Hair salon launches ‘isolation station’ for vulnerable clients
AIt has been really popular with clients who are more vulnerable to the virus or with those who have been shielding
Salon stylist Helen Foster
SALON has set up an ‘isolation room’ for customers concerned about the risks of Covid-19 to get their hair done.
Elements Hair and Beauty in Portishead has transformed one of its beauty rooms into the special ‘isolation station’ where customers can enjoy one-to-one pampering away from the main salon floor.
The idea to set up the room is to offer clients who are vulnerable to the virus due to underlying health conditions or the fact they are pregnant or elderly a dedicated space with their stylist.
Those visiting the isolation station come in through a separate door to the main entrance so as not to mingle with others in the salon.
The salon is believed to be the first in North Somerset to offer a dedicated room to vulnerable or nervous clients.
Salon stylist Helen Foster said the idea had gone down well with clients.
“Not everyone feels happy being in the main salon and this can be for a number of reasons,” said the mum of two who has worked at the salon for three years.
“It has been really popular with clients who are more vulnerable to the virus or with those who have been shielding. It makes them feel more comfortable than being in the main salon environment.
“We want them to feel safe and enjoy their experience like they always did before coronavirus, while they are here.”
Senior stylist Hayley Gill said: “The side door means that those using the isolation station don’t even have to come into the salon. The measures we have put in place have worked so well for many reasons.”
All customers visiting the salon – which opened in 2016 and is owned by local woman Natalie Charman – have their temperature checked.
All are asked to wash their hands and wear a mask and download the Track and Trace app to their phones. Each stylist stays with the client throughout their treatment, meaning there is no cross contamination between customers.
The salon – which has temporarily suspended its beauty menu due to the pandemic – has also extended its opening hours from 8am to 9pm and introduced shifts to limit the amount of customers and staff in at any one time.
It is also working its way through a backlog of more than 1,000 clients who couldn’t have their appointments during lockdown.
Work stations have been spread out to ensure social distancing is adhered to while screens have also been put up between the wash basins in the salon.
A 15-minute gap has been put in place between each appointment to ensure the workstation and all the equipment is thoroughly sanitised between customers.
Staff also wear masks and visors throughout treatments – which has, admittedly stylists say, had an impact on the normal hairdresser/ client natter.
“Our normal hairdresser chat is a bit more limited,” smiled Hayley.
“Wearing the masks and visors does make it more difficult to communicate with our clients, who are also wearing masks.
“It’s hot wearing the PPE but we manage. The main thing is we are keeping our customers and staff safe while they are in the salon.
“We can see that they are happy and smiling with the results of visiting us from behind the mask.”