As a part of social distancing measures, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on March 24 that nail salons, tanning, waxing and other beauty services could be closed – but with a hair salon cut-off date of half-hour per client. Can be open.
There was much criticism that this limit was impractical and too gendered, and it was. Reverse. Salons can operate in the event that they maintain one person per 4 square meters.
While many hairdressing businesses have voluntarily closed their doors, others have remained open. has turn out to be a problem. A flash point For the talk about what constitutes an “essential” service in Australia.
Touch and talk.
My previous research on the emotional facets of salon work has shown that hairdressers and beauticians act as temporary counselors for many consumers.
A salon isn't just a couple of makeover: it's a spot to attach and talk. For some people, the salon could also be one among the one places they encounter regular verbal and physical contact. Increasingly, salon employees are being recognized as a crucial channel between community members and services e.g. Family violence Shelter
Under normal circumstances, hair and sweetness services could also be considered essential due to social and community welfare facets of employment. However, the intimacy required for hair styling within the context of a pandemic is problematic.
The Australian Hairdressing Council, out of concern for the welfare of those involved within the industry Requested the government Hairdressers and barbers needs to be closed. There appear to have been mixed messages about salon rules early on. get confused For salons and clients alike. This includes uncertainty about what subsidies can be found to salons which have already voluntarily closed.
It stays unclear why the federal government considers hair services “essential”. Given the unique 30-minute decision, it’s unlikely that the choice was based on concern for caring for the social work facets of hairdressing.
gave 67,000 people Employment as hairdressers could also be a more essential think about the choice at a time when many others have lost their jobs. Of course, the shutdown has already taken its toll 36,100 beauty therapists are employed across Australia, but there could also be a perception that many beauty tasks (equivalent to maintaining nails and body hair) may be done at home.
There may additionally be a gender factor: these beauty services are more steadily visited by women and will due to this fact be culturally coded as “unnecessary” or frivolous.
It looks like we’ll follow the lead of other countries which have already closed hair salons if more physical distancing measures are required.
Digital Salon
In times of severe economic downturn, hair and sweetness services remain popular.
Even in the course of the Great Depression, people continued. Pay for a salon visitabandoning other essentials.
However, the length of time between visits to the salon appears to increase in the course of the recession. dubbed “Haircut index“, consumer confidence is indicated by more frequent trips. On the opposite hand, some argue that in a recession consumers buy more small luxury beauty items equivalent to lipstick (so-called “Lipstick index“).
Even in tough economic times, people still care about maintaining appearances.
However, within the wake of COVID-19, social distancing complicates the situation for the wonder industry.
With many storefronts already closed, businesses have shifted to online services, finding creative ways to keep up connections with existing clients.
Many salons have began selling “lockdown” product packs online, producing short “home care” videos, and a few are even offering one-on-one live digital consultations.
Then there are those that are taking matters into their very own hands.
Google Trends to reveal Searches for “how to cut your hair” spike since March 8. Buzz Kits It can also be gaining popularity as a fuss-free technique to maintain short hair at home. People seem to make use of the shortage of salon guidance as a possibility to innovate with their appearance, or to try things at home they're perhaps too afraid to ask an expert for.
Limited social interaction and the supply of online filters mean that individuals may feel they may be more creative with their style. # Hair Tutorials The trend continues on TikTok. #Quarantine hair Some heights are getting used on Twitter to document people experimenting with their looks in lockdown.
Zoom beauty
While it could appear absurd to some that individuals still care about makeup and hair products during a public health crisis, there are quite a few the reason why this could be the case. Although socialization has decreased, many rules of beauty will remain. People may feel the necessity to sustain appearances even when watching colleagues, clients and friends on screen.
There can also be a crucial ritual element to maintaining one's appearance. In Western culture, one's external presentation is looked upon. As is intimately related. For one's sense of identity and well-being. Maintaining a day by day routine, including skincare, makeup and hair styling, could make some people feel like they're taking good care of themselves – especially on the subject of other things around them. Very difficult to regulate.
At the very least, sharing mishaps and hilarious experiences with self-style on this world of digital beauty gives people a brand new technique to discover a sense of social connection.