5 Ways to Social Distance and Protect Clients in a Salon

The coronavirus pandemic has taken a devastating toll on human life and disrupted economic activity in unprecedented ways. This situation has forced businesses to change the way they do things to protect both their staff and clients. However, it remains difficult to implement preventative measures such as social distancing in places like salons.

What Is Social Distancing?

Social distancing refers to the practice of maintaining physical space between you and other people who are not from your household. Keeping a safe distance in both indoor and outdoor areas is designed to reduce the risk of infection when people cough, sneeze or speak, effectively helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing should be practiced alongside other preventive actions like maintaining good hand hygiene and avoiding touching the face with unwashed hands.

How to Social Distance

Although it may be difficult to social distance in a hair salon, you can put in place measures to reduce the spread of the disease. Below are some creative ways through which you can promote the safety of your clients and employees.

Here are a few steps you can take to ensure you operate safely:

1. Encourage both clients and stylists to wear masks

Salons should encourage both their staff and customers to wear masks. Service providers should also wear personal protective equipment like gloves. Wearing PPE goes a long way in preventing the spread of the virus when customers and stylists come into contact.

2. Skip hair washing

Coronavirus can spread from one person to another through infected surfaces. When salons skip hair washing, they not only limit the time during which the stylist and client are in contact but also minimize the risk of sinks and headrests getting infected.

3. Separate stylists chairs by six feet

Keeping stylists chairs at least six feet apart will significantly reduce the virus’s chances of spreading in the salon. However, stylists and customers can be less than six feet apart when the service is being performed.

4. Limit capacity

You can also encourage social distancing in the salon by limiting the number of people who are in the space at any given time. This can be done by offering by-appointment-only services, carrying out consultations virtually whenever possible, staggering appointment times, and doing away with waiting areas.

5. Train your employees

Continuous training of employees will put them in a great position to implement updated procedures and policies. The professionals will be aware of the risks involved and adhere to the set control measures. You may also want to put up signs that reinforce social distancing in the salon.

Why Social Distancing Is Important in a Salon

Social distancing is not an easy thing to do but remains key in containing the spread of COVID-19. By ensuring people keep a safe distance from each other, salons can slow down the rate and number of new infections. This simple health practice will help protect yourself and others while still allowing you to efficiently serve your clients.

In addition to social distancing, there are many more measures that salons can take to slow the spread of the virus. These include keeping the hair salon well-ventilated, going for cashless payments, keeping surfaces clean and symptom and temperature checking.