As salons reopen, I had the first haircut - this is what has changed
Hairdressers finally reopen in the UK for what we hope is the last time following England’s third national lockdown. And without wishing to rub it in, I had the joy of being first in the hairdresser’s chair at the Buller & Rice salon in Newington Green in London. As a beauty journalist I was granted access to see first-hand the changes that will come into effect as restrictions lift for hairdressers.
Many of the changes that owners Anita Rice and Stephen Buller enforced following the reopening from the first lockdown last summer were very similar. I had to arrive at my scheduled appointment time, with minimal belongings. Much like last year, each client’s arrival will be spaced apart to minimise contact and waiting time.
Despite it not being a government requirement for clients to wear face coverings throughout their appointments following the first lockdown, last autumn guidance was updated - so I arrived wearing a cloth face covering and kept it on for my entire visit. As soon as I arrived Anita also gave me a gown to wear over my clothes, and she put a disposable apron on top.
Both Stephen and Anita were wearing face coverings as well as a visor, which is part of the government guidelines for businesses operating within Personal Care services (which includes beauty salons, too). All of the tools that were used on me had been fully sterilised before my treatment, and following my service, too.
A focus on ventilation was a new addition to the government guidelines for the April 12 reopening, so from then on, Stephen and Anita will keep the front door open during operating times to provide as much ventilation and fresh air circulation as possible.
Although the hairdressing chairs are more spaced out, and longer allotted appointment times to allow for cleaning stations before and after each appointment, everything about the colour and cut appointment was reassuringly the same as pre-covid times. Even with clients wearing a face covering for appointments, both Anita and Stephen have adapted to cutting and applying colour foils by avoiding the backs of the ears, where the face covering straps sit.
Thankfully, salons are now able to provide hot or cold drinks in disposable cans or cups, which wasn’t allowed in government guidelines following the first lockdown. My colour took an hour to develop, and then I was taken to the backwash area, while keeping my face mask on. I joked with Stephen that this was my favourite part - having someone actually wash my hair for me for the first time in four months was the greatest joy!
During my haircut and blowdry, Stephen was for the most part working from behind me and to the side of me. We were socially distanced otherwise, a huge plus of being in a spacious salon. My cut took around 30 minutes in total, and once blow-dried I removed the apron and gown I was wearing, sanitised my hands again and as payment was pre-paid, I was ready to leave.
Hopefully treatments at the hairdressers are now back on the menu for good. I’ve certainly missed the salon, and judging by the fact that Buller & Rice’s books are full until mid-June, I think everyone else has, too.
