A tour of a covid-secure hairdresser, and what to expect from July 4

Hairdressers can officially reopen on July 4, it was announced by Boris Johnson in a briefing on Tuesday. Dubbed ‘super Saturday’, pubs, bars and cinemas can also reopen on July 4, as well as the two metre rule being cut in half to one metre ‘plus’.

So what will our hair visit look like from July 4? Apart from rumours, speculation and what we have seen happening in Spain and Italy we have only been able to imagine what they will look like. However, in these pictures, L’Oréal - who have 25,000 salon partners up and down the UK - has created a blueprint of how their salons could operate. The salon Gatsby & Miller in Amersham, Bucks, is one of the first hairdressers in the UK ready for reopening.

The beauty industry as a whole employs over 600,000 people in the UK, and the hairdressing sector alone is the single largest contributor to the British beauty economy, valued at £6 billion.  Throughout lockdown, the hairdressing industry has captured the interest of the nation like never before. One of the first memes that went around was the joke ‘we’re about six weeks away from knowing the real colour of everybody’s hair’. We have been captivated by the lockdown locks of politicians and news presenters and thrown our hands in the air when the news came that golf clubs and car showrooms would open before hairdressers.

It’s been 14 weeks since salons closed their doors on March 24; waiting lists were duly started, videos of DIY haircuts went viral and sales of at-home root concealers shot through the roof. There’s also been a worrying emergence of backstreet hairdressers working in lockdown to satisfy the demand from clients, simply unable to cope without their regular cut and colour.

With this July 4 date edging closer, salons are now busy preparing themselves for a grand reopening - covid style. According to the National Hair and Beauty Federation, 77 percent of members say they already feel prepared to reopen.

Currently there are no clear government requirements for a salon to reopen, so these pictures serve as a guide to how hairdressers in the UK could operate - whether other salons adopt some or all of the measures in anticipation of the government’s guidelines.

“We know that many salons have been getting ready for a safe reopening, like our salon partner Gatsby & Miller,” says Beatrice Dautzenberg, Managing Director of the L’Oréal Professional Products Division. “How this salon has modified their space is based on the learnings from other markets where salons have already safely reopened and these modifications can easily be updated with any UK government guidelines.”

So what will a covid-secure salon entail? Firstly the new rules need to be clearly communicated, and Gatsby & Miller will be using a digital screen in their window to display important messaging for clients, including constant reminders about social distancing.

At check-in, there's a protective screen at the reception desk and markings on the floor to ensure strict social distancing. One dedicated stylist - wearing a mask - will welcome the client in and they will remain with this one stylist throughout the salon visit to help limit risk, following a one-way system.

PPE will play a big part of salons reopening, so at Gatsby & Miller all staff will be wearing gloves as well as masks (changed constantly throughout the day) and clients will also be encouraged to also wear a protective mask throughout the appointment.

The government is still to issue its guidelines, but L’Oréal had acquired over one million masks and are producing over 100,000 hand sanitiser gels for the UK and Ireland to support salons in their safe reopening. Another salon already working with similar measures is Hershersons in London, who are planning on giving clients their own bag of disposable PPE on arrival (which will include towels and pre-sterilised hairbrushes).

A regular feature of hairdressers, the backwash, has also changed quite significantly in the Gatsby & Miller salon. Protective screens have been installed  above the clients head, as well as in-between each chair. Each backwash station will be cleaned and disinfected after each appointment. The salon has also installed protective screens between styling stations.

“We have been working on reorganising and modifying the salon for a number of weeks and we feel confident to reopen safely anytime from now,” says Dawn Montgomery, Salon Manager of Gatsby & Miller. “We have been taking note from salons reopening in Europe as inspiration. Ahead of opening we will walk the team through every new protocol that we are implementing.” The salon is also planning on hiring a Risk Assessment expert to regularly check the newly-modified salon environment meets the highest standards.

L’Oréal has also designed an online training course on hygiene and safety, which it will encourage its hairdressers to use. By completing the course, the hairdressers will receive a certificate to display in salons, much like a covid-secure stamp of approval. They have also produced a Back to Business support guide, with details on hygiene, safety measures, salon organisation and communication.

With a staff of 170 across two salons and a 5,300 ft space in London, Hershersons plan to make their check-in and check-out process as ‘faceless’ as possible. “There’ll be an app for you to notify your stylist you’ve arrived at the salon, and you’ll be able to check out of the salon on your phone, too,” says Luke Hersherson.  There are also plans to extend opening hours from 7am to midnight, to allow more space and less contact between customers.

Last week the Department for Business, Energy & Industry Strategy (BEIS), in which hairdressing sits within, set up a taskforce to ensure salons are ready before the July 4 opening date. “The ideal situation is that we get a broad overview of what the government requires, and then we can work out the details,” says Keith Conniford, the head of the Hair & Barber Council, who has been appointed as an advisor for the newly-formed taskforce.

“What I don’t want is the government to be setting ridiculous guidelines for an industry that they don’t even understand,” he adds. “There needs to be some input from our industry to make these decisions.”

Many hairdressers in the UK have already planned how they’d reopen in a safe and hygienic way, but, adds Beatrice Dautzenberg from L’Oréal, “salons have always been an environment where high standards of hygiene and safety are adopted and followed, as well as caring for clients wellbeing as the number one priority.”

The July 4 date for salons reopening is a cautious step by the British government, in comparison to other countries including America, Germany and Denmark who opened hairdressers in their first wave of lifting lockdown. Many of the safety measures seen globally chime with the Gatsby & Miller blueprint so there is optimism that it will work. “We have seen many European markets reopen hair salons successfully,” says Dautzenberg. “The consumer demand and eagerness to go back to the salon for their hair appointment is extremely high.”

Five ways your hairdressing trip will be different

No lengthy consultation

It’s likely you’ll have a virtual consultation or longer telephone chat with your stylist or colourist before your appointment, to reduce the amount of time you’ll be in the salon.

None of the usual trimmings

As we’ve seen in salons around the world that have already opened, it’s likely there won’t be any magazines to flick through in the waiting area, or a cup of tea on arrival.

No blow dries

Some salons are debating whether to scrap blow dries for the initial phase of lifting lockdown, as hairdryers blast air particles freely around the salons, which could compromise the safety of the space.

No product testers to try

Gatsby & Miller has removed all product testers from its salon, and any products on shelves will have ‘do not touch’ signage. If you want to buy a new shampoo, it’ll be wiped down by your stylist before being placed directly in a bag.

No cash payments

The L’Oréal guidelines suggest salons only accept contactless card payments, and to have no cash transactions. Some salons may even ask clients to pre-pay for their haircut, too.