So I’ve been open for a week now in the U.K., providing a full range of treatments avoiding the face area. I have done lots of waxing, a few pedis, one or two manis and some massage.
I’m following U.K. government guidelines - wearing a non fogging, comfortable visor which I can’t see through as clearly as I would like. It’s made of acetate and has a lot of microscopic scratches on which scatter the light - it’s like being in a room which isn’t properly lit. i thought it was just my 50+ eyesight, but my daughter said she couldn’t see through hers properly - so I’m a bit anxious about brow and lash services which are permitted from the 1st August. Apart from visor clarity, my visor doesn’t bother me at all now and I’ve got used to it - although, unfortunately as I’ve adjusted to not being able to see clearly it means I often go into a treatment without my glasses on!
My visor foam gets a bit sweaty, and slips a bit, it’s not too much of an issue as i remove the visor between clients and have 15 minute gaps between treatments. I’ve heard of some therapists cutting gaps in the forehead foam, so I might cut a notch to release hot, moist air. As I have different treatment areas, I can keep the appointment buffer quite slim - but I found that quite stressful on Saturday which was my most complicated day on my own.
For pedis, I’ve learned to angle the visor so I look down into a unshielded space, unimpeded by the visor. For manis, I do the same. It’s still acting as a sneeze shield.
I’m asking my clients to wear masks. Some are coming in with cheap fabric masks which I don’t feel make any difference to my safety, the guidance we’ve received say very clearly that we shouldn’t rely on masks for our safety and I now understand why.
I notice clients seem anxious when I sit in front of them just wearing my apron and visor. I’ve had clients turn their head away during waxing when I’m briefly beside them for armpits or shoulders.
I’ve started to wear a mask for manis. It’s fine and I want my clients to be comfortable. I think I will keep a mask in my apron pocket next week and pop it on during a waxing treatment when I’m near their face for arms, shoulders and armpits. I’ve got a hand sanitiser dispenser in my treatment room, so it’s easy to sanitise my gloved hands before donning a mask.
I can’t wear a mask all treatment though. I notice clients space out a bit when they’re mask wearing and can’t quite catch my instructions, I guess most of us rely on visual prompts and lip read a bit. I’m not bothered by them wearing a mask, I still understand what they are saying.
Im learning as I go, yesterday I let a client in before my previous client had left. I had enough space for social distancing - but the arriving client wasn’t wearing a mask and she fiddled with everything on a manicure desk with unsanitised hands. (She was booked for a pedi). I’d been arranging decals on a chain in colour fade order and she unstrung them and muddled them up. My attention was elsewhere and when I realised it would take me at least an hour to sanitise everything she’d touched and muddled up, I felt upset and I was terse. Actually it wasn’t her fault. She’s a dumb client - she doesn’t think rules and regulations are her responsibility - it’s my job to control her journey through the salon, so that Covid security doesn’t feel intrusive.
I notice clients wearing fancy masks which claim full protection are the worst at following my protocols. I worry we’ll also become slap dash with Covid security if we wear a high spec masks.
All in all it was a good week. My heart is thumping with anxiety at the end of the day, and hurts in my chest even though I dont feel consciously stressed - but getting some money in to pay my mounting bills is such a relief. It’s been good to get back to work and great to chat to clients. So far it’s the anxious ladies that have come in - pregnant, older and medically trained. It’s been an honour to be trusted with their health.
I’m following U.K. government guidelines - wearing a non fogging, comfortable visor which I can’t see through as clearly as I would like. It’s made of acetate and has a lot of microscopic scratches on which scatter the light - it’s like being in a room which isn’t properly lit. i thought it was just my 50+ eyesight, but my daughter said she couldn’t see through hers properly - so I’m a bit anxious about brow and lash services which are permitted from the 1st August. Apart from visor clarity, my visor doesn’t bother me at all now and I’ve got used to it - although, unfortunately as I’ve adjusted to not being able to see clearly it means I often go into a treatment without my glasses on!
My visor foam gets a bit sweaty, and slips a bit, it’s not too much of an issue as i remove the visor between clients and have 15 minute gaps between treatments. I’ve heard of some therapists cutting gaps in the forehead foam, so I might cut a notch to release hot, moist air. As I have different treatment areas, I can keep the appointment buffer quite slim - but I found that quite stressful on Saturday which was my most complicated day on my own.
For pedis, I’ve learned to angle the visor so I look down into a unshielded space, unimpeded by the visor. For manis, I do the same. It’s still acting as a sneeze shield.
I’m asking my clients to wear masks. Some are coming in with cheap fabric masks which I don’t feel make any difference to my safety, the guidance we’ve received say very clearly that we shouldn’t rely on masks for our safety and I now understand why.
I notice clients seem anxious when I sit in front of them just wearing my apron and visor. I’ve had clients turn their head away during waxing when I’m briefly beside them for armpits or shoulders.
I’ve started to wear a mask for manis. It’s fine and I want my clients to be comfortable. I think I will keep a mask in my apron pocket next week and pop it on during a waxing treatment when I’m near their face for arms, shoulders and armpits. I’ve got a hand sanitiser dispenser in my treatment room, so it’s easy to sanitise my gloved hands before donning a mask.
I can’t wear a mask all treatment though. I notice clients space out a bit when they’re mask wearing and can’t quite catch my instructions, I guess most of us rely on visual prompts and lip read a bit. I’m not bothered by them wearing a mask, I still understand what they are saying.
Im learning as I go, yesterday I let a client in before my previous client had left. I had enough space for social distancing - but the arriving client wasn’t wearing a mask and she fiddled with everything on a manicure desk with unsanitised hands. (She was booked for a pedi). I’d been arranging decals on a chain in colour fade order and she unstrung them and muddled them up. My attention was elsewhere and when I realised it would take me at least an hour to sanitise everything she’d touched and muddled up, I felt upset and I was terse. Actually it wasn’t her fault. She’s a dumb client - she doesn’t think rules and regulations are her responsibility - it’s my job to control her journey through the salon, so that Covid security doesn’t feel intrusive.
I notice clients wearing fancy masks which claim full protection are the worst at following my protocols. I worry we’ll also become slap dash with Covid security if we wear a high spec masks.
All in all it was a good week. My heart is thumping with anxiety at the end of the day, and hurts in my chest even though I dont feel consciously stressed - but getting some money in to pay my mounting bills is such a relief. It’s been good to get back to work and great to chat to clients. So far it’s the anxious ladies that have come in - pregnant, older and medically trained. It’s been an honour to be trusted with their health.
