Brits flock to hair salons as stores like Boots sell out of hair dye amid coronavirus crisis

Image-conscious Brits are rushing to make emergency hair and nail appointments as salons remain open despite a lockdown on bars and restaurants to stem the progression of the coronavirus outbreak.

Many visited over the weekend and today for emergency trims and root touch-up appointments – but experts are calling for salons to be shutdown to comply with social distancing measures and preserve the safety of customers and workers.

Meanwhile people took to social media to complain they’ve been unable to purchase hair dye kits due to panic buying.

Many products on the Boots website are currently listed as out of stock, while others complained of empty shelves at supermarkets.

It comes as Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid admitted she ordered hair dye and root touch-up for her self-isolation period – ‘following the lead’ of fellow TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp.

Brits are rushing to make emergency hair and nail appointments as salons remain open despite a lockdown on bars and restaurants to stem the progression of the coronavirus outbreak. Pictured: a nail bar currently still open and welcoming customers in Dartford, Kent

Bare shelves in this branch of Boots in Kensington, west London show the run on home hair dye kits, with many brands and shades selling out

The NHBF (National Hair and Beauty Foundation) has requested urgent government action for all salons and barbershops to be immediately added to the list of businesses that must close.

But many hairdressers fear losing out on income as a result. Mark Dowdell, a freelance stylist at Earlsfield Hair in south west London, told FEMAIL that shutting salons will ‘really bite’ financially.

Over the weekend a number of salons across the UK advertised last minute appointments – while others were fully booked.

Today customers were pictured having their nails done, with a number of beauty salons still open despite government warnings regarding social distancing.

Experts warn against visiting the salon to ‘save lives’

Dr Perpetua Emeagi, a lecturer in Human Biology and Biological Sciences at Liverpool Hope University and specialist in public health and vaccine development, told FEMAIL: ‘The subject of having your hair cut amidst the coronavirus crisis is a fraught one.

‘I’ve seen some arguments made that because a hairdresser is standing behind you, you’re somehow at potentially less of a risk than if you were having prolonged face-to-face contact in close proximity.

‘But I don’t believe that to be the case. If you’re situated close to someone coughing or sneezing, you have a high chance of becoming infected irrespective of whether the person was in front or behind you.

‘It’s impossible to maintain the 2m social distancing measure in a salon. We now know that coronavirus spreads by releasing droplets following a cough or a sneeze. But studies have also shown that we not only release droplets when we cough or sneeze, but also when we do other expiratory activities, including talking and laughing. My advice is that people should absolutely avoid the salon.’

Lisa Ackerley, trustee and chair at Royal Society for Public Health, also urged customers to stay away from hair salons during this period.

‘However much you need a hair cut, now is not the time,’ she told FEMAIL. ‘We all need to keep 2m (6ft) apart, so going to the hairdresser or beauty salon is just not going to work.

‘It is the same for those who have home visits from mobile hair and beauty therapists.

‘Any of us could be infectious without having any symptoms, even if we feel fine. You could infect the hairdresser, or they could infect you.

‘I know it is hard, but in the scheme of things, staying apart from each other is more important than looking good – this will save lives. Protect ourselves and protect others. It is simply not worth it.’

Many visited over the weekend and today for emergency trims and root touch-up appointments. Pictured: a barber shop in Dartford, Kent which is still open

Many hair dye items are currently listed as out of stock on the Boots website, leaving customers irate

Brits have been stocking up on home dye kits, meaning many products on the Boots website are out of stock

Customers took to social media to complain that there is currently limited stock of hair dye available online and in shops

On Saturday, Twitter user Debra wrote: ‘Got a text from my hairdresser first thing this morning, asking if I want an emergency trim before they close up this afternoon. Turns out it was her day off and she came in especially. Feeling the love.’

Nichola Daly, from Belfast, tweeted: ‘Tried to get a last minute appointment with my hairdresser – fully booked today! There may be a crisis, but there won’t be any greys shining through in Belfast.’

And Tracey, from Tamworth, wrote: ‘My hair appointment was cancelled so I went to another salon for an emergency fringe trim. I’m going to miss being high-maintenance.’

Yesterday the Conservative MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, David Morris, called on the government to add hairdressing businesses to the list of closed venues.

This morning Sally Bloomfield, Honorary Professor at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told FEMAIL: ‘On the basis that we should limit any non-essential social interaction, yes, hair salons should be closed to fall in line with the other measures that have been introduced.’

Over the weekend a number of salons across the UK advertised last minute appointments – while others were fully booked

The NHBF said its priority is to ‘protect our industry, colleagues, business owners, employees and clients from the further spread of the COVID-19 virus’.

‘Some salons and barbershops have already taken the decision to close, and we believe that this is the right decision,’ the organisation said in a statement calling for forced closures.

‘Stylists, therapists and barbers are inevitably in close contact with a wide range of clients which means they cannot follow the government’s social distancing guidelines.’

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is believed to be preparing a fresh coronavirus economic bailout amid warnings thousands of sole traders will not survive the crisis.

He had announced on Friday that the Government would cover 80 per cent of employers’ wage bills in a bid to stop mass lay-offs. But following criticism that the self-employed were not receiving a similar level of support, the Treasury has spent the weekend drawing up a new package.

Lisa Ackerley, trustee and chair at Royal Society for Public Health, urged customers to stay away from hair salons during this period. Pictured: a nail bar open in Dartford

That will come as welcome news to Mr Dowdell, many of whose clients have cancelled their hair appointments for the foreseeable.

‘I’ve seen a dramatic drop in my clients in the last two weeks, and certainly the last week,’ he said.

‘Mostly people have cancelled as a response to the social distancing, but also because we’re a community hairdressers and have a high percentage of older clients, we’ve lost those because of the 70s being told to stay in.

‘I did feel OK staying open until last week, and have carried on working, but I do think we come into close contact and there could be a high risk of transmission through contact.’

He added that it is ‘terrible’ that the government has not yet made the same allowances regarding benefits for self-employed people.

‘Obviously I will not earn anything over the coming weeks or months, which is very scary,’ he said. ‘I do find in general that the hair and beauty industry is always the last to get any help.’

FEMAIL has reached out to Boots for comment.

Hairdressers urge clients not to reach for home dye kits

Colourists at hairdressing chain Headmasters have warned customers not to turn to box dyes should salons face closures due to coronavirus.

Gareth Williams, Headmasters Colour Lead, said: ‘The results can be really uneven. Even if it says semi-permanent on the box, it can be just as strong as a permanent salon colour and it won’t come out easily.

‘You do need a professional eye to colour match; in the salon your colourist selects from hundreds of colours and then mixes them to your exact shade in the safest way from literally a potential of hundreds of combinations, not 10 shades on a box.

‘Also at the forefront of your colourist’s mind is condition – they will use professional plex products to protect your hair from serious damage. You won’t be able to do that at home!’

To care for your hair at home, Gareth recommends washing it in tepid water to prevent colour fade, and using a professional shampoo that is the correct PH for your hair – 4.5-5.5.

‘When you are washing make sure you are not over scrubbing, use palms and flat part of hands,’ he said. ‘Use regular treatments – hydration is essential.

‘When blow-drying your hair, make sure you use a thermal protection spray as this is where you will experience the most colour fade.

‘Hairdryers, tongs, straighteners can all intensify colour fade.

‘Keep heat styling to a minimum; we will all be at home so much more than usual. Use this time to give your hair a break. It will be fine to let hair dry naturally and your hair colour will stay more vibrant.’

Jonathan Soons, Headmasters Creative Ambassador, added: ‘To really hide roots, the best thing to do is increase movement and add volume.

‘Reach for a tong or straightening iron – anything that you can use to make a loses waves. Tong or wave away from your face even the top, then shake and shake, blast in a texture spray and create a wavy natural parting.

‘Change up your parting, making sure it’s not perfect – straight partings always show off root regrowth more – so the more uneven the parting the better those roots look.

‘Go for a ponytail – folding it back with a bayonette clip will disguise roots but also look chic and modern.

‘A knotted head bank worn forward with hair down or in a top knot is comfortable and casual at home but still looks cute.’

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