How are hair salons preparing for appointments after lockdown?

When hair salons reopened their doors, owners put numerous Covid-safe measures in place. Here, Elena Lavagni, founder of Neville Hair & Beauty, outlines the steps the salon took to ensure the safety of staff and customers when they reopened in July:

“In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, we followed strict guidelines in order to protect the safety of clients and employees, which will be in effect during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic and may be adjusted as necessary, and they will only be reduced when it is safe to do so.

“In order to maintain a safe environment each client entering the salon has their temperature taken using an infrared thermometer. Any client who has a temperature above 37.8°C will be sent home immediately and not allowed to return to the salon until they have no fever and no evidence of Covid-19 symptoms.

“Before carrying out any services, all clients entering the salon are asked the following questions: Have you had a cough? Have you had a fever? Have you been around anyone exhibiting these symptoms within the past 14 days? Are you living with anyone who is sick or quarantined?

“We have limited the number of people in the salon. In order to practise social distancing, we accept clients by appointment only. We run our schedule by telephonic or online scheduling only. We also limited the number of persons in the waiting area in the salon. It is recommended that clients wait outside the salon until the hairdresser is ready to serve them.

“To limit the risk of infection there is no kitchen service, so customers are asked to bring their own food and beverages. To limit the risk of infection there is no cloakroom service. Plastic bags are provided for you to safeguard your belongings.

“There are also no magazines or newspapers available. Clients are expected to follow floor stickers and signage to practice safe social distancing. We kindly ask clients not to touch any retail products unless they have the intention of buying. Lastly, we kindly ask that all clients refrain from handshakes or hugging.”

“We are also taking steps to maintain social distancing as much as possible. This includes:

“Spacing between persons in the salon will be at least 2 metres, except when one member of staff is servicing a client.
“Wearing masks. Clients should also wear face masks to the extent possible while receiving services.
“The salon provides shoe covers for all clients. Clients will be expected to put these on when entering the salon.
“To limit the amount of people at the desk, all payments will be taken the day before the appointment.
“Hand sanitisers are provided for you to use upon entering the salon.”

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