Finally, hairdressers allowed to resume business

Hairdressing services, which have been long-awaited by many Malaysians, were finally allowed to reopen for business yesterday under the recovery movement control order (MCO).

In Malaysiakini’s checks at several hairdressing premises around Kuala Lumpur, hairdressers appear to not mind complying with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) as they are happy they can open their business again after almost three months.

The SOPs include taking down the names, phone numbers, and body temperatures as well as providing disposable aprons to every customer, while the hairdressers have to wear gloves, with some wearing face shields too.

“It’s not a problem. If we want to open, then we have to comply with the SOPs,” said a hairdresser who declined to be named in Pekan Sungai Besi.

For Ray Tan, 32, a hair salon owner in Lakefields, he is happy he gets to open his shop again even though wearing gloves and a face shield does make the work slightly more difficult.

However, he remains worried over his shop’s rental which has not seen any decrease since the MCO began on March 18, even though the hair salon business does not bring in big earnings, he said.

“Of course I am happy because I get to do business, but I have to worry about the rental. I am just worried about that,” he said, adding that two of his friends who also run hair salons have had to close down their shops because they could not afford the rent.

There were also hairdressers who felt that providing disposable aprons to every customer was a waste, as shared by Kek Siau Hui, 34, (photo) who runs a hair salon in Bandar Sri Permaisuri.

Another hairdresser in Bandar Sri Permaisuri, Nur Ziana, 24, said she hopes the government could consider extending the period of time allowed for them to handle each customer, though she understands the need for the SOP.

Currently, she said, the allowed limit of one hour is only enough for a hair cut, wash and treatment, but it is not enough for rebonding treatments or dyeing hair which have been requested by customers.

Based on the SOP issued by the government for hairdressers and beauty salons, the businesses are “highly encouraged” to accept customers via appointments.

It is compulsory for them to wear face masks as well as a set of disposable gloves, to be changed after every customer.

Meanwhile, wearing face shields and disposable gowns are “encouraged” for the workers.

It is also compulsory for them to provide disposable aprons for every customer while the time allotted for each customer cannot exceed one hour.

Malaysia Hairdressing Association (MHA) president Michael Poh, 48, (photo)said the one-hour allowed for each session was a good courtesy extended by the government.

Initially, he said, the government only allowed each session to be 30 minutes, only for haircuts.

However, they agreed to extend it to one hour after considering the pleas from several hairdressing associations, he said.

While he said one hour is not enough for services using various techniques, it is enough for simple hair services including dyeing the hair to cover up greying hair.

MHA was one of the associations involved in proposing SOP for the operation of hairdressing services for the government’s consideration last month.

Meanwhile, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said the government will take note and collect all feedback regarding the SOP so that it can be improved upon.

For now, he urged hairdressers to continue complying with the existing SOP, after visiting several salons in a shopping mall yesterday.

Aside from the hairdressers, customers also could not hide their excitement over the reopening of hairdressing services. They also expressed satisfaction over the current SOP.

“I feel so relieved to be able to get a haircut. I am satisfied (with the SOP), I feel safe,” said pharmacist Hanafi, 33, who was lining up in front of a hairdressing shop in Bandar Sri Permaisuri yesterday.

“Finally. During the MCO, I cut my own hair. It’s so difficult if you don’t get your hair cut (by a hairdresser), your hair doesn’t have any style.

“You don’t have any self-confidence either. Now it feels good,” shared fitness trainer, Ryan Ooi, 47, (photo) who had just finished getting his hair cut at a hair salon in a mall in Cheras yesterday.

Most hairdressers Malaysiakini spoke with yesterday said they have received good business so far; around 10 customers in a few hours after they reopened for business.

The price of the services has also been raised slightly – around RM2 to RM5 – to cover the costs of the personal protective equipment necessary under the SOP. - Mkini