KUALA LUMPUR: Hairdressers have their hands full as they resume business after several months of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

       Shawn Loong anticipates being swamped with work since the announcement was made on Sunday that hair salons could reopen.

       “We have had over 100 customers calling in to make appointments. We’ve also had to reject around 50 as they weren’t fully vaccinated,” said the founder and director of Shawn Cutler.

       Eighty per cent of his staff have been vaccinated, which is the requirement for salons to operate,” he said.

       He added that while he was relieved that business could finally resume, he was also concerned for the safety of his workers.

       “We are currently busy sanitising our salon premises as well as all our equipment,” he said.

       Welcoming news of the reopening, Malaysian Hairdressing Association and United Asian Hairdressers Association president Michael Poh said salons had been struggling for too long.

       He said his own salon would continue to follow the mandatory standard operating procedure, including the use of gloves, shortened interaction time between customers and workers, as well as allowing only haircuts for now.

       Only customers who are fully vaccinated 14 days after their second dose will be allowed into the salons.

       “Hairdressers must wear a face shield as well as a face mask, and we encourage customers to do so as well.

       “In my salon, we will place air purifiers in front of the customers as an extra safety measure,” said Poh.

       Founder and creative director of 54 Blanc Saloon Philex Chin will only be able to open his salon next week.

       It has not been two weeks yet from his second dose.

       While he is relieved that salons can open again, he is concerned for himself and his staff’s health and safety.

       “We have no choice but to reopen. It has been very challenging for the industry,” he said.