How hairdressing salons in Kirkcaldy will be changing after lockdown

Whether it’s ever-growing roots desperately needing touched up, grey hairs requiring colouring or home hair cuts urgently needing fixed, many of us are looking forward to the day when hair salons and barber shops in the town re-open.

But the question is not only when stylists will officially be allowed to see clients – but, what will salons look like after lockdown?

While restrictions are easing, the industry is still waiting on a date it can get back to work – but many are already busy preparing to pick up their scissors.

Most are hoping they might be able to start seeing clients by the end of this month, although this will be based on government advice as well as information from the National Hairdressers’ Federation (NHF) and the NHBF (National Hair & Beauty Federation).

But, what lies in store when you enter a salon for the first time since March?

In terms of physical changes, two long-established operators in Kirkcaldy have tackled social distancing.

Dom Panetta, who owns Migele Experience, said: “We will have perspex screens at reception, between wash basins and at key contact points.

“We have removed all reading material, and although we have an in-house coffee bar serving all speciality coffees and teas, this will have to be put on hold. We will supply bottled water.

“Where possible, once a client has had their hair shampooed they will stay in one chair for the duration of their visit. This will be disinfected before using again.”

He continued: “We have not made final decisions on hours and rotas, but given what we’ve witnessed in other countries, the number of bodies in the building is likely to be restricted.

“We currently have 17 positions so we plan to remove chairs which will reduce that to 11. This will ensure that each seat easily has the mandatory two metre distance.”

Dom also has tentative plans to create two separate teams working separate shifts, so the salon will be open longer.

He aims to offer his full service menu, although in the first four to six weeks, he will only serve the clients on a priority waiting list. There won’t be any walk-in customers, and a separate waiting list will operate for new clients.

You may also be interested in how barber shops will look after they re-open:

Why a quick trim will change for men at barner shops in Kirkcaldy

Also preparing for a return is Ronnie Marshall, who owns Byron Hairdressing.

His business has removed nine spaces, perspex screens are fitted, and signs are in place to guide people around the building.

Hand sanitisers have been installed for customers before entering, and all touch points in the salon will be subject to strict cleaning measures.

Ronnie said: “We are working on longer appointments to minimise how many guests are in the salon.

“We are also going to be open longer hours and our team will be split into two teams and work different shifts.”

Glen Christie and Jordan Towle from Glen Christie Hairdressing in the town’s east end have also been preparing by achieving their Covid-19 and Barbicide certificates.

Barbicide is the global leader of disinfection in the professional beauty industry and it has long been synonymous with high standards of hygiene a professional should adhere to.

Most recently, it has introduced a Covid-19 training course which beauticians and hair stylists can take to ensure clients are welcomed into a safe environment.

Jordan said: “We will also be re-arranging the furniture so our clients are spaced two metres apart. We will have hand sanitisers at every station and we will be cleaning down each station as well as the wash hand basins between clients too.

“We tend to stagger our appointments so we aren’t both using the same areas like the wash basins at the same time.”

Glen said: “The most we can have in the salon at any one time is six people.

“I will be working at my normal position nearest the door with Jordan at her usual position. We are going to take out the two seats in the middle and put them at the back of the salon.

“Clients can sit there while they’re waiting on their colour being done. There is enough space there to make sure we have social distancing.”

Longer opening hours and interior revamps

The changes mean a lot of salons will have to look at operating longer as they limit the number of clients.

Regan Morton, salon manager at Alison Stewart Hairdressing, said they may have to extend appointments, adding: “We will need to take longer to be able to get all our tools and stations cleaned and disinfected after each client,” she explained.

“We will possibly need to open for slightly more hours and possibly work extra days to be able to stagger start times for employees if there is a limit on how many people can be in the salon at any one time.”

One Kirkcaldy hair and beauty salon is undergoing a complete revamp in order to meet the new requirements.

Stacey Whittaker, who owns Pouts & Pinups, said: “We are having a complete salon refit. Within the salon we are changing positions to allow distancing.

In areas where that is not possible, we are installing glass panels. We have removed our sofas within the waiting area and now have single chairs.

“We will be offering more hours to fit clients into the salon and we are also having to include more time for each appointment.”

Kirsty Williamson who owns Perfection Hairdressing in Rosslyn Street, will have separate entrance and exit routes.

She added: “We are lucky we have additional stations to allow distancing measures so we can allow all staff to work within opening hours.

“We will have to reduce the number of clients, and will offer extended opening hours over the first month or two of opening.

“Luckily due to the size of the salon and having three separate rooms where hairdressing can be carried out, all staff can work together so we don’t need to minimise or cut their hours back.”

Streamlining premises to welcome clients back

Louise Linton has 20 years experience in the industry and opened her first salon in October 2019 in Commercial Street.

Her circumstances are slightly different from similar businesses because she mainly works by herself.

She will be streamlining her premises by removing any unnecessary furnishings and equipment to create plenty space for social distancing.

Before and between customers, Louise plans to make sufficient time to thoroughly clean work stations and surrounding areas to comply with government advice.

She employs a part-time stylist and they will be working on different days to ensure social distancing. As a result she will be reducing the number of clients she would usually see on a daily basis due to the new measures.

Preet Grevaal, owner of Hair Preet Grevaal in the town’s Hunter Street, said her usual ten work stations will be cut to five on re-opening.

She said: “Each stylist will take a corner each and work from there and we have four wash bins which will be reduced to two so we will easily have three metres between clients to ensure social distancing.

“Hopefully we won’t need to reduce the number of clients we see as the waiting list is getting longer by the minute and so if people are coming in for a colour treatment they can sit in a different area.

“I am hoping not to cut anything down, we are hoping to accommodate all our clients.

“I am hoping to offer all services, depending on the government guidelines, offering everything our clients need and more.

“We have ordered a lot of PPE for the staff which has all arrived – masks, aprons and capes, we will be using as many disposable items as possible.

“We have also ordered extra masks for clients if they do not have one with them as we will insist they wear them.

“We will also have hand sanitisers everywhere in the salon and we have contactless thermometers to take people’s temperatures.”

She added: “We won’t be offering any coffees or teas and magazines will be removed so we have as little contact as possible in the salon.”

All salons said they hoped to offer a full range of services, unless government advice states otherwise. Staff will wear personal protective equipment throughout treatments including disposable gloves, masks, aprons with some giving masks to clients to wear as well as disposable gowns and capes.

Many stylists will also be using disposable towels.

And, sadly, most salons have said that clients’ favourite appointment treats which include reading glossy magazines and enjoying cups of speciality coffees or teas won’t be available initially.

They may have to contend with bottled water instead.