Barbershops and hair salons in Windsor Essex closed their doors last week after the Ontario government announced that the region had been allowed to move to Stage 2 as the COVID-19 pandemic continued. Got permission to reopen.
For people like Rabia Ibraheem, who owns the Rabee Barber Shop in Wyandotte, Windsor, and Maddi Lantin, a stylist at Shear Images Salon in Belle River, reopening means wearing personal protective equipment as required by the state. It means following a strict set of guidelines (PPE), sanitizing equipment at all times, and enforcing physical distancing rules indoors.
Lantin, who returned to work on Tuesday, June 30, said, “We had to create a waiver for people to sign in case there was a problem. No more waiting rooms.”
Customers will also be asked a series of questions before entering the reservation, Lantin said, adding that masks will be provided in case customers don’t have their own.
“Everyone should wear a mask at all times,” she said.
Despite being allowed to reopen businesses, Ibrahim said business is still not booming.
“Some people want to sit in their chairs on the first day, others want to wait until it’s safe,” he said.
He schedules appointments at 15-minute intervals, not back-to-back, to ensure health and safety and properly sanitize equipment.
Everyone should wear a mask at all times.– Maddi Lantin, Stylist, Shear Images Salon
“Physical distancing requirements, enhanced cleaning mean salons and barbershops are seeing fewer customers per day,” he said.
As for what’s popular among clients, some haven’t had a professional haircut in months, and Lantin sees many clients trying to fix their isolated haircuts.
She added that it will likely take “at least a few months” to catch up with the client backlog.
“We are only allowed to see one client at a time,” she said. helps…we can get people on the list quickly and get everyone on the list.”
According to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit website, “if there is an infected person on site, especially if the client is not wearing a mask or face covering (a form of source control).”
The health department also notes that there is “limited specific data” that hair dryers pose a risk of spreading COVID-19.
Still, Lantin and Ibraheem are happy to be back at work and seeing old clients.
PPE like masks and face shields can make communication a little more difficult, but Lantin says stylists and others who work in her store still know how to “gabby talk with every client.” I’m exploring.
Ibraheem agrees, but adds, “It’s more difficult to share jokes because you can’t see people’s smiles when you wear a mask.”
