Clients to have temperature taken before hair appointment when Northampton salon opens

On May 10, Boris Johnson announced the first measures for easing lockdown with Government guidelines stating hairdressers will have to wait until July 4 at the earliest to get cutting again.

Salons and barbers have had their doors closed since March 23 when all non-essential shops were told to shut to slow the spread of Covid-19 - and Seckingtons was no different.

For two months, their Northampton salon in Wellingborough Road and Milton Keynes salon in Broughton, has stood empty with 33 staff from both sites unable to work and 700 people on their waiting list.

Owner, Johnny Seckington, said: "I, like many other salon owners, waited in anticipation for Boris to consider letting the lockdown loosen a few weeks ago but sadly he said that salons couldn’t open until the 4th July at the earliest. It was a knock to say the least for my 33 staff, all of our clients and myself but throughout this very challenging and unusual time our health and safety should always come first.

"More than anything, we are so looking forward to welcoming our clients back into both salons. But we have to follow the government guidelines to make sure everyone is safe. Of course our technical skills will be uninterrupted and our make objective is to make each and every client looking and feeling fantastic again."

When both sites reopen from July 4, Johnny has announced the safety measures the salon will go to in order to keep customers safe, including hosting a 'vulnerable hour' for those who are shielding where the salon will only work at 25% capacity.

He added: "Clients will be called in advance, so they know what to expect on arrival. They will be asked to come as close to their appointment time as possible, not early or late as there will be no waiting space. They will also be asked not to bring and family or friends with them.

"We will have to socially distance by removing half of our stations. By using every other station client’s will be more than 2 metres away from one another.

"If they feel like they may have any Covid-19 symptoms we have asked the clients not to come and we will waiver the cancellation policy."

Ahead of the appointment, there will be no face-to-face consultation, instead all clients will be called or could opt for a Facetime chat in advance so the stylists have the colour mixed up on arrival. Allergy tests will be sent out in the post 48 hours before the clients appointment.

On arrival, there will be stickers outside the door and on entry to make sure clients know where to stand as they walk in as the waiting area will be removed.

Clients will be asked to wash their hands with an automatic hand gel dispenser before they are seated and their temperatures will be taken.

A limited number of staff will be working at every other station and the stylist will complete the entire service and basin experience themselves to limit person-to-person contact to just one.

The staff - who will have staggered starting times to cope with longer appointment times - will have disposable aprons, gloves and masks and their hands must be washed thoroughly in between each client for a minimum of 20 seconds.

The salon will then give out a 'goody bag' to the client, which they will be given on arrival and they will be asked to put their jacket in that bag and in turn given a disposable gown, two disposable towels and a bottle of water.

Clients will be asked to bring their own mask and an alcohol wipe will be given to wipe down customers' phones and tablets as magazines have been thrown out.

The salon - which will colour code stations when they have been cleaned - is only working on an appointment-only and contactless payment-only policy and cash will not be accepted. The stylist or colourist will take the clients bill and make their next appointment form their own phone.

Disposable mops heads and cloths will be used every day and staff PPE will be doubled bagged before throwing away.