Hair Salons Are Starting to Reopen—But Is it Safe To Go During COVID-19?

You may want to wait a while before scheduling an overdose trim.

After several weeks under stay-at-home orders, states are slowly loosening their COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, meaning people can widen their social bubble, spend more time outdoors and in public (While still practicing social distance and wearing masks), and — apparently an important step forward for many — get their hair done.

But before you throw your neglected locks into the hands of someone with great care to throw the air with great care, who really know what they are doing, some very big questions need to be answered first: Is it safe to go to a hair salon? And if you decide to see your hairstylist, what are the salons doing (and what can you do) for safety during an appointment?

What's so risky about going to the hair salon during COVID-19?

The biggest issue with visiting a hair salon during COVID-19 is how the virus spreads - mainly through close person-to-person contact with infected people (and respiratory drops that they produce ). In hair salons, people are usually very close together - especially when a hairstylist is coloring, cutting, or styling someone else's hair.

This means that the greatest risk in visiting a hair salon right now is coming in contact with a customer or employee with COVID-19, even if they are asymptomatic (the virus can spread even when there are no symptoms showing), Claudia Skinner, DNP, former critical care nurse at St. Jude Medical Center in Orange County and director of clinical excellence, tells Health.

Another risk — however, much less than person-to-person contact — is typically exposure to harmonious surfaces, such as salon chairs and equipment, which may contain virus particles on them.

So what are hair salons doing to keep customers protected?

Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), specifically to help resume non-essential occupations, do not specifically reopen hair salmon. But other official bodies, such as the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), have provided detailed guidance for hair and nail salons, including cutting the number of customers visiting the store at any time, limiting face-to-face interaction. Does. Standing behind the client at all times, and wearing a face shield or mask.

In addition to this guidance, states and local municipalities have issued their additional recommendations for safe saloon operations, post lockdown. For example, Wisconsin guidelines suggest that along with other precautionary measures, hairstylists should also keep a towel at all times to cover their nose, mouth, and mask if they are urged to sneeze or cough. If it is possible to delay this solicitation, they have advised to "leave the building immediately or stay as far away from customers and colleagues as possible."

Daniel Cohen-Shoet, co-founder of the spa and salon software company GlossGenius, says hair salons are taking it on themselves to create even more regulations to protect their customers. With wearing masks, accepting only contactless payments, disassembling work stations, and frequent hand washing and cleaning, many salons will require customers to use an infrared thermometer before entering the salon, and out of fear The reason is to stop offering blow dry services. The virus can spread more easily through the air.

Lorraine Massey, author of Curley Girl: Handbook, creator of the DeWorkle product line, and owner of the Spiral (x, y, z) salon in New York City, says she will protect herself when her salon opens. Solution. "We are ready to adapt to a new normal," Massey says. “We are necessarily taking all necessary security measures, including masks, gloves and face shields to all who visit the salon. Additionally, we have stations around the salon. Luckily for us, the saloon is large enough to allow us to stay much further than the required six feet. "

But despite the closing and new regulations, the owner of the hair salon agrees that the bigger picture is more important. Massey says, "When I say that I speak for all my barber colleagues I have suffered a huge loss of revenue and connection." “We can rebuild it, but we cannot bring back those who have lost their lives. The closing was for the best interest and safety of all. "

What else can you do to protect yourself from COVID-19 during a hair salon visit?

Coronavirus disease

Even with precautionary measures imposed by salons, there are still some things that you can do to protect your own health and the health of those around you.

First: You can call the hair salon ahead of time and ask them what their new protective policies are and what they expect from you prior to appointment at St. Joseph's Hospital and Mission Medical Director of Infection Prevention, Charles Bailey, MD Will. Hospital in Orange County, CA tells health.

Additionally, Skinner advises asking what cleaning and disinfection practices are in your salon, especially with frequently touching areas such as door handles, counters, armchairs, etc. Will not be able to afford to wear face mask during his journey.

In the end, the decision to go to a hair salon right now is a personal one, depending on how far your state is in its reopening process, and how comfortable you are with the risks associated with visiting a hair salon right now. . COVID-19 is nowhere near zero, so you have to weigh the benefits and risks of exposing yourself). But, if you decide that haircut is at the top of your to-do list right now, be sure to review your salon's new policies, be prepared to wear face masks (if none have been provided to you) , And maintain social distance as much as possible during the appointment.

The information in this story is accurate as of press time. However, as the situation around COVID-19 continues to evolve, it is possible that some data may have changed since publication. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up to date as possible, we encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities using the CDC, WHO and their local public health department as resources .