Today marks a great day for our industry, as barbershops across the Republic of Ireland have been able to reopen their doors for the first time since lockdown was first imposed back in March.

Clients have finally been able to visit their barbers for some much needed cuts, trims and fades, albeit with new safety measures in place to protect both clients and barbers.

WAHL Artistic Team member and owner of The Asylum Barbershop, Andrea Lynne Raymond said: “It’s been really exciting but nerve-wracking at the same time! We have a good system going for cleaning and sanitising between customers and its worked well so far! We have completely rebuilt one side of the shop – taking away the waiting area and coffee dock and replacing them with more stations. We have extra tools and gowns so we can alternate between customers too. We are doing temperature checks and both customers and barbers have to wear masks. So far, it’s been great, with everyone respecting the policy and an overall great buzz in the shop!”

Meanwhile, Chris O’Riordan of ST4Men, said: “It’s fantastic to finally reopen after being off for so long. We have all our usual measures in place i.e. cleaning and sanitation, but all these measures have been bumped up that bit extra. All stylists are required to wear a face covering and all clients are being asked to wear them during their service. We are also adhering to government guidelines including social distancing and hand washing, to name a few. We are also utilizing a contact tracing app to ensure the safety of our clients and staff. Clients are scanned in and out of waiting seats and our barber chairs so we have a full log of where everyone has been seated and when the seat has been cleaned. It’s a bit different now, being the first day back, but I’m sure after a week it will feel totally normal!”

We are so pleased that the first shops are able to reopen, and we look forward to hearing from England’s barbershops as they return to work on Saturday 4th July.

With the recent publication of government guidelines and the first barbershops in the UK set to reopen their doors on Saturday 4^th July, PPE, for most, has been high on the list of priorities. Although the use of disposable gowns and towels is not set to be mandatory, there will be some expectation from clients and staff. Providing disposable gowns shows your client that their safety is paramount, but what about all that extra waste? Easydry have the solution. 

Made from medical-grade fibre, the Easydry disposable towels are single-use and more hygienic than multi-user cotton towels and traditional laundry. This gives both you and your client peace of mind that you are offering the highest hygiene standards possible. 

Made using eco-friendly processes and without the use of chemicals, they remove the issue of sustainability when it comes to disposable products. Many barbers are keen to shy away from disposable towels and gowns due to the increase in waste, but with Easydry, barbers and shop owners can breathe easy knowing there is a biodegradable solution. 

To reassure your customers, with every Easydry purchase, you will get a specially created hygiene sticker to place in your shop window, showing that your shop uses disposable towels and can offer a clean, fresh towel, every client, every time. 

In addition to their towels and in even higher demand in barbershops are Easydry’s  new long, black, 100% compostable disposable gowns! 

Currently celebrating 15 years since the launch of its’ very first eco-friendly, hygienic towel, CEO and founder, Anne Butterly, has been listening to her customer needs during this time of crisis. 

“I always listen to the feedback and listening to salons over the past few difficult months, I clearly heard that salons need and want a gown that is both hygienic and eco-friendly,” she explains. 

So, to address these needs and as part of the anniversary celebrations, Easydry is launching their very own 100% compostable long black gown. Many barbers have been concerned about the use of disposable gowns and the extra waste they will create, but, as with their towels, these gowns are eco-friendly and just as effective.  

The full-length gown is ideal for all services, providing protection for the guest and the barber, with a soft material that provides the client with both comfort and reassurance. After use, the gowns can be easily composted, so you can reduce your carbon footprint while simultaneously protecting your staff, yourself and your clients. 

Find out more or purchase yours here: https://www.easydry.com/gb/

Yesterday the Prime Minister confirmed that barbers and hairdressers in England can reopen from Saturday 4th July, including mobile and freelance barbers.

The guidelines for ensuring safe practice have now been released and state that shops can reopen for ‘services that relate to cutting or treating hair on the head only’, which suggests that for the time being, beard trims and shaves will not be possible.

The key points of the Safer Workplace guidlelines for England are:

• All barbershops must complete a risk assessment and post evidence of this within the barbershop
• Stick to social distancing and maintain two metres between clients where possible, or one metre with additional precautions, such as the use of screens
• Face visors must be work by barbers for all services. Face coverings can be worn by barbers and clients, if they choose to, but are not considered a substitute for visors
• Clients should be seen by appointment only and barbershops should keep a temporary record of clients and visitors for 21 days to support the test-and-trace system
• Contactless payments are preferred
• Waiting areas are allowed, but only if space permits and social distancing can be adhered to
• No food or drinks should be consumed in the shop by clients other than water in disposable cups or bottles
• Disposable gowns should be used however, if this is not possible, gowns should be switched between clients and cleaned thoroughly before being reused
• The guidance does not ban the use of hairdryers
• Regular hand washing and sanitisation of surfaces and tools

The full Safer Workplace guidelines are available to view here: https://bit.ly/2ZiLxnJ

Hilary Hall, chief executive of the NHBF, says: “Although it’s great news that hairdressers and barbers in England have a confirmed opening date, these decisions have come very late in the day. We are also extremely disappointed that beauty businesses are not yet allowed to reopen, and we have always emphasised that hair and beauty should reopen at the same time. We will continue to put pressure on the government to allow beauty businesses to reopen as soon as possible, and for financial support to be extended.”

Meanwhile, Keith Conniford, CEO of the Hair and Barber Council, said: “The guidance states that these are steps that will ‘usually be needed’, which suggests that a degree of common sense is needed. Our back to work plan will work alongside this guidance, with the government guidance always taking priority if there are any conflicts.”

From the 8-13th August 2020, a barbering and bike-obsessed group will congregate in the seaside town of Southport, the hometown of The Company of Master Barbers, for the 4th annual BarbersRide. Born out of a shared passion for barbering and motorbikes, this 5-day UK road trip is not to be missed.

As well as bringing like-minded folk together, the mission of BarbersRide is to raise as much funds and awareness for a chosen charity whilst enjoying the unbeatable sense of camaraderie that only a motorcycling road trip can offer. This year’s charity is the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

2020’s BarbersRide is set to be bigger and better than ever, with over 30 riders involved. The uncertainty and effects of lockdown have added unexpected challenges, however there are wishes waiting and the BarbersRide team are more determined than ever not just to create a memorable experience, but to raise money for an incredible charity in the process.

So far, six barbershops across England have committed to organising fundraising activities to support the cause, including The Company of Master Barbers, 6 Hub Barber Shop, Bond’s Gentlemen’s Barbershop, The Heartbreak Club, Christian Wiles Gentlemen’s Grooming and Gilly’s Barbers.

To book your spot or to find out more about this year’s event, visit https://barbersride.com/

First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced today the latest changes to the easing of the lockdown in Wales. The hairdressing, barbering and beauty sector are being urged to use the next three weeks to prepare their businessees for reopening by appointment only.

A follow up announcement is expected on the 9th July to confirm whether it is safe for businesses to reopen their doors from the 13th July.

At the moment, no specific guidance for the hair and beauty sector has been released. The NHBF has written to Ken Skates, the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales in the Welsh Government, urging for these guidelines to be released without delay so that shop and salon owners can prepare.

Barbers and hairdressers will be able to reopen in Northern Ireland on 6 July.

It is among a series of measures agreed by Stormont ministers in an attempt to further ease the lockdown. Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said those businesses should now ensure they have the appropriate safety measures in place.

Justice Minister Naomi Long said the indicative dates came with a ‘health warning’ and that if the rate of the virus increased, the dates would need to be pushed back.

We will continue to post updates as and when we receive them. This date does not apply to barbershops in Scotland, England or Wales, who are awaiting government guidelines on when they can reopen and under what restrictions.

NHBF has today published an open letter sent today to the Rt. Hon Alok Sharma MP Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, stressing the urgent need for the Government to publish formal guidance regarding close proximity services, which includes hair and beauty salons and barbershops.

The letter can be read in full below:

Dear Alok

I am writing to stress the urgent need for the Government to publish formal guidance regarding close proximity services.

As you will know from our previous meetings and ongoing discussions with your department, the National Hair & Beauty Federation has been proactive in communicating the Government’s latest advice and information to our members and the wider industry.

We have also been a significant contributor to the draft guidelines on ‘Working Safely Guidance – Close Contact Services including Hair and Beauty’. As well as attending a round table meeting with you on 22 May, we have provided continued technical advice to BEIS officials. We put forward a representative selection of salons, barbershops, beauty salons and freelancers to comment on the first draft of the guidelines which were published late on Friday 5 June. With a deadline of 5pm on Monday 8 June, many people from across the industry willingly gave up time to meet the government’s timetable and support these important developments understanding the urgent need to publish guidance. Despite a real sense of progress, we have heard nothing since.

There is growing frustration at the continued delay in publishing these guidelines, preventing hair salons, beauty salons and barbershops from being able to fully prepare their businesses, staff and clients for reopening.

We have written to you previously about urgent need for guidance on PPE in particular. Salons and barbershops have been unable to trade for months, so if they are to make a financial investment in PPE, they need to be confident that they are buying the right materials and they need sufficient time to source supplies.

We understand the latest advice is that these services will not re-open until 4 July at the earliest but businesses need adequate time – ideally two weeks – to redesign their premises, train staff, ensure they have suitable PPE, communicate with clients regarding operational changes, implement adequate hygiene standards, and come to terms with the changes necessary to ensure the safety of themselves and their clients.

We therefore urge you to publish the guidance without any further delay. We are available to provide any support necessary in order to ensure this outcome.

Yours sincerely

Hilary Hall
Chief Executive

National Hair & Beauty Federation

Partnering with the NHS and South West Mental Health Clinical Network, BarberTalk are offering a new virtual training session to barbers and hairdressers for free.

The bespoke online training course, called BarberTalk Online, is designed to assist hair professionals before they return to work, giving them the skills to help their clients when in need.

This in-depth session builds on the four pillars of training to equip you with the skills to help your clients to better mental wellbeing.

BarberTalk Online training will:

• Give you the tools to RECOGNISE mental health issues in your clients
• Equip you to be able to ASK direct questions about the emotional wellbeing of your clients
• Refine your LISTENING skills to be present at a critical moment for your client
• Provide you with the resources to HELP your client find support

This is a four hour course where you will learn directly from Tom Chapman and his team of ambassadors, dive into the topics of mental health, share how it impacts you and your job, and learn how you can support your clients.

The course is FREE for a limited time only, with classes running from the 22nd June to the 2nd July.

To sign up to a class, click here.

BarberEVO is thrilled to report that Adam Sloan will be Chairing the Hairdressing Industry Advisory Board as well as the Barbering from June 2020.

Adam has been in the Hair Industry for 42 years now, specialising in Hairdressing and Barbering, and based on the passion he has shown during his recent appearances on #EVOLive, we know his love for the industry remains constant.

As well as founding the Men’s Hairdressing Federation, Adam works closely with City and Guilds on many lovels and states that “education is the past, present and future of our industry.” Adam added that he is “deeply honored to be asked to Chair City and Guilds Hairdressing Industry Advisory Board as well as the City & Guilds Barbering Industry Advisory Board.”

We have no doubt that he will do great things in his new role and wish him the very best of luck and a massive congratulations.

The NHBF has teamped up with organisations representing the hospitality, leisure and retail industry to put pressure on the Government to raise the threshold for support for businesses facing hardship due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The #raisethebar campaign is pushing for the £25,000 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant to be made available to all businesses with a business rates value of up to £150,000. This would help many salons and barbershops in cities with higher business rates to deal with cash flow challenges, such as rents, that wage subsidies do not address. Currently, the £25,000 grant is only open to salons and barbershops with a rateable value of up to £51,000.

Ian Egerton, President of the National Hair & Beauty Federation and owner of The Stress Exchange in London and said, “By ignoring businesses such as mine with business rates just over the £51,000 threshold, the Government is storing up trouble to come. Not only am I not entitled to any financial grants, I also have no income at all, yet quarterly rents are still expected to be paid at the end of this month. This is not sustainable. A VAT delay does not help as ultimately the money still has to be paid back. I do not expect the government to fund failing businesses, however with no means of income and outgoings still expected, they urgently need a common sense approach to fairness.”

Hilary Hall, Chief Executive of NHBF added, “The government support has been focussed on small and micro businesses which has benefited many of our Members. But this campaign work is essential for our larger Members who have received little or no government support and rightly feel that they’ve fallen through the cracks. We hope that working together with other organisations as part of the #raisethebar campaign will increase our voice and help get these businesses the support they need to ensure their longer term survival.”