After months without personal and beauty treatments, many people are very happy to see these important personal services opening for clients.
While it’s exciting to say goodbye to chipped nails, hairy legs, bushy eyebrows, pasty skin and grey hairs, it’s important to know that visiting your trusted beauty providers will be a little different as businesses reopen within strict COVID-19 safety and hygiene requirements.
Central Geelong Marketing says from this week, Central Geelong’s beauty therapy, tanning, waxing, nail spas, massage and tattoo providers can open with up to 20 patrons.
Expect to book for all treatments and provide contact name and phone details whenever you receive a treatment. There will also be increased signage explaining maximum numbers within the premises and compliance requirements.
Many businesses have spent time preparing their premises for reopening, from implementing increased safety and hygiene measures (including deep cleaning) to ensuring staff are well trained and prepared.
Additional hygiene measures are a priority, prior to re-opening and while operating. There will be frequent cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces and bathrooms.
SkinMD Clinic in Moorabool Street has appointments available via online bookings and has precautions in place to ensure the health and safety of clients and staff.
Adina Salon in Ryrie Street specialises in beauty therapy and is offering bookings via website or phone. All staff have been upskilling while the business was closed.
The team at Adina asks customers to come alone to their appointment and use the hand sanitiser provided at the entrance. No bedding will be used on treatment beds to assist with the cleaning process between clients. They also ask clients to reschedule if they are feeling unwell.
Ren Skin Health in Yarra Street has online and phone bookings available for a wide variety of beauty therapy treatments.
There are limited appointment times available each day to allow for an increased cleaning routine before and after clients. Hand sanitiser is available at reception and in treatment rooms. Staff have used the time away from the business to complete online training.
Physical barriers will appear at cashiers, floor markings will indicate social distancing and signs will be visible at doorways.
Shinto Tattoo Gallery is taking appointments and has a variety of new rules in place for COVID-19, while Purely Piercing/Kustome Kulture Tattoos is offering services via appointment only and will not accept walk-in customers.
It is important if you have booked a treatment to make sure you turn up for it. Know that your booking will represent a significant portion of the salon’s income for the day, so not turning up can really impact the viability of the business.
If you must cancel, do so with plenty of notice so the business can fill the appointment time with another client. And make sure you only attend appointments when you are well. Stay home if you are unwell and seek medical attention.
Be kind and patient with staff, they are adapting to many new safety and hygiene procedures. Because there are limits on the number of customers allowed in store, based on the size of the business, many will be working with reduced staff numbers.
Be flexible when you are booking your appointments. With limited capacity you might need to make your appointment earlier or later than usual. This helps the business maximise their customers for the day.
Rixon Hairdressing in Moorabool Street has limited appointments for existing clients, available via phone.
All stations and chairs are being disinfected before and after each client and disposable cups are being used.
Temple Hair in Moorabool Street had a mini makeover while closed and is now open for phone appointments.
Sloane Mens Grooming in Malop Street is strictly via appointment only and has developed some new rules for clients which include: come alone, if you feel unwell stay home; sanitise your hands; follow social distance requirements; and be right on time – not early and not late!
The team at Sloane, led by Rachel Sloane, is cleaning before, during, and after every client and has limited services to one client per barber per hour.
Central Geelong beauty, hair and personal care businesses have been adapting quickly to meet the demands of customers through these challenging times and are doing things differently to make sure they can continue to provide their expert services.
Free casual on and off-street parking until June 30, 2020 in Central Geelong has been introduced by the City of Greater Geelong Council as a support measure to assist businesses and residents impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Time limits still apply.
Making sure you support local businesses is more important than ever. Supporting local businesses keeps money in the community. Local businesses employ local people. They also use a wide range of local suppliers. This keeps the money you spend with them moving through the local economy – in turn supporting more businesses and creating more local jobs.
To see the huge range of beauty, tanning, waxing, nail, hair, massage and tattoo services on offer in Central Geelong and find out more about how Central Geelong businesses are doing things differently and how you can help support local businesses visit centralgeelong.com.au or download the Love Central Geelong smartphone app.
