Glasgow hairdressers say they are confident of COVID-19 safety

Owners of some of the city’s biggest firms say they have invested heavily in staff training, PPE and other safety equipment with detailed risk assessment carried out to help protect customers from Covid-19.

However, those in the industry say hairdressers will have to adapt to new ways of working while clients will also have to get used to a different experience and there may have to be price increases.

Salons will see significantly fewer clients at one time and strict hygiene protocols will mean there will be bigger gaps between appointments while opening hours are likely to be extended with staff working in shifts.

Owners say it is likely that smaller salons may find it more difficult to reopen and bounce back because there will be limited space to socially distance clients, they will be facing a significant drop in takings and will have smaller budgets to make the necessary safety changes.

READ MORE: Glasgow hairdressers' top tips for lockdown hair 

One owner said he had been quoted £85 for 100 masks, which would normally cost £4 or £5.

Ken Main, joint owner of Ellen Conlin in Hyndland, said he has spent several weeks preparing for re-opening but that ultimately it will be dependant on how nervous the public is about coming back into salons.

He said: “If I was based in England, I could probably open now.

“As soon as Nicola Sturgeon says we are moving to the next level, I think I will open. Obviously we will do another risk assessment and make sure we are following the guidelines.

“If they follow what they do in England, they have said that if you can’t work from home you should go to work.

“If you go to work you have to provide the appropriate protection for your clients and staff and work within social distancing, which I believe we can do.

“The truth of the matter is whether clients will come in and whether they will feel safe.

“I saw some barber shops in Barcelona which had reopened and they were just carrying on as normal with not a huge amount of protection, which I was quite astonished at.

“We will need to work at half speed. Instead of having 15 people in at one time, we will have to have five in, maybe even less in alternative seats.

“Clients will need to take their mask off when they are getting their hair cut but all staff will be wearing masks.

“We have screens for the back wash so there is no contact splashes.

“We have 2m gaps on the floor and brushes and combs will need to be sanitised before and after every service as will dryers, as will seats, door handles, plugs.

“We will be doing staggered appointments from 9.30am to 7pm with telephone appointments only. 

READ MORE: Glasgow nightclubs face being closed for months 

“You’ve got to rely on the honesty of the client. But the precautions we are taking will reduce the chances of catching something substantially.”

Ken said the business would have to raise prices slightly but said the government had been “very fair” with the financial help provided. All his staff have been furloughed. 

Taylor Ferguson, who has run a salon on Bath Street for 44 years, said staff are incredibly keen to re-open but he is “staying patient”.

He said the salon may consider opening on a Sunday in order to stagger appointments safely.

He said: “From what we’ve seen in countries such as Germany where lockdown has already been eased the salon visit may be significantly different and we’ll all have to accept that changes will be needed.

“Number one in the list of changes is the top priority we all will place on the need for extra safety of clients and staff. We will bend over backwards to ensure people are cared 
for.

“As people would expect we’re looking at disposable aprons, masks, visors for our colleagues. 

“Some of our team have been completing online safety courses. We’ve had screens specially designed for reception and other areas. Safety is key.

“We may extend hours and consider Sunday opening to ensure we look after our clients.

“We’ve received many messages and emails from clients. They’re all showing remarkable resilience in the crisis and many are asking for advice.”

READ MORE: View from Glasgow businesses: Furlough must be flexible 

Linda Stewart, owner of Rainbow Room International, which has salons across Scotland, including several in Glasgow, says it has put a 10-step plan in place to ensure Covid-19 safety for staff and clients.

She said that the business is also looking into some mental health support for staff, some of whom may have lost relatives to Covid-19 or who also may be dealing with clients who are bereaved.

She said: “We are making sure the staff can cope physically and mentally to return after a prolonged absence.

“I think some mental health training would be beneficial as the team might have lost people they know to the virus and also the clients will have lost their loved ones.

“Although we haven’t received any defined guidelines from the government we have been undertaking our own risk assessment and keeping an eye on countries such as Germany and Denmark who have successfully reopened.”