The beauty and personal health sector is one of the worst affected industries in the Covid induced state-wide lockdown.

Some beauty salons have permanently closed their outlets due to various reasons including bank loans, rent, electricity charges and staff salaries.

Home services being given to customers by private practitioners like hairdressers and beauticians has further affected the future of beauty salon operators.

Sangeeta Verma, owner of a beauty parlour with multiple branches, who has also closed of one of her unit at Chiragora in Dhanbad said,“Ours was the last sector which was given permission to resume operations last year, but barely after six months we were again compelled to close down with the beginning of the second phase of lockdown.”

“Even during the reopening after five and a half months on September 1, 2020, we faced dull business for intial two to three months due to various kinds of apprehensions among the customers about safety in visiting the parlours/saloons,” said Verma and added that had to invest double to ensure increased safety using disposable hair cutting sheets instead of towels to avoid infection.

Anish Singh, franchisee owner of Habib’s Saloon in Bartand in Dhanbad said, “Due to the burden of huge rent, fixed electricity charges and staff salary besides the loan EMIs we have turned into a vicious cycle of debt.”

“There is no ray of hope of betterment in the situation in near future as soon after the reopening there will be insurmountable pressure of clearing of all debts with no income as majority of our customers are accustomed to practice of home service by freelance technicians etc and it will be difficult task to bring back to our units,” said Singh.

Md Tabrez, owner of Jawed Habib Parlour at Bank More said, “We have demanded waiver of rents, electricity charges during the first phase of lockdown but none of our demands were met by the government and we are also not hopeful after the reopening after second phase.”

“Our humble demand is that that the government at least allow us to operate our unit even if it can’t help us by waiving off rents and fixed electricity charges and we assure that we will follow all the guidelines in strictest sense,” said Tabrez and added that many of their technicians have already left the profession which they will find difficult to rope in after reopening.