Hairdressers told NOT to offer highlights, braids or other ‘long’ treatments when they reopen on Monday

HAIRDRESSERS have been told NOT to offer highlights, braids or other ‘long’ treatments when they reopen on Monday.

Instead things should be kept “short and basic” to reduce the time customers spend in the chair.

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Salons are gearing up for their grand reopening on April 12, with some starting at midnight and booked out for weeks.

But government guidance states hair and beauty salons “should consider providing shorter, more basic treatments to keep the time to a minimum”.

So shaggy-haired Brits looking forward to long-awaited treatments may find they cannot book anything considered a ‘long’ or ‘complex’ procedure.

This could include highlights, braids or deep conditioning treatments.

It also means lengthy massages could also be off the cards.

The guidance adds that when doing longer procedures such as braiding or massages, workers should “consider how the length of the appointment could be minimised”.

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The rules have been branded “slapdash” among calls for further clarity from ministers.

Judith Cummins, the Labour MP 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.”

Hairdressers and barbers were forced to shut during the first lockdown in March 2020 and were among the last to reopen in July 2020.

They then had to close again in November, causing major worry in the industry.

But salons will reopen on April 12 as the UK takes its first major step out of lockdown.

From Monday it is likely that not every station in the salon will be used, with hairdressers working at every other station to maintain a two-metre distance between them.

The British Beauty Council recommends that staff wear gloves, masks and gowns.

Customers and staff members will have to wear face coverings during appointments to help stop Covid from spreading.

Social distancing measures should also be followed where possible – even though this may not be possible during an appointment.

Workers at salons will be expected to disinfect surfaces regularly, and hand sanitisers should be available for punters upon entry.

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Hairdressers are expected to do all they can to increase ventilation on their premises where it is safe to do so – such as opening doors or windows.

Staff members should aim to keep their workspaces clean and tidy, with all waste removed regularly.

Other measures to help reduce the transmission of Covid could include cutting out background music, and reducing the use of hairdryers to stop people from raising their voices.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk