On July 13, California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered the mandatory closure of barbershops, hair salons, nail salons and personal care businesses, along with fitness centers, restaurants, movie theaters, places of worship and indoor malls, in a bid to prevent further spread of COVID-19. 

“This virus is not going away anytime soon,” said Governor Newsom. “I hope all of us recognize that if we were still connected to some notion that, somehow, when it gets warm, it’s going to go away or, somehow, it’s going to take the summer months or weekends off – this virus has done neither.” 

This setback comes after the state largely reopened salons and other indoor services mid-June. Now, barbers and shop owners have had to go backwards, closing their doors and cancelling appointments, unsure of when these reinforced measures might be lifted again. Our thoughts go out to all those affected and hope that services will be able to resume in the coming weeks. 

Disicide, producers of hosptial grade disinfectant for barber, hair and beauty salons, have created their own COVID-19 Certification Course, designed for professionals to improve knowledge in regards to hygiene and disinfection practices in the barbershop or salon.

The course takes just 20-30 minutes to complete, with a questionnaire at the end, before students are given an Official Disicide Certified Certificate. The certificate can then be displayed in your shop or salon and on yoour social media to show clients and co-workers that you understand the importance of creating and maintaining a safe and hygienic space.

To find out more or to take the course, click here.

Andis Company has launched a new and innovative five-speed Supra ZR II detachable blade clipper.

The new clipper now features a removable lithium-ion battery pack with a 50% longer runtime. High volume clipper cutters will appreciate the ability to switch out batteries for uninterrupted clipping. An easy-to-read, built-in LED battery monitor indicates power status and when it is time to charge.

“The Supra ZR II is a complete tool that gives hair professionals so many cutting options. With three hours of run time, five cutting speeds and interchangeable blades, the chipper can achieve any cut on any hair type, wet or dry,” says Andis Lead Educator for the UK, Baldy. “The detachable blade clipper comes equipped with a size 000 CeramicEdge blade and is compatible with the entire line of Andis UltraEdge and CeramicEdge blades.”

Designed for precision cutting, the Supra ZR II has five adjustable blade speeds from 1,800 to 3,800 strokes per minute for total control. Its powerful rotary motor glides effortlessly through every hair type – fine or course.

Discover more at www.andis.com

Following the support shown earlier this month by the hair community to give back to frontline workers, Toni&Guy will be holding an additional National Hair Sunday on 26th July Nationwide.

Participating salons will join together to show consolidated appreciation for frontline NHS and Care workers by offering complimentary cut and style services to anyone booking an appointment in advance, as part of a gesture to say thank you for everything they have done and continue to do.

Sacha Mascalo-Tarbuck, Global Creative Director at Toni&Guy, said: “We are really excited to be getting involved in National Hair Sunday and we wish to say a massive thank you to the NHS for their hard work, dedication and kindness during this really difficult time.”

In addition, as part of their ‘Share the Kindness’ campaign, Toni&Guy salons are encouraging clients and the general public to nominate anyone they know who has been badly affected by the pandemic to ‘Win a Treat On Us’. Nominated winners will receive a complimentary hair service and label.m Professional Haircare goody bag as part of the prize draw.

Keep an eye on Toni&Guy’s social media for more updates about National Hair Sunday!

Sport Clips Haircuts founder Gordon Logan has announced that the board of directors has elected Edward Logan to succeed him as the new CEO of Sport Clips Inc.

Gordon Logan said: “Edward has grown up in the business and played a key role in the company’s growth since he joined full-time in 2010, setting new standards for excellence as president and chief operating officer. It’s been rewarding working closely with him these past 10 years, and his leadership during the COVID-19 crisis has been exemplary… I am confident he will ensure the championship experience we deliver for our exceptional franchisees and clients will exceed expectations.”

In his early work with Sport Clips, Edward oversaw the company-owned stores, with many of them becoming top performers under his care, as well as working to pioneer company-wide innovations still used by Sport Clips today.

He said: “I am humbled by the opportunity to serve Sport Clips’ clients, stylists, franchisees, and central support team. It’s something I’ve dreamed of and worked toward for many years. We will rise above the current challenges everyone is dealing with, and we will do so by continuing the values-based legacy of Sport Clips that makes everyone within Sport Clips feel like family, that Gordon and Bettye created for us all.”

To find out more about Sport Clips, visit their website here.

Following the Government’s announcement regarding VAT cuts for the hospitality industry, the Hair and Barber Council, together with BABTAC and John McNally MP and Christina Rees MP, co-chairs of the APPG For Hairdressing, Barbering and Cosmetology, have written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak to express their concerns about the hair and beauty sector being forgotten.

The letter, which can be read in full on the Hair & Barber Council Facebook page, said: “It is clear that the Hair and Beauty industry has been impacted in much the same way as those in the hospitality sector and has been subject to the same restrictions as hotels, pubs, cafes and restaurants. Hair and beauty practitioners are following similar, if not more stringent rules around social distancing and hygiene.”

“Your Plan for Jobs rightly aimed to boost the hospitality sector via the VAT cut and the Eat Out to Help out discount. These are welcome initiatives that should be applauded. However, the exclusion of the 49,000 hair and beauty businesses operating in the UK is unfair and indicates a lack of understanding from the Government the importance of the sector to the economy and the 337,00 people employed.”

As an affiliate of the Hair & Barber Council, we, fully support this stance and applaud the Council, BABTAC, John McNally MP and Christina Rees MP for their continued efforts to raise the profile of the hair and barber industries. Read the full letter here.

The new BabylissPRO CustomFX puts unlimited possibilites at your fingertips with fully customizable components. Choose pops of color, flashy metals, your blade of choice, to create a clipper that is uniquely you.

To start creating your perfect clipper, download the BabylissPRO CustomFX app, which allows you to turn it, enlarge it, personalize it – component by component.

There are a range of color and metal options on an easy-to-use app and unlimited possibilities!

Download the app for Apple here.

To support new and existing customers and allow them to expand their business, Booksy has created a new Mobile Services feature, allowing barbers, stylists and other beauty professionals to being their services to their clients’ home. 

Businesses can set their own fully customizable travel area and gives you the power to set up fees, pricing, and location-related accommodations for travel requests. Through Mobile Services, you will have the power to confirm every appointment to make sure it is within your reach.  

The new feature comes as, although barbers and salons have been open for weeks and months in some areas, many clients may still be reluctant to step out for a haircut or trim in a bid to avoid crowded spaces. 

Mobile Services allows you to provide your clients with the same high-quality service from the comfort of their own home, allowing them to feel safe and secure while providing you with an additional income stream. 

To find out more about Mobile Services, visit www.booksy.com 

Following from yesterday’s announcement from the First Minister, barbershops and hairdressers will be allowed to open from Wednesday 15th July.

Today, the Scottish government has published guidelines for hair professionals and other close contact services.

Barbers and stylists have been advised to follow the UK Government’s Guidance for Close Contact Services, however, face coverings or masks will be mandatory for both clients and staff in Scotland.

The key points of the UK Government guidance are to:

• encourage clients to use hand sanitiser or handwashing facilities as they enter the premises or before treatment
• calculate the maximum number of clients that can reasonably follow social distancing guidelines and limiting the number of appointments at any one time
• when booking an appointment, ask the client if they can attend on their own, where possible
• remind clients who are accompanied by children that they are responsible for supervising them at all times and should follow social distancing guidelines
• operate an appointment-only system
• maintaining social distancing in waiting areas
• when waiting areas can no longer maintain social distancing, consider using a ‘one-in-one-out’ policy
• encourage clients to arrive at the time of their appointment
• ask anyone suffering COVID-19 related symptoms NOT to attend appointments

For more information, click here.

At exactly 12.01am on Saturday 4th July, Tom Baxter picked up his clippers and began working on his first client in over three months.

That first hair cut was on Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers, who had been growing his hair throughout lockdown in support of Tom and The International Hair Alliance – a social media group to support hairdressers and barbers during the lockdown.

Working in two shifts, Tom and his team kept the doors of his newly refurbished shop open for 24 hours, with money from all beard and haircuts between 12.01am and 6.00am going to the NHS via the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Through this initiative, Tom was able to raise an incredible £2,500. He said: “Thank you to every single loyal customer that has stuck by us during lockdown. We know it has been hard for some, but we are excited to be back and making people feel good. The NHS have done an amazing job at protecting us against the virus, this is our way of giving a little something back, giving up our time is the most precious thing you can give back.”