable surcharge. They're small businesses that have been badly affected by lockdown. Even now they will have to limit the number of clients they see so their earnings will still be down.

Even now they will have to limit the number of clients they see so their earnings will still be down.
So are restaurants and pubs / small shops etc we are all effected .
Are you happy to pay extra to these places each time you visit ?
I've asked a couple of people I know today and they laughed at me at the suggestion of paying extra .
I think this is one of the many occasions real life and mumsnet is different.

I am in South Africa and the hairdressers opened up last Monday.

The hairdresser is not expecting you to pay for her reusable mask.

Mine has been told that she should use a disposable Cape and towels for each customer. She will be wearing mask gloves and visor. She says this will be £1 extra.
I will be giving her more than that.
She will also be spacing her customers out more so that she can wipe down between them.

I'm going to the hairdressers next week. They said they'd supply a mask. They didn't mention charging me for it or anything else. If they do I'll just have to suck it up. I've saved money by not having to pay for the haircut I was due in May!

Are you happy to pay extra to these places each time you visit?

Yes. If they are small businesses.

I've asked a couple of people I know today and they laughed at me at the suggestion of paying extra .I think this is one of the many occasions real life and mumsnet is different

No, there are just more people on Mumsnet than you know in real life. Probably.

My neighbour told me today that prices had trebled at her usual salon, I don't know where she got her information from and I'm hoping it's shite because I look like Don King.

@imsooverthisdrama

Even now they will have to limit the number of clients they see so their earnings will still be down. So are restaurants and pubs / small shops etc we are all effected . Are you happy to pay extra to these places each time you visit ? I've asked a couple of people I know today and they laughed at me at the suggestion of paying extra . I think this is one of the many occasions real life and mumsnet is different.

I think you need to widen your circle to include people who know more about covering costs and supply and demand, otherwise the three of you are going to get some nasty shocks over the next year or so. Especially when no-deal Brexit hits. I'll be paying the extra and not laughing.

Well I must know people who are tight then 🤷‍♀️.
If you are happy to pay go for it ,I'm not nor will I .
I'm under no illusion that the prices will go up eventually but that's fine but it's the extra charge each time I go that I object too .
Also perhaps you have more disposable income than me and the people I know .
I very much doubt they would charge extra near me but in another area a extra £5 is nothing to some people.
That's my opinion I'm not wrong nor are you but good god some people don't half like to make out your wrong on here and that is different to RL .