Hairdressers told not to offer ‘long’ treatments like highlights when they reopen

Salons have been told not to offer ‘long’ treatments when they reopen on Monday, including things like highlights or braids.

To reduce the time customers spend being seen, the government is advising hairdressers to keep things ‘short and basic’.

According to government guidance, hair and beauty salons ‘should consider providing shorter, more basic treatments to keep the time to a minimum’.

Erin van V / Flickr

People across the country have been looking forward to finally having their hair sorted out, after months without access to hairdressers and barbers due to lockdown.

In England salons will be able to reopen on Monday, April 12th, but some people will be gutted to discover they might not be able to book anything considered a ‘long’ or ‘complex’ procedure.

Things like highlights, braids or deep conditioning treatments could be classed as ‘long’ procedures, and lengthy massages might also be off the cards.

The official guidance goes on to say that if you are to perform a longer treatment, then workers should ‘consider how the length of the appointment could be minimised’.

adorn hairdressers / Flickr

Ministers have branded the rules ‘slapdash’, and there’s been calls for further clarity.

Labour MP Judith Cummins, who co-chairs Parliament’s group on beauty, aesthetics and wellbeing, told The Telegraph: “It’s very difficult to make a living if you’re given guidance that is very woolly and very unclear.

“What’s a short appointment, and what’s the medium appointment, and what’s a long appointment?

“I’ve got no idea, and I doubt whether the Government has any idea either.”