Which hairdressing service might be off the menu when salons resume service?
For anyone who is waiting to get their roots touched up, it feels an age since hairdressers closed their doors.
But the end is in sight, with salons expected to open next month in July.
Dominic Raab has previously said, “From July 4, at the earliest, we’ll look at other sectors and that will include hospitality, but it will also include personal care and people like hairdressers.” So that’s the earliest it seems that hairdressers will be able to open.
But what will salons look like when they open again, and how will social distancing measures affect the treatments on offer?
MORE: When will hairdressers open again in the UK? We asked the experts when we’ll next get a trim
One of the hairdressing services that may now be completely off the menu – for now – is a blow dry.
“Due to the potential risk of the virus being transmitted through swift airflow and to reduce the time and volume of people in salons, what is apparent is the need to cut down, or out, blow drying the hair,” Kat De Rozario, hair stylist at Josh Wood Atelier, explained to Stylist.
MORE: The best hair dryer for a professional blow dry at home – whether your hair is curly, fine or frizzy
“Essentially, whether hair is long or short, the cut needs to aid styling so it can dry naturally without the need for a blow dry.”
That’s not great news for those of us who have been dreaming of walking out of the salon with some Duchess Catherine-style bounce, but it’s a small price to pay if we can still have our roots and split ends tended to (plus, it’s easier to recreate a blow dry at home than you think).
Keith Conniford, CEO of the Hair and Barber Council, told w&h that salons have been busy making plans to support the industry when the lockdown is eased.
MORE: The most hygienic haircut to opt for after lockdown, according to a hairdressing pro
“One of the critical things that businesses need to do is ensure that they feel the health, safety and hygiene of their premises is as safe as possible for them to come in and get their hair done, or whatever service they’re going to have.”
So what will post-salon hair look like after lockdown? “I’ll be doing a lot of cuts that require minimal styling – preferably with tongs – and have longevity,” Kat told Stylist.
“For some, that means short hair that can be grown out for months, or for those with longer hair it might mean the weight is taken out and some shaping added so it can still be tied up and out of the way.”
