After nearly three months of lost income due to the lockdown, the reopening of hair salons and barbershops should be a welcome development for the hair and grooming industry.

However, according to salon and barbershop owners, the restrictions set by government agencies have presented a new set of problems for their trade.

In a circular released June 1, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it’s allowing hair salons and barbershops to reopen June 7, following set minimum safety guidelines.

“These establishments can operate at a maximum of 30-percent capacity during the general community quarantine (GCQ) and will be further allowed to operate at a 50-percent maximum capacity during the modified general community quarantine,” the memo said.

Quoting Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, it added, “Only basic haircut and hairstyling services are allowed under GCQ to shorten the time of service and to have a faster turnover of customers.”

Not enough

But “30 percent capacity with only haircutting fees isn’t nearly enough to cover our rent and the salaries of our employees,” Henri Calayag told Lifestyle in a phone interview. His H Salon at Greenbelt Residences in Makati City reopened June 11.

H Salon, whose 140-sq m space can accommodate up to 15 clients receiving multiple grooming services, can now accept only up to four clients per hour. Even with highly discounted rental and an added 20-percent premium for services, he foresees a struggle in meeting his operational costs.

Jing Monis, who has reopened four of his five salons and one barbershop last week, agreed. “Haircut fees aren’t enough to pay for overhead costs. We don’t only have a limited number of clients, we also have shorter work hours, which is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., because of the curfews,” said Monis, whose typical pre-pandemic day had up to 15 clients. Now he can take in only a maximum of six per day.

Monis has also adopted shifting work schedules for his staff. “This ensures that all of them at least earn something, because I don’t want to lay off anyone.”

Unsustainable

Lourd Ryan Ramos, creative director and coowner of Creations by Lourd Ramos Salon which has five branches, said the limitations set by DTI aren’t sustainable. So far, he has reluctantly reopened only two salons, just to see how things go.

He has had to let go of 35 of his 125 workers because of the lockdown.

Ramos said one of his landlords gave a 70-percent rent discount for the next three months, “but even that won’t be enough to cover our [six-figure] rent at P350 per haircut.” One salon is at an SM mall in Bulacan, and Ramos is unsure if it’s a good idea to reopen it, since there’s little foot traffic.

“At this rate, I think I’d welcome going back on ECQ,” said Calayag. “At least then, we’ll be closed and we wouldn’t have to pay rent… Every day is a challenge.”

Biggest blow

Jesi Mendez, with 17 salons nationwide under his brand, some owned by franchisees, also expressed his displeasure at the situation. Only six have reopened, and only in Metro Manila.

“I’m deeply unhappy. In my 40 years in the business, this has been the biggest blow,” said Mendez.

“I don’t know why they’ve allowed aesthetic centers to reopen, which, in my opinion, is an industry with even closer physical contact with clients, and restrict us to haircuts,” Mendez added. “How are technical services like hair coloring and hair treatments any different, as long as you’re following safety protocols?”

“I hope they allow us to do color and other services, while still following protocols,” said Monis, “because it’s safer to do one client having many services, versus exposing yourself to multiple clients while doing just a haircut.”

Mendez, whose salon chain has 400-plus workers, says he’s hoping salon owners could have a dialogue with government agencies to discuss modifying the restrictions.

“If you ask me, I think we’re an essential industry,” said Monis. “If you like what you see in the mirror, doesn’t it lift your spirit? We give positivity in these trying times.”

Besides, Monis added, “I’ve observed these officials going on TV and they’re so well-groomed. That only means they’ve been getting home grooming services. Why can’t we just do that out in the open, in a salon environment where it’s controlled?”

Based on the protocols, salons can accept clients only by appointment. Wearing a face mask and social distancing are mandatory, as well as a 10-minute sanitation procedure between clients.

Following an initial order, salon clients were advised before the appointment that they must come with their hair prewashed, since no in-salon shampoo service was allowed. There’s also no blow-dry service after the haircut.

“We’re a pampering service, and this new normal has taken that element away,” said Calayag.

Welcome news

For clients who have been stuck at home for three months, however, the reopenings were welcome news.

“I made an appointment right away,” said restaurateur Malu Gamboa-Lindo, who goes to Calayag. “Going to the salon regularly was my self-indulgence and I badly missed it. I did my own color during the quarantine, but the haircut I simply cannot do. I also learned to cut my own nails again, which I haven’t done since high school! I wasn’t afraid to go because the salon is cleaner than the supermarket, if you think about it.”

However, since it’s an express service, “I miss the pampering. I miss the back and neck massage!” Gamboa-Lindo said. No, she added, she didn’t mind the add-on premium.

“This year, I wanted to wear my hair short, above the shoulder, since I’ve been wearing it long for many years,” said Ling Ling King, widow of businessman Archie King. “Then the pandemic happened, so it grew long again. Now Henri has cut it pretty short, because he said I may not want to go back to the salon so soon.”

Sen Sanchez also quickly made an appointment. She is Calayag’s friend and yoga teacher “so I never dared to do anything with my hair on my own. He would know right away!”

Two of Monis’ first clients after reopening were Makati City Mayor Abby Binay and her brother Junjun, the former mayor. Neither was exempt from the strict salon protocols, said the hairstylist.

Home salon

Preparing for the lifting of the lockdown, Ramos set up a “Department of Health-approved” home salon in his house in Taguig. Six of his employees were quarantined with him. They’re all required to wear personal protective apparel and the basic face mask. He also made sure his team of six got their flu shots, daily vitamin supplements and rapid antibody tests. He said his home salon undergoes deep cleaning every few weeks.

Ramos also started cooking and selling food to his salon clients, so he could send some allowance to his staff who have no other source of income.

“If the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) and DTI would allow us, we really want to experiment with home service, because many of our clients are still afraid to go out,” Ramos said.

Waiver

Monis, on the advice of his lawyer, asks clients to sign a waiver on top of the contact-tracing form that’s required upon entry. “We strictly follow protocols in the salon,” he said, “but we don’t know where our clients have been. We have to protect ourselves from possible liability.”

Ramos said he’s secure with the staff who had been quarantined with him. “But if the rest of my staff now report for work, and if during their commute they catch something, or the client catches something on their way to us, there’s no way to tell. We’ll end up getting the blame. I can’t risk that.”

Monis also had a serious accusation against a representative of a government agency; the officials are tasked to do spot-on checks for violations. In his Greenhills salon, said Monis, the official tried to entrap his staff by pretending to be a walk-in client, which isn’t allowed under the guidelines. Because some employees work on tips and commissions, it’s easy to get tempted by such offers, he said. Good thing he was present, Monis said; he spotted the official’s ID.

“I was very annoyed. Our state is bad enough as it is. Now they want to entrap us to make a mistake,” Monis said.

“I’d like to be optimistic and say that we don’t see closures of any of our salons,” said Mendez. “Not yet. I hope the government is willing to have a dialogue.”

Recovery of their industry, however, will take a long time, Monis said. “It will take a longer time than we thought.”