Banbury hair salons and barber shops re-open with record breaking takings

When Gilly Carter arrived to open her High Street Men's Room barbershop she found a que already forming at 6.45am on the Saturday July fourth.

Gilly Carter, the barbershop's owner, said: "Saturday was amazing. We had queues down the High Street. We broke our record Saturday for customers."

They expected it to be busy so the barbershop set up a ticket system to help manage the crowds, which they plan to use on Saturdays in the future too.

She used the government aid and grant to help keep her business going through lockdown. She split the grant money between paying off her High Street rent and completing a full re-fit and remodel of the barbershop.

She said: "To be honest if I had not got that grant I'd be in trouble."

The grant funding also paid for the PPE used by the barber shop staff such as visors and face shields and the disposable gowns given to each customer.

Facemasks are not mandatory for customers per the government guidelines, but many salons and barbershops are recommending customers use them.

She added: "I've had the shop five years so I've got a good set of clients and a good tradition set here. I think this is going to go on for for quite a while.

"All I'm worried about is if we get a second wave (of COVID-19) will we get a second grant?"

The Men's Room barbershop and the Toni & Guy salon, who spoke to the Banbury Guardian, were among some of the businesses to be open on both Saturday and Sunday over the weekend.

Hitesh Ravrani, who runs the Toni & Guy Banbury salon with his wife, Jaymeni Ravrani, have worked hard to make sure the salons they run in town were ready for the re-opening on Saturday July Fourth.

The couple own and run Toni & Guy in the High Street and JH Hair and Beauty next to M&S at Castle Quay.

Hitesh explained some of the things they have done in preparation for the re-opening. Both salons are being run on an appointment and booking only basis.

Hitesh said: "We took the opportunity to redecorate the salon for when the industry opened back up. We have put all measures in place to make the work environment safe for our salon.

"Our aim is to protect our staff and our clients.

"I did regular zoom meetings with staff to keep them updated, and also did motivational and wellbeing zoom meetings with staff during lock down.

"We have space out all chairs, and there is special Barbicide station next to the stylists working station to clean and disinfect before and after every single client.

"We put up stickers and tape to direct staff and clients to safer way. We take only card and apple pay to avoid cash handling.

"We have put a hand sanitiser unit near the front door so as soon as a client enters, the client will be asked to use hand sanitiser.

"We have done our risk assessment, and health and safety measures to ensure the salon is safe from Covid-19 and for our staff and our clients.

"We are giving clients a kit, which includes, a face mask, disposable gown, two disposable towels and disposable cup if they need water. We are also giving the client a carrier bag to put their belongings like hand bags and jackets.

"All our staff will be wearing visors, disposable apron and gloves. Visors will be regularly cleaned, and all disposable items will be regularly changed.

"We also offer a technical service like colour, straining and keratin treatment. They are taking longer, but we're making sure one hairdresser will be with that person start to finish to avoid more than one contact."

They also offer beauty treatment through their other business, Beauty Above, on the second floor of the Toni & Guy salon location. But beauty treatment businesses have not been given the green light to re-open yet by the government.

With the re-opening changes comes an adjustment period.

Jaymeni Ravrani said: "Now we are busy like it's Christmas, but we can't fit all the clients in. We are trying our best to fit everyone in."

Jennie Walsh, a hair dresser at The Salon in Hillview Crescent, has seen the lockdown bring many changes to her chosen profession of more than 30 years.

She said: "So obviously it's minimal touching for clients and we're sanitising every surface that's come into contact with people."

The Salon no longer accepts walk-in appointments, and are running on a bookings only basis. They also now keep their door locked at all times to help keep up the social distancing guidelines. Customers are also required to wear a facemask at The Salon. If they do not have one, one can be purchased at the salon.

The brushes used in the salon are now sanitised along with the combs and scissors, which was already regularly sanitised by most salons and barbers before lockdown.

In order to accomodate the social distancing guidelines Jennie is working on opposite days as her colleague, who owns the salon.

While adjusting to the extra sanitising of the surfaces and chairs in the shop has been managable, the more difficult part has been not being able to greet a long-time customer who has become a friend over the years with a hug after not seeing her for three months.

One of the other new aspects of coming back to work has been getting used to wearing a face shield during her 10-hour shift.

Jennie said: "I've been doing my family during lockdown with a visor on to get used to it, so it's fine. I don't know how the NHS have done it, because they do steam up, and they're uncomfortable."

"A salon visit is going to be very different for sometime, I think.

"I think it's important to get it out there we are a safe place."

Jennie phoned all her regular clients who had bookings cancelled due to lockdown to check if they wanted their appointment rescheduled.

She said: "It’s really sad too as I’ve had one client pass away, and three who’s husbands have died, not all down to Covid-19, but it’s a lot to take in."

Customers are also required to give the hair dresser or barber some of their details such as name, phone number and address, which are only kept on file for 21 days.

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