McCall's Hair Design staff, Alyssa Christian (left), Rochelle Dancy and owner, Tammy Wigton. (Nicole Reis/meadowlakeNOW Staff) 

By Nicole Reis

HAIRSTYLISTS REOPEN

Meadow Lake hair salon owner ‘exhilarated’ to have clients back in the chair

May 19, 2020 | 3:03 PM

A beauty salon owner in Meadow Lake is thrilled to get back to work today after being closed for nearly two months.

The province ordered salon closures on March 23 as a precaution against the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Tammy Wigton, owner of McCall’s Hair Design told meadowlakeNOW she’s feeling exhilarated and excited to begin interacting with her clients again.

“We’re making sure we are keeping safety and cleanliness [at the forefront] and making sure everybody is doing their part as well as us,” she said.

A McCall’s employee said wearing protective gear can be a touch uncomfortable at times but is happy to wear it to give customers as well as herself, peace of mind.

Trades in Sask.

Skilled trades need not limited to building homes

Apr 17, 2024

Raising concerns

Battlefords and Meadow Lake MPs weigh in on new federal budget

Apr 17, 2024

Tragic events

Sask. Gov't confirms investigation after former Pine Grove inmate passes away in hospital

Apr 16, 2024

Staff are wearing masks and face shields and offering disposable masks to customers who have pre-booked their hairstyling appointments.

Staff will also guide customers to a sink for hand washing before their appointment. Chairs are sanitized before and after every use and the waiting area is blocked off so only individuals with appointments are permitted to wait. Public washroom access has also been restricted.

“It feels so much better to get back to work,” Wigton said. “[It feels like] I have a purpose again — I’m just excited to see my clients and hear about how they were coping through everything.”

Wigton was able to keep three of her full time staff members and said she’s happy to have them back after weeks of uncertainty.

McCall’s has equipment in place to perform nail services such as manicures and pedicures however those services will not be available until the province announces a reopening date of additional personal services in phase three of Saskatchewan’s Re-Open Plan.

Provincial requirements for salons and clients

According to the province’s reopen plan, some personal care services have needed to alter or be postponed to maintain two-metre physical distancing between clients. However, some employees will not be able to maintain this separation during the service. Therefore, measures such as correct personal protective equipment (PPE) and self-monitoring will be applied.

Clients should attend appointments alone and not bring along friends or children.

Clients should arrive no more than five minutes before the expected appointments, and any waiting area should be set up so clients are at least two metres apart.

Owners are recommended to remove unnecessary communal items, such as candy, magazines and complimentary phone chargers.

Waiting chairs must be cleaned and disinfected after each client.

In order to accommodate physical distancing, appointment times may need to be staggered. During appointments and services, clients should be seated at least two metres from each other. Alternative solutions to waiting in the office should be considered, such as asking people to wait in vehicles and text messaging or calling when appointments are ready.

Where possible, payments should be accepted through contactless methods (e.g. tap or etransfer). Beverages (coffee, tea, water) should not be offered at this time. If necessary, refreshments can be provided in a disposable cup.

Hand washing stations and/or approved hand sanitizers should be available, and clients should be encouraged to use them upon entering and exiting. Ensure hand sanitizers are approved by Health Canada.

Staffrooms and break rooms should be arranged to follow physical distancing practices. Staggered break times are in place to reduce employee gathering numbers. Essential shared facilities, such as telephones, computers, washrooms and laundry rooms, should receive increased cleaning and disinfection.

Shared spaces used by multiple clients should be cleaned and disinfected between clients. Retail space should be modified to implement physical distancing requirements. This may include direction for customers on distancing in lines, limiting the number of patrons in the store, etc. Where possible, discourage browsing of retail products and support online or telephone purchases with front of store pick-up and strict no return policies. Samples and testers are removed.

When booking appointments, clients should be reminded to reschedule if they become sick or are placed on self-isolation.

Clients should be screened prior to sitting for appointments by asking if they are ill or symptomatic.

No services should be performed on ill or symptomatic clients.

—

nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722