‘Not a practical option’: Top Australian hair salons close temporarily over new virus rules

Celebrity hair salons have temporarily closed during the COVID-19 crisis, saying it is ‘negligent’ that the industry is still allowed to operate despite social distancing calls.

Some of Australia’s top hair salons have temporarily shut their doors during the COVID-19 crisis, saying it would be “confusing” to keep trading.

Oscar Oscar, Uva Salon, and Joey Scandizzo Salon have all closed for at least the next two weeks, amid tough new social distancing rules.

Speaking to News Corp today, Maria Uva – of celebrity Uva Salon – said it was “quite confusing and contradicting” for salons to stay open during the pandemic.

“It is impossible to social distance while cutting or colouring hair. Especially at the basin we are so close to people,” Ms Uva, whose clients include Bec Judd and Nadia Bartel, said.

“While I understand the government has an extremely difficult job right now, I believe that it’s quite confusing and contradicting for hair salons.

“The directive they are telling people to cancel their hair appointments, yet they have not ordered salons to close.”

Ms Uva said proactively shutting her salon would impact her business “immensely” but she said it was “more important to stop the spread and protect the safety of my staff, clients, their families”.

The sentiment was echoed by Joey Scandizzo, who stopped taking appointments at his South Yarra salon, saying the “health and wellbeing” of clients and staff was his concern.

Nadia Bartel and Bec Judd are among Uva Salon’s celebrity clients. Picture: Supplied

Both Ms Uva and Mr Scandizzo’s salons – whose clientele includes AFL WAGs and celebrities – are offering client consultations via Instagram, assisting customers with an at-home, DIY hair care plan during the temporary closure.

Oscar Oscar has also confirmed its 14 luxury hair salons nationwide would remain closed, as the hair industry lobbies the Federal Government to formally order the hair industry to shutdown during the pandemic.

‘SHUT US DOWN’

Hairdressers are calling on the Federal Government to temporarily shutdown salons amid the coronavirus pandemic, saying keeping them open is “appalling” and “negligent”.

Oscar Oscar managing director Oscar Cullinan said it was “impossible” for salons to operate amid COVID-19 fears, and urged Canberra to formalise a temporary shutdown order.

“This in incredibly negligent. This is creating chaos in our industry,” Mr Cullinan told News Corp exclusively.

“The fact that we (salons) are allowed to open in proximity (to the public) … is wreaking havoc.

“That’s creating a very, very scary situation (for staff) – they’re working for long periods basically head to head.

“(The industry) needs to be shut down. We cannot operate.”

It came as Prime Minister Scott Morrison today backflipped on an earlier decision that was to limit hair appointments to 30 minutes.

A hairdresser takes precautions against COVID-19 in a Brisbane salon. Picture: AAP

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Mr Morrison said salons could still operate while the four square metre distance rule was “strictly followed”, and personal contact during appointments must be “minimised”.

But Mr Cullinan said social distancing was impossible to observe between a hairdresser and the client, as services required proximity.

“You cannot keep stylists that far away,” Mr Cullinan said. “At the end of the day, you can’t really perform hairdressing ervices with gloves on. It’s just not practical.

“That’s creating a very, very scary situation (for staff) – they’re working for long periods basically head to head.”

He said staff at his 14 luxury hair salons did not want to return to work due to the coronavirus threat.

“It’s an appalling, negligent, shortsighted call to make on the hairdressing industry,” Mr Cullinan said.

“By the government shutting salons down, it becomes their responsibility to make sure our people are OK.”

The sentiment was echoed by Just Cuts chief executive Denis McFadden, who said it was “physically impossible for stylists to do a shampoo or haircut without touching the client”.

“This decision is bonkers,” Mr McFadden said in a statement to the ABC.

“Without hairdressing being on the shutdown list, it is incredibly difficult for our franchise owners to take the heartbreaking but necessary steps to stand down workers so they can access available support or call for breathing space on leases.”

‘ABSOLUTELY ABSURD’

A doctor has criticised the Australian Government’s decision to allow hairdressers to remain open, saying the guidelines may put more at risk amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government announced increased restrictions on “non-essential” businesses including pools, beauty therapy studios and tattoo parlours.

Hairdressers however, are permitted to continue operating, after being originally told to keep appointments within a strict 30 minute time frame.

Dr Zac Turner, a medical director of the Cosmetic and Wellness and Anti Wrinkle and Skin studios, said the move was “absolutely absurd”.

Hairdressers are being put at risk during the coronavirus crisis, doctors warn. Picture: News Corp Australia

“I think it goes against sound medical advice,” he told News Corp.

While his business will be restricted by the new guidelines, Mr Turner said they were planning to temporarily close due to COVID-19 before Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s announcement.

Dr Turner expressed concern that under the updated restrictions, hairdressers and their clients would be exposed to a greater risk of contracting the virus.

“Well, now, just to make just to make their wages, they have to see at least one person an hour, which means that they’re seeing four or five times the amount of people,” he said.

“So rather than limiting the amount of interaction, the government has basically said, ‘You guys stay open. We don’t really care about the self-isolation thing a whole lot because hair is apparently important for the next two or three weeks’.”

He added he was concerned virus particles could be spread even further by hairdryers used in salons.

Dr Turner said some of his business’ locations were next to hairdressers and they had to pass on medical advice to the staff because no guidelines had been provided to them.

Hairdressers are being urged to take social distancing measures to deal with COVID-19. Picture: News Corp Ausralia

“We were talking to them and we were giving them out disease protocols because they didn’t have anything,” he said.

“They were told to stay open, but no one was saying that they had to wear gloves.”

Australian Hairdressing Council CEO Sandy Chong said the decision was “outrageous” and put hairdressers in the virus firing line.

“Around 40,000 hairdressers and barbers continue to be at risk of as they are directly exposed to large members of the public. Why beauty was shut down but hairdressing wasn’t, I don’t understand.

“As for the 30 minute appointment rule, that cuts out most services that salons offer their clients, particularly colour.

This salon in Ludwigsburg, southern Germany, was forced to close during the pandemic. Picture: AFP

“While many barbers can do a male haircut within that time frame, it really isn’t feasible for a majority of hairdressing salons.”

Ms Chong said many hairdressing salons had made the decision to close despite the government’s guidelines in a bid to keep staff safe.

Members of the council had expressed their disappointment with the decision, according to Ms Chong.

“I would say that ninety nine point nine nine per cent actually want to close,” she said.

“They don’t feel that they can work within that 30 minute parameter, but also too just concerned for their own safety.”

Originally published as ‘Not a practical option’: Top Australian hair salons close temporarily over new virus rules