In our salons you’ll be able to let the locks down safely

HAIRDRESSERS have promised to ‘radically transform’ their salons in an attempt to come out of lockdown as soon as possible.

They will put 110 proposals to the Government today including the wearing of face masks and gloves while cutting people’s hair, and totally scrapping waiting areas.

Under the proposals, clients would call up for an appointment and arrive at the appointed time. However, the hairdressers have said if the Government insists on keeping to the two-metre rule, some salons will have to shut down every second wash basin and chair to keep customers apart.

That would cause some hairdressers to permanently shut their doors, they warned.

The Irish Hairdressers Federation is seeking to have its members be allowed to reopen on June 29, three weeks ahead of the July 20 date outlined in the Government roadmap.

The industry, in which 25,000 people are employed, is hoping to convince the Government with proposals that will transform how salons and barbers will look and operate.

‘Some of the things we are looking at are waiting areas. As much with doctors and dentists, customers will not wait in the salon but will phone in and get an appointment when the stylist is free,’ explained Danielle Kennedy, the incoming IHF president, yesterday.

‘There will be no walk-ins so we will be advising all salons operate on appointment only.

‘There will be hand-washing procedures and hand sanitisers in place, and we will be recommending face coverings for stylists, increased waste collection and protective screens for salons that are quite busy, especially in high traffic areas such as reception desks.’

However, the IHF is also hoping for a change of policy on the contentious two-metre social distance rule – with fears that it could make the reopening of some salons impossible.

It pointed out that the World Health Organisation is recommending one-metre social distancing instead of Ireland’s two-metre rule.