After the good news that barbershops and salons in England can reopen on 4 July for ‘services that relate to cutting or treating hair on the head only’, many were left wondering exactly how barbershops and salons were allowed to operate.
However, today the Government released their Safer Workplace guidance for how business can prepare for reopening.
The National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF) has summarised the key points below:
- All salons must stick to social distancing and maintain two metres between clients, or one metre with additional precautions, such as the use of screens
- Face visors must be worn by practitioners for all activities. Face coverings are not an acceptable alternative to visors, but clients or staff may choose to wear an additional face covering
- No walk-ins; clients must be seen by appointment only. Salon and barbershop owners will be required to keep a temporary record of all clients and visitors for 21 days to support the NHS test-and-trace system which controls outbreaks of the virus
- No food or drinks to be consumed in the salon by clients other than water in disposable cups or bottles
- The guidance does not ban the use of hairdryers
Have a gander at the full report here.
The guidelines are based on the most up to date scientific evidence.
Other key points being that face visors have to be worn during a service. Face coverings can be worn as an extra precaution, but not as an alternative to visors.
The Government also makes a distinction between face coverings and face masks. Face coverings are what the government is advising people to wear on public transport, not the sort worn by health and care workers. It’s thought that wearing a face covering doesn’t protect you from the virus, but it may protect others.
The ‘highest risk zone’ for spreading COVID-19 is the area in front of the face where splashes and droplets from the nose and mouth can be present, even if they can’t be seen.
Therefore consultations should be made side-to-side or by talking to a client in a mirror, rather than face-to-face.
The Safer Workplace guidance applies to both salon-based and mobile and freelance barbers and hairdressers.