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Hairdressers in England can reopen on this date

Photo credit: Guilherme Petri/Unsplash
Photo credit: Guilherme Petri/Unsplash

From Red Online

Updated 23 June 2020

In a speech that was met with cheers from colleagues, Boris Johnson unveiled, bit by bit, how 'normal life' would gradually be resuming after lockdown in England.

His announcement covered the reopening of pubs and restaurants as well as new social distancing rules, but one of the things many people have been most excited for is the reopening of hairdressers.

WHEN HAIRDRESSERS WILL REOPEN

The Prime Minister told the House of Commons stylists can see clients again from 4th July in England only, providing they use appropriate precautions such as wearing visors. It's important to note that this is not the case in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. The devolved governments there have not provided a set date as yet.

Clients in England could face a three-month waiting list for a trim and some businesses said they will reopen at midnight to help clear the huge backlog.

The National Hair and Beauty Federation has released a guide for member salons to help ensure they are adhering to the best practice and guidelines put in place to lower the risk of coronavirus transmission.

The Evening Standard is reporting that these recommendations include keeping conversations between clients and stylists to a minimum and ensuring they are 'made via the mirror while standing behind the client', rather than face-to-face.

HOW THINGS WILL CHANGE

Hairdressers have also reportedly been told to 'consider offering online consultations to reduce the appointment time' and minimise walk-in appointments.

As we previously reported, some of the social distancing measures put in place could replicate those recently adopted in dental practices, with staggered arrival and departure times, Perspex barriers between hairdressers and customers and clients wearing pre-purchased masks and gowns.

Hairdressers in Europe are also booking in less appointments than usual in a day in order to maintain social distancing in the salon. Walk-in appointments are limited too, so hairdressers can call ahead and ensure clients are well enough to attend an appointment.

We could also see a shift in how much we pay. Offers, such as a discounted cut and colour on quieter days, are likely to be shelved for a while due to demand. Most hairdressers are self-employed so will, understandably, be hoping to make up some of the income they have lost during lockdown. Plus, they'll need to offset the cost of protective equipment.

In a recent survey by the National Hair and Beauty Federation, 77% of the 1,600 polled said they are ‘well prepared’ to resume trading once it is safe to do so, and 60% of beauty booking app Treatwell's British customers say they're planning on booking in for a haircut within the first two weeks of salons reopening – so it could be time to think about securing your advanced appointment now!

Here's how Treatwell's customers in Europe have managed to quickly tick off that post-lockdown cut and colour...

  1. Reach out to your salon. If you haven't already, reach out to your favourite salon to see when they're reopening. Some salons are giving priority to those people who have had their appointment cancelled due to the outbreak. Then there's a secondary waiting list for those wishing to make a new booking.

  2. Book online now. Government restrictions are currently in place until 4th July, after which salons will (hopefully) be allowed to reopen, provided the rate of coronavirus infection (R) remains below one. Appointments on Treatwell can now be booked from 4th July onwards and are filling up fast. In the event that the closure period is extended further (or if something else comes up), appointments can be easily rescheduled.

  3. Pre-pay for your appointment. More customers than ever before are using Treatwell's prepayment option so no cash needs to be exchanged once in the salon. Pre-payment is contact-free and really, really easy for both the salon owners and you.

  4. Be prepared to go outside of usual operating hours. Due to the safety measures, some salons are extending their opening hours to ensure the number of people in the salon is spread over the duration of the day. The first customer in France attended a 5am haircut and beard trim.

  5. Plan ahead. The majority of customers booked further ahead than before (from two days to up to two weeks before the appointment date). This is likely down to salons being fully booked and customers being more flexible with their time.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR HAIR LOOKING FRESH BETWEEN SALON APPOINTMENTS

In the meantime, we've got plenty of advice to help you keep on top of your hair at home including a root concealer spray that's brilliant for blondes, how to do an invisible cut and the £6 mask that helps blend out greys until you can get to the hairdresser again.

This article will be updated in line with government changes.

The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it's possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice, visit the World Health Organisation. If you're in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

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