How it looked at the hairdressers when they reopened in the North last July 6 with staff and customers wearing protective masks
Many people are long overdue a hair cut or a colour and from Friday, April 23, hairdressers and barbers across the country are among the services permitted to reopen their salons again.
As with all reopenings announced, there are strict restrictions in place to ensure services can operate safely in order to protect both staff and customers from the risk of Covid-19.
The guidance issued covers all close contact services including hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, nail salons, tattoo parlours and others.
Here are the restrictions and rules which will be in place on your return to the salon.
Which services are permitted to reopen on April 23?
Hairdressing or Barbering
Provision of beauty or aesthetics treatments including treatments in relation to nails or makeup
Tattooing
Tanning
Services in spas
Sports and massage therapy
Well-being and holistic therapies
Dress fitting, tailoring and fashion design
Body piercing
Electrolysis
What are the restrictions and guidance for keeping everyone safe?
Services to operate strictly on an appointment only basis- no walk-ins
Wearing of a face covering where possible
Further increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning.
Keeping the activity time involved as short as possible.
Using screens or barriers to separate clients from one another.
Everyone working in close proximity for an extended period of time must wear a visor or goggles and a Type II face mask screens will not be necessary between the practitioner and the client.
Using back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face) whenever possible.
Unless crucial for the treatment, avoid skin to skin contact and use gloves where possible
Encouraging clients to use hand sanitiser or handwashing facilities as they enter the premises or before treatment.
Download the Stop Covid NI app
Calculating the maximum number of clients that can reasonably follow social distancing guidelines (as per the recommended 2m, or 1m with risk mitigation where 2m is not viable, is acceptable) and limiting the number of appointments at any one time. Take into account total floor space as well as likely pinch points and busy areas
When booking an appointment, asking the client if they can attend on their own, where possible.
Maintaining social distancing in waiting areas when clients wait for their appointments. When waiting areas can no longer maintain social distancing, consider moving to a ‘one-in-one-out’ policy.
Encouraging clients to arrive at the time of their scheduled appointment.
COVID-19 related screening questions to be asked of clients ahead of their appointment, including; – Have you had the recent onset of a new continuous cough? – Do you have a high temperature? – Have you noticed a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell? The client should be advised that if they have any of these symptoms, however mild, they should stay at home and reschedule their appointment.
Ventilation into the building should be optimised to ensure the maximum fresh air supply is provided to all areas of the facility wherever possible.
Tags: