This is How to Safely Get a Haircut During Coronavirus
When will hair salons reopen and how do I stay safe if I decide to go?
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What will salons do to keep my family safe?
There are some guidelines already in place for New York salons to safely open: Governor Andrew Cuomo has released recommended best practices and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) also recommends specific procedures. These include:
- Cutting down on the number of customers who are in the shop at any time (they must operate at 50 percent capacity or less)
- Asking clients to come alone (not with partners or children)
- Having stylists stand behind the client at all times, in order to limit face-to-face interaction
- Having stylist wear a face shield or mask
- Having stylists carry a towel, so that they can cover their nose, mouth, and mask if they get the urge to sneeze or cough
- Eliminating the waiting area and taking clients directly to workstations, so they don't unnecessarily touch or breathe on surfaces and magazines
- Making workstations at least six feet apart
- Stylists cleaning their hands and their work areas frequently
- Having salons rely solely on cashless payment
- Not allowing clients to bring in handbags (only phones and a form of payment)
- Performing temperature checks using an infrared thermometer before the client enters the salon
- Performing temperature checks on employees and wearing a sticker or button proving they have passed
Some salons like the Astoria-based Natura Spa plan to provide the client with her own paper or plastic cape, a mask and a hairbrush. Also, some salons open in other states have stopped offering blow dry services, due to fear that the virus could be spread more easily through the air.
All of these restrictions might make the experience a little less luxurious. But it’s safety first these days, and you’ll be grateful when you walk out with a clean cut regardless of if the experience is not what you're used to.
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