Following yesterday's announcement by the Prime Minister that Hairdressing in England may return on the 4th July, while still no confirmed date for the rest of beauty services was provided, government have finally published their long awaited close contact services guidelines.
We fully share the frustrations and concerns of our members and have been in open communications with Government and BEIS since midday yesterday requesting clarity on the rationale and scientific evidence behind allowing hairdressing (and other businesses) to return ahead of all beauty services. We have also requested an urgent update on when beauty services can return to work in England and will send out details to all as soon as we receive them.
A government source responded with the following statement this morning:
"As it stands, beauty and related businesses and activities are not allowed and no date has been confirmed for when this decision will be reviewed.
In terms of why hairdressing and not beauty, the answer is because the Government is taking a phased, cautious approach to reopening the economy to ensure that we limit the spread of the virus. This means that choices have had to be made as to which businesses to reopen as part of the next phase.
Appreciate that this will be disappointing for some people who had anticipated starting back from 4 July. The important thing though is to get the message out that beauty and other services not related to hairdressing should not be operating"
We are continuing to seek futher clarity and confirmation and will publish these details as soon as we are able to.
Devolved Nations Current Standing
- Northern Ireland currently still have the 6th July as date for reopening hair & beauty - subject to the control of the R number.
- Wales will review on the 9th July if businesses may reopen thereafter (dates to be confirmed)
- Scotland have today announced that hair and barbering may return on the 15th July (with final decisions being announced on the 9th July) no date confirmed for beauty yet. For full update read here
We will also be providing more guidance of our own and additional back to work tools for members in due course once we have had time to cross reference them with governments requirements.
These guidelines are currently for England only and we await confirmation from the devolved nations on if they will be adopting them too. To download the full guidelines please click here