"We are running under the assumption that we will have to operate at a fraction of our previous capacity for a period of time," says Banks, noting that staff will be outfitted with plenty of personal protective equipment (also available to customers) and split into two teams to ensure space for physical distancing. There's a bit of a hoarding of slots, similar to hoarding of toilet paper that we all saw a month ago."īanks says she's been following the government's announcements closely to prepare for opening day, and that her team is ready to go - with some fancy new skills and training under their belts to boot. "As our clients see the uncertainty on reopening dates, we find they are booking multiple slots for various dates to ensure a time. "We have started booking appointments, providing disclaimers to our clients that this is subject to change depending on government decisions on reopening," says Brittney Banks, master stylist and owner of Hair by Banks Beauty Bar on Queen Street West. Brittney Banks | Hair by Banks Beauty Bar To accommodate these loyal clients, the self-professed workaholic says he'll be in the salon seven days a week, morning to night, once restrictions are lifted (while following all of the government's recommendations, of course, and stepping up his already strict sanitization schedule). "I have had several guests send me money to tell me that they know things are hard, and they just want to pay ahead for their next appointment with me." That is closer to 50 per cent of my guests." What I think is more special are the guests messaging me to see how I'm feeling. "I have built a very strong clientele that has allowed me a full appointment schedule," he said, but "to be honest. He's started booking appointments accordingly. May also advises against clients trying to do their own hair at home ("I think things could go sideways quite easily," he said), and predicts that the government will allow actual salons to reopen in June. Most are not licensed, and their knowledge of both hair and sanitary issues will be limited." "These types of salons are not regulated. "I think this is really bad, and you will see more and more underground salons popping up," he said. May revealed that demand is so hot in the industry right now, a few rogue stylists have even started performing hair care services "underground." I'm not trying to make light of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on human lives - far from it - but there are few businesses people seem to miss as much as their beloved salons (a fact which can be confirmed by Google search trends and all of the floppy mops on dudes at the grocery store right now).Īs the provincial government slowly expands its list of business types permitted to reopen in Ontario, Toronto residents are waiting with baited breath for DoFo to say the word "hairdressers" so that we can all book in for much-needed cuts and/or colours.Ĭompetition to secure appointments will thus be fierce (as if it weren't enough pre-COVID) and some of us will have to wait weeks, if not months to get coiffed, even after salons are given the green light to open again.Įight of the city's best and brightest hair industry pros agreed to speak to me this week about how hard it'll be to score an appointment once they reopen, as well as how much demand they've already been fielding and what they'll be doing to accommodate the imminent rush of customers ASAP. Between staying away from friends, trying to be "productive" at home and otherwise avoiding everything good that Toronto has to offer, eight solid weeks of lockdown living has taken its toll.
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