Even as gyms complain about low footfall after reopening, beauty parlours, that have been operating for some two weeks now at 50 per cent capacity, say something is better than nothing.
“Of course, this is no ideal situation but it’s better than sitting home doing nothing. We have rent and staff to pay so we welcome however many people the government allows us to accommodate,” says Ayantika Mazumder, proprietor of Lusso Bella, that has centres in BA and CE Blocks. “Besides, such is the panic at the moment that even if 100 per cent customers were allowed in, I doubt how many would dare.”
“In December, there was such rush that customers would request us to stay open even on our weekly off days,” recalls Needa Anjum, manager, Volume Hair & Skin, in AE Block. “Now weekdays are very light even though weekends see better business.”
Reinforcing the rules
Jolly Chanda, of FE Block’s Satin Rose Salon and Spa, says they are once again being asked questions that had become staple after the first lockdown — Are you sanitising the premises? Are you taking appointments?
“While appointments are the best way to control occupancy, they are not practical for working professionals. How can people predict when a meeting gets over? If they are free, they come so we cannot refuse walk-in clients,” Chanda reasons. If the salon is at capacity, however, most people are preferring to wait in the cars till called for their turn.
Since CJ Block’s Salon 82 is spread across two floors, they have no problem distancing customers. “But there’s such fear among customers that the number coming in is as it is less than 50 per cent,” says PR in-charge Kriti Singh. “Nonetheless we are doing our part by letting in only those who are double vaccinated and clear temperature checks. We are sanitising all chairs and equipment after use and are using several disposable items too.”
A staffer at Volume sanitises a chair after use
Waste of a wedding season
The wedding season means a steady stream of customers to parlours but now restrictions are eating into their business. A few weddings have got postponed and others no longer excite attendees enough to dress up as before.
Mazumder of Lusso Bella says they used to get wedding packages to dress up 10 to 40 relatives of the bride or the groom. “But now with masks covering three-fourths of their face, they are only booking us for hairstyles, preferring to do basic make-up on their own. Plus there are restrictions on the number of guests at weddings so many aren’t even going,” she rues.
All the parlours spoken to said customers were only coming for basic services now like haircuts and root touch-ups while luxury treatments like massages and pedicures had become rare. “Doctors — male and female — are coming for very short haircuts so the hair fits into their surgical caps. They are still bathing after work to reduce chances of Covid infection and don’t have time to spend drying long hair afterwards. Even those working from home need to look presentable for Zoom calls,” says Chanda of Satin Rose.
They’re also getting NRIs who failed to take the flight out after testing positive. “As soon as they test negative they are coming for haircuts and colours as these treatments are more expensive abroad,” she says.
Singh of Salon 82 hopes the restrictions are lifted soon. “It’s the rule that’s creating panic among customers. Otherwise they have been living with Covid for two years now and know how to coexist with it,” she says.