What hairstylists are doing during lockdown

COVID-19 has left millions of hairstylists around the world unemployed for the foreseeable future. But in most cases, that doesn’t mean hairstylists have completely put their work to the side to bask in the freedom of doing nothing.

For the majority of hairstylists, their work is their passion – and not being able to do what they love is frustrating, tiring, and a bit scary. Nobody knows for sure when the situation will even half return to normal in the UK, and it’s daunting for hairstylists to have such an uncertain future laid out ahead of them.

With that said, there is definitely an air of positivity in the hair and beauty industry. Businesses are looking at how they can use their time away from the salon the most productively, and we’ve seen this displayed in a number of creative ways.

Many hairstylists are using quarantine as a time for education. Perhaps they’re helping to remotely train young stylists new to the industry, or they have decided it’s time for the staff at their salon to refresh their skills.

Obviously, training and education of any sort costs money, so this isn’t an option for everyone – but even getting together on a group videocall to exchange tips, anecdotes and ideas may prove valuable to a team of stylists right now, especially when many are feeling disheartened by their lack of purpose in life.

We’re also seeing hairstylists creating their own root boosting kits for their clients, which, if the option is feasible for the stylist (i.e. they have the right equipment, ingredients and materials for the job), is another clever idea.

Obviously, with hair salons closed, many people are resorting to buying box-dye hair dyes from supermarkets and other stores. These dyes have sold out in many locations, but they’re not recommended for use by hairstylists. This is why the idea for hairstylists themselves to create their own dye formulas made from safe, trusted ingredients that they’d normally use in the salon has the potential to go down well.

There are lots of things that stylists are having to consider at the moment: rent, pre-booked client appointments and whether they’ll actually happen, the wellbeing and financial security of staff, and what will happen when they’re able to reopen their salons. There is no clear plan or guidance in place as of yet, though this may change as the spread of the virus hopefully continues to slow going forward.

They also need to think about their customers. While some people may flock to their local hair salon as soon as it opens for a much-needed cut and root touch-up, others may be experiencing financial hardship themselves, which means that tasks like getting their hair cut will be pushed back until they’re back in full-time work.

And we shouldn’t forget the hundreds of people who have bought their own clippers and cutting tools to cut their hair at home, and suddenly think they’re skilled stylists who never need to “waste” money at the hairdressers’ again. On the same note, there will be many people who have started to dye their hair with box dyes, and assume that the colour looks “good enough” – and there’s another customer lost for hairstylists.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Many people are avid supporters of their preferred hair salon, understanding the importance of looking out for their local businesses. We’re all very much aware of how the virus has impacted the likes of hair and beauty salons, independent boutiques, cafes and restaurants, and so on. It’s likely that once the virus has passed, people will be ready to show their support like never before.

While the situation in the UK still isn’t fantastic, there is definitely hope that we will see signs of normality soon. Salons in various states in America have now opened their doors once more, and while hairdressers may have to change the way they operate for the months following reopening, simply being back at work is the thing to look forward to right now.

We give our love to all the hairstylists around the country, and wish them the best of luck for reopening in the future. Nobody could have ever predicted these times, and while many of us are facing serious financial loss, it’s somewhat comforting to know that all stylists are in the same position at the moment.

We will get through this, and one day we’ll look back at the crazy year of 2020 and praise ourselves for getting back on our feet once it had passed.