Fife salon owner argues unique hair loss treatment should be an 'essential service'
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Emma McCurrach runs her own salon in Leslie called Env-i Hair and Beauty and within her salon she also operates a clinic for people who have experienced hair loss.
She has also started operating this clinic from her home.
Emma wants to continue offering the specialist service to people experiencing hair loss as the treatment she provides has to be maintained every six weeks, and she says it has a huge impact on her clients’ mental health if they don’t have it done.
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For that reason, she believes it should be classed as an essential service, but, despite contacting Fife Council trading standards to argue her case, officers have told her close contact services are not allowed presently due to Scottish public health restrictions.
Emma said: “I am trying to find a way of getting the hair loss treatment I offer classed as essential work.
" I have spoken to trading standards and explained the difference the treatment makes to my clients’ mental health.
"Trading Standards said I couldn’t treat people with cancer as they are likely shielding, but 80 per cent of my clients are people who suffer from severe alopecia so I would be them I would be treating just now.”
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Emma, who wears full PPE to carry out the service, explained the hair loss treatment she offers is bespoke mesh integration which blends a client’s existing hair with hair extensions. The mesh is secured to their head and the hair then styled.
She continued: “The mesh needs to be maintained every six weeks.
"If it isn’t, the hair they have left which is still growing becomes matted causing even more damage. It can also come loose or right off. I have all these people who are desperate to have their hair done and I can’t help them.
"I have a friend in Birmingham and one in Leeds who offer this service and they have both been granted permission from their local council to do the treatment but Fife isn’t allowing it.”
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Hide AdEmma, who also makes bespoke wigs, added: "One of my friends is getting cosmetic dentistry done just now so how can that be classed as essential yet my clients who are totally suffering, aren’t able to get their hair done?”
One of Emma’s clients said: “Hair loss treatment should be essential. Your hair is what everyone sees, it is part of your personality and when this is taken away, it takes part of you with it. It has a huge effect on my mental health and well-being not having my hair on, which I have had to do for most of the year now.”
Dawn Adamson, Fife Council trading standards service manager, said that under the current Scottish public health restrictions, close contact services are not allowed to carry out business, to help prevent the spread of the virus due to the high risks associated. She said public health legislation is devolved, so it might be different in other parts of the UK.
She added: "Scottish Government funding support will be available to these types of businesses. Details of support schemes at FindBusinessSupport.scot"