Hair salons too high risk

Dear Sir/Madam,
As a salon owner myself, I and many other friends and colleagues in the industry have massive fears about our return. The closeness of our job to other people is unavoidable, the virus living in hair,and transmitting in water vapour makes it completely impossible for us to wash,dry or even deal with hair in general, without feeling at risk. The price of PPE has rocketed for us, and knowing if it will continue to be available is a worry.

It is non essential to have your hair cut, and certainly to risk the welfare of salon staff for this level of non essential vanity seems wild to many of us. It feels we are being completely disregarded for the sake of boosting morale.

While we all want to return to work, we need to feel safe. The only people I can see looking to get back soon,either don’t think they need masks to work, and can still operate the same way we used to,so therefore have little understanding of the situation, or those who have fallen through the gaps,and need desperate financial assistance. I myself have yet to receive my grant after applying on 24th March and have colleagues in the same position. We are obviously still not able to apply for our income support at this point either. That being said, the lack of financial support would still not make me want to return any time soon.An opinion echoed by many.Be under no illusion, while I am coping financially for now, it’s only because I’ve always had a business float and planned ahead, but it’s fast running out with no support, and I’d still rather struggle than return.

We are a busy salon,and I usually have 2-4 clients in myself at all times,as can the other staff members. For most salons to return at such a reduced capacity, could,in all possibility lead to many closures.I may be able to break even after costs, so in the best case scenario,I feel under pressure to risk so much, in terms of the health of my family and I, for nothing more than clearing my salon running bills,and no more.

If the decision to keep closed until a later phase is not made by the government, and salons can choose to open, we feel completely terrified. However,know if we don’t go back,and the clients have an option to go somewhere else they will, and that we will potentially risk loosing them as a client.Its forcing us into a terrible position.A haircut is not that important.

I’ve successfully run my salons for 6 1/2 years, I’ve been in the industry for 21 years, I can honestly say the logistics of working in the summer heat in PPE are not easy, with no air con allowed and dryers going,and not going to be worth the reward of breaking even. I have lost count of how many times clients turn up ill,just because they want roots done, only to spread their cold, virus or sickness throughout the salon.This is another huge concern for us. The multiple offers I’ve had to “go do hair in the back garden,I’ll pay double” is unbelievable.So many people don’t understand the nature of the virus and it’s terrifying, we please beg you consider our safety over peoples vanity, and understand that while we would love to boost peoples morale, and get back to work,there is it seems, very little benefit in it for us. It may be a one to one service for clients, but it’s not the same feeling of security for us when we will be working with 10-12 people a day.

Why the contribution is important

From speaking to many colleagues, a lot of us feel our business is non essential and is too high risk for stylists, not to mention financial implications of running at reduced capacity.

by NicoleMcEnaney on May 06, 2020 at 07:22PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 3.4
Based on: 5 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Leanne0987 May 06, 2020 at 20:20

    I completely agree and sympathise so much with your current situation! financial support needs to be provided by the government in order to support this industry - long term.

    Otherwise you will have a whole industry of people forced back into work. As people need money to survive. These conditions will only continue the spread of the virus.
  • Posted by NicholaHepburn May 06, 2020 at 20:28

    Agreed, at least until there is a vaccine or people have a verified immunity
  • Posted by Ladybug May 06, 2020 at 21:02

    There are ways to make this work, you would then get monies. Access to the beauty and aesthetic sector is a helpful tool for people’s wellbeing and mental health. I agree there will be profiteers in relation to PPE but a system could be put in place to support accessibility at reasonable cost.
  • Posted by OldDeuteronomy May 07, 2020 at 00:05

    Life is a risk full stop. Covid is here to stay and a vaccine is a LONG, LONG way off.
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