RISKING A SHAVE

Hair stylists and barbers are among people who are most likely to get infected with COVID 19 due to the nature of their work. They literally work on our faces, and maintaining social distance between a client and the one providing a service is not achievable. In a beauty salon setting for instance, there’s a lot of physical contact between the two. It is unavoidable, since the work requires this and more. The ’more’ comes in when you visit a beauty spa, there’s more than just physical contact while working on one’s hair. Facial and massage are among the services offered, and physical contact in this case is inevitable. It’s what comes with the job. However, some of the well-established beauty spas Vera Sidika spa for instance, are strictly adhering to the COVID 19 safety rules and guidelines. It is the responsibility of the employer to make sure the employees are well protected and kept safe from COVID 19 at all times. That includes the clients too.

When it comes to local salons and barbershops, it’s a different case. I have had frequent visits to salons in Uasin Gishu county, and let me tell you COVID 19 doesn’t exist in these streets. I honestly don’t get, are people not aware of these safety rules or what? People are even afraid to speak up when they walk in a salon /barbershop that defies the rules. In that case let me educate you a little bit, on the specific rules that these places are supposed to observe. In addition to the COVID 19 regulations that are known to most, salons and barbershops are required to;

1. Allow only a few clients in the salon/barbershop at any given time. If they’re more, then others should wait outside the premises as the ones inside finish up on their business.
2. The premises should be cleaned and disinfected regularly. With the aim of getting cleaning surfaces that might be contaminated or infected with the virus.
3. There should be a handwashing station set up for workers to wash their hands before handling any client. And after the client is done with whatever business brought them there, they should also wash their hands before exiting.
4. Restrooms handles or metallic surfaces should be disinfected at least thrice a day to be on a safer side.
5. A covered bin should be provided where client and workers dispose their masks at the entrance or in the salon/barbershop 
6. Windows should also remain open at all times. Oh, masks too.

I hope that has been helpful. In other words, what I’m trying to pass through is, when you walk into a beauty spa, salon, barbershop that doesn’t observe any of the above rules. It is your responsibility as a person to walk away and move to the next one that does. Though the question is,’ How many will you have visited before finding the right one?’ Two, four, nine, I don’t know. Meanwhile feel free to share your thoughts on this.