Salons and barbers have been closed since late March when the government advised all non-essential shops to temporarily halt their services as the UK entered into lockdown in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Foreign secretary, Mr Raab, confirmed hairdressers, pubs and restaurants would have to wait until phase three, which would be from 4 July at the “very earliest”, to be reconsidered for reopening.
However, it seems some therapists, beauticians and hairdressers have not followed protocol and have worked illegally during this period and today the National Hair & Beauty Federation have warned they will be reported and could face huge fines.
According to The Telegraph, as well as beauty therapists breaching lockdown rules, barbers and hairdressers have too been undertaking home visits to clients. Reports suggest that some of the home services illegally carried out include eyelash extensions and acrylic nails – both of which require close contact and require face-to-face interaction.
Bookings of these visits are said to be mostly made through social media or via direct contact between mobile therapists and their existing clients. It’s claimed that some hairdressers and therapists have put their prices up for offering to break the social distancing rules.
Hilary Hall, chief executive of the National Hair & Beauty Federation said, “We’re really disappointed this is happening. We’ve had a lot of concern from our members who are reporting other colleagues in the industry for breaking the lockdown restrictions.”
Hall advises members or the general public who suspect any unlawful services to report them to the Health and Safety Executive.
The National Hair & Beauty Federation have released new ‘fit for work’ guidelines recommending that even when salons are able to re-open, members “should not offer hairdressing, barbering or beauty treatments to clients at their home.”
It’s not just the act of breaking the law which is the issue, Hall also said that the safety of mobile beauticians and hairdressers is also likely to be harder to control since they are “working in an environment where you have no control over safety or hygiene.”
“Members of the public are also concerned,” adds Hall. “There’s little point to all the lockdown restrictions if there’s a group of people – stylists, therapists but also clients – who are willing to break the restrictions. It undermines what everybody is doing.”
She added, “The people breaking the lockdown restrictions then run the risks of the restrictions being extended for everyone, and it undermines the professionalism of those sticking to the rules.”