With the province of Manitoba set to begin easing some restrictions as part of a phased reopening of the economy on Monday, Tri-City hairdressers are wondering what’s in store for their industry.
In Manitoba, hair salons are among the businesses that are allowed to open in a phased response to re-opening in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In B.C., it’s not known when and how personal care businesses such as salons and esthetician services such as manicurists will re-open but plenty of thought is going into how they might if Dr. Bonnie Henry and Premier John Horgan order a phased re-opening of the economy.
On Saturday, Henry said hair stylists and other industries that require close personal contact will not be opened in the near future. That came in response to a question about a petition by barbers and hairstylists asking not to be included in the group of businesses slated to reopen first.
"We will not more forward with opening different sectors until we are ready, until we are sure that they have a plan that is workable and that makes sure we have these precautions in place," said Henry.
Still, many salons are looking for any way possible to prepare for when that first day back comes.
Among the considerations is physical distancing, mask wearing for clients and technicians, cleaning and sanitizing as well as how to satisfy pent-up demand for hair cuts, colouring and other services once doors open.
“I think you have to be very thoughtful and make sure you follow all the health and safety guidelines to the highest level,” commented Kyleigh Francks, who manages the hair cutting side of Inspirations Nails Spa and Hair in Port Coquitlam.
“There will be no room for cutting corners, and I think that’s the only way you can make sure your clients feel safe.”
She was one of hundreds of hairdressers and other beauty service providers who filled out a survey organized by the Beauty Council of Western Canada to offer advice to Henry and the B.C. government on re-opening safely.
For Francks, and others in the beauty industry, ensuring customer safety is top of mind but there could be a financial downside, too. Shops might have to open with fewer appointments in a day in order to provide space between clients and time in between customers to clean and sanitize.
“How do we stagger appointments, and maybe even stagger staff to make sure you’re not that close? There would be challenges people with people having to walk past you all the time,” Francks said.
Dee Jacobsen, who runs a salon in her Port Coquitlam home, is already ordering personal protective equipment, such as masks and hand sanitizer for when her business can re-open and expects to have to work longer hours in order to fit in all her customers.
“They’re texting me every day, when will you be able to open,” Jacobsen said.
Because she runs a business out of her home she can limit customers and doesn’t have to worry about other staff. But there are other considerations to owning a one-person business, including working more than ten hours a day and finding time squeeze in a lunch break.
“My last text to everybody was ‘unfortunately, I’m still closed,’ I’ll be starting with the people who were first and try to get everybody in and just work extra-long days.”
As for colouring mishaps and bad hair cuts by customers who take matters into their own hands, Francks and Jacobsen aren’t concerned. Although fixing the problems may take a little longer, hair grows quickly and for the most part home dye-jobs and other quick-fixes can be dealt with.
It’s the stress of not knowing when they can re-open and how quickly they can get up to speed.
Said Jacobsen, “Just let us know the date ahead of time. OK in two weeks, you guys can open so I can get on the phone and start phoning people.”
Read more from the Tri-City News
