Ever since hairdressing salons have been closed when the government imposed in March people have had to contend without getting their hair cut and coloured.
People have either let their barnet grow out in to an unwieldy jungle of locks or they’ve gone for the ‘lockdown look’ by completely shaving their hair clean off.
Others have decided to be more pro-active, watching various ‘do-it-yourself’ videos with varying degrees of success.
It leaves many people wondering when hairdressing salons will re-open and how they will operate safely.
We spoke to one of Gloucester’s most seasoned hairdressers to find out.
Ashley Paul, who owns a salon and a barber shop in College Court in the city dating back 18 years, has outlined all of the changes we can come to expect.
The new changes have been conceived by global brand L'Oréal, who are in partnership with Mr Paul’s salon and are his main supplier, so they will be rolled out nationwide. They have been training his staff remotely online during lockdown on their new way of working.
PPE
Mr Paul, 42, said his salon - Ashley Paul Hairdressing - and barber shop - The Men's Groom - will be given a risk assessment.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided to the hairdressers. They will have to wear face masks, face shields – a transparent film that covers their faces above the mask - and rubber gloves.
Mr Paul said "I look more ninja than hairdresser!" while modelling the new uniform, he is still waiting for the face shields to arrive.
The father of one added that clients will also be tested with a long-distance thermometer upon arrival.
“This is just to travel through customers as they come in if they are feeling slightly unwell, we will take their temperature reading. Just because we need to protect everybody within that building,” said Mr Paul.
The thermometer will most likely be operated by their new “meeter and greeter” or “coronavirus co-ordinator” on each shift. This member of staff will keep a tally of how many people are in the building at any given moment.
“We will have a tally of who is in the salon at any one time. So it will be by appointment only. People waiting for other people [to finish having their hair done] won’t be allowed,” added the hairdresser.
There will be a Perspex screen shielding the reception desk and hand sanitizer will be available around the salon.
Longer appointments and waiting times
Mr Paul, from Huntley, said clients will have to remain patient with hairdressers as each service will require a full clean down service.
The cutting stations will have to be disinfected after every cut and staff will have to wash their hands after every client, so “clients will have to allow extra time for appointments”.
After the cleaning process is completed, fresh gowns and towels will be provided for customers.
“Staff will really be tightening up on the hygiene process,” remarked Mr Paul, who employs 18 members of staff split in between shops.
“You won’t be able to have people waiting in a ‘waiting area’ with things like magazines and drinks and that sort of thing. We won’t be able to provide for clients,” he added.
Virtual consultations and less staff in-store
Mr Paul says his team will be split in two for shifts. There will be a Team A and Team B.
“If one member of the team were to contract the disease then we have still got another team which can stand in to place,” explained Mr Paul.
At his salon he says clients should expect about nine members of staff in-store when they visit.
Virtual consultations will be put in place for clients ahead of their booking.
The 42-year-old said: “Rather than having people come in to salon, say they wanted a change of colour or hair advice, it would be done by appointment virtually online.”
Men’s Grooming
At Mr Paul’s barbershop which is used for unisex cuts, he says clients can expect less of a radical change.
Prior to lockdown, he had three hairdressers working there and that will remain the same as there is “more space”.
Mr Paul ran a “relaxed appointment service” but this will become stricter and there will be no waiting in-store like standard barbering service.
He claims men’s hair appointments will be double the length, with a standard short back and sides cut taking up to an hour rather than 30 minutes.
Longer opening hours
Hairdressers traditionally closed on the Monday of each week. Mr Paul says this will change to meet demand.
His opening hours will now stretch from Monday to Saturday and they will be open from 9am-7pm every day.
