Caitlyn Duffy: Reopening after COVID-19
With Georgia being one of the first states in the U.S. to lift it’s stay-home orders, we wanted to talk to the stylists that are having to make a very difficult decision: To open… or to wait.
Caitlyn Duffy is a hairdresser, educator and now considered on the “front lines” of reopening. Like many in our industry, people are finding themselves in the position of a rock and a hard place. Do they reopen their doors and put themselves at high-risk, or continue to social distance and potentially lose their clients and even businesses.
Caitlyn says “All I can do is my part in making sure I am creating a safe and sanitary environment for my clients and myself.”
Read more about the safety measures and new client experience Akasa Salon will be implementing, below.
What measures have you taken with your clients, pre-opening?
I have had to plan a lot of change over the course of these 8 weeks. I keep an open line of communication with my clients. I think that's one of the most important things to have when going into uncharted territories, like a pandemic! I made a point to sit down and write out a new list of Client Safety Guidelines that are a MUST when coming into the salon. I have let them know that everything is fluid right now, things can change at any point in time. Risking the health and safety of my clients or myself is just not something I am willing to do.
Tell us about the safety measures you’re adding to the Salon
The changes we have to make in the salon are based on keeping our space as safe as possible. Our salon is smaller, there is a total of 10 stylists. That really doesn't adhere to the safety protocols so we have all had to adjust our schedules. There are no more than 4 stylists working at once. We are no longer double booking. All stylists will be wearing gloves and masks. I have bought coveralls to wear in the salon and will be washing them daily. I also have had to adjust my appointment times, leaving more time to clean and disinfect between each service.
For our clients: I have sent out new protocols that will be in place for the foreseeable future. Upon arrival all clients must head to the restroom to wash their hands and to put on a smock. Our waiting area is currently closed so clients will have to wait in their vehicle until they are called. Clients are not allowed to bring friends with them. They must come wearing an over the ear face mask. I am asking all my clients who are not receiving a color service to come with freshly washed, damp hair. If they are receiving color, their hair must have been washed in the last 24 hours. If they have felt ill, or have been around someone who has been ill to cancel and reschedule their appointment for a later date.
Will you be making changes to your service menu?
The services I will be offering once reopening will be limited. I will not be offering any big color appointments. (Color corrections, vivids ect.) I am also not currently offering blow drys or finish styling. This is to limit the amount of time out. I want to be there for my clients, but right now is not the time to be doing total transformations. It's still not safe.
How have your clients responded?
Honestly, all my clients have been so supportive through all of this. No one (so far) has had any complaints about the protocols or the changes in services. I feel like they want to stay safe just as much as I do. They trust in me to keep up my end of the bargain just like I trust in them to do the same. There are so many new hurdles to jump through for an appointment, but at the end of the day I think they know that they are still going to have a great conversation and a great service.
While I am so grateful that my clients have been so supportive through this, I'm not thrilled about the Governors decisions to re-open such close contact businesses like salons, tattoo shops and nail salons so soon. There were phases that were supposed to be put in place and he totally went against them as well as the advice from scientists and medical professionals. The decision made me as well as a lot of other Georgians feel expendable. Georgia had not even begun to see a plateau in cases of COVID-19 and the numbers are still rising.
All I can do is my part in making sure I am creating a safe and sanitary environment for my clients and myself.