Is It Safe To Shampoo & Blow Dry In The Salon? Read This To Find Out
Shampooing & Blow Drying Clients In The Salon—Yes Or No?
When it comes to certain salon services, there’s been some confusion over which are considered safe vs. unsafe. Do blow dryers contribute to the spread of COVID-19? Is it OK to shampoo or should clients arrive with clean hair?
We reached out to Jordan Warchol, MD, MPH—who is the Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center—to get her expert opinion on whether it is safe to shampoo and blow dry in the salon. See what she said below, plus find out which services she thinks are the riskiest to offer!
Do Blow Dryers Spread COVID-19?
While Jordan says blow dryers can theoretically spread the virus further than if they weren’t used at all, she also said there isn’t good evidence to suggest this theory since coronavirus is still so new. “It also isn’t clear what effect the heat from the blow dryer would have,” she continued. “If both the stylist and the client are masked, the risk would be lower than if they weren’t masked.”
Should Clients Arrive With Freshly Washed Hair?
Some salons are requiring clients arrive with freshly washed hair because it is unknown if COVID-19 can survive on the hair or for how long—and Jordan says neither is clear right now. “Even if it does, it’s unlikely that there would be a large amount of virus on the average person’s hair unless they had been directly coughed or sneezed on by a person with the coronavirus,” she shared.
As long as you wear gloves, only touch essential items while doing so and are conscious of not touching your face, Jordan says washing hair in the salon is reasonable. “That said, without good evidence, people should do whatever makes them most comfortable,” she added.
Which Services Are The Riskiest?
Any service that requires you to get up close to the client’s face. Jordan says beard trims, shaping sideburns and facial waxing are likely to be the riskiest since it is difficult for a guest to wear a mask during these services.
Advice From An Expert
In addition to following your local state’s recommendations for reopening safely, Jordan suggests:
- Limiting the number of people in the salon at one time.
- Maintaining social distancing.
- Having as little physical contact as possible with people and their things, including money and credit cards.
- Staying home if you or your staff doesn’t feel well.
Guidelines may vary by state so be sure to check your state board’s specific health and safety recommendations when preparing to reopen. Curious where your state stands on reopening? Check out our state-by-state guide to find out!
Client Health Screening Questionnaires: Download The Template!
