…to expect everyone at the hairdresser’s to be Covid- compliant?

Since I’ve been retired, I always make a mid week appointment, and since Covid appeared mid week is the best time to go as there are very few other customers. My hairdresser wears a mask, I wear a mask, she always offers me a clean, dry one after my hair wash, the window is more often than not open, but with new restrictions with Omicron she has not been able to make me a drink. Last summer, when things were a bit more free, she didn’t wear a mask and she made me a drink. I know she’s had all her vaccinations so I’m not worried, and anyway she’s back to mask wearing again now. She has sanitiser at the door, and a screen around the till area. She also disinfects the chairs and customer area after each use.

Oh ours didn't offer drinks yesterday either, I had forgotten about that.

I feel a bit sorry for people working in the service industries. They are quite heavily criticised anyway (pre covid) and now are during because of masks etc but it is them that is in the most risky situation having to mix with so many of us every day. We have a choice whether we want to go to the shop/eat/haircuts etc, they have to go to work. I'm sure sometimes they just forget they've taken their mask off too - as we all do?

Had my hair done yesterday did get my coffee as usual

It seems like second nature to me to wear a face mask if I enter an indoor area these days!
There could have been a reason why the other people were not wearing masks such as they are both asthmatic, or they were just ignorant of some of the facts and believed that , because none of them were directly dealing with you, they did not need to be wearing a mask.
There is no reason, in my view that you couldn't have mentioned your concerns to your hairdresser.
If you feel uncomfortable at the thought of returning and the same thing happening, you could either look to go elsewhere or when you next book an appointment, query if the same thing will happen.

Unfortunately if that was my hairdressers I’d have said I won’t be booking anymore and I would say I don’t feel safe. Hairdresser should make you feel like you Feel good etc but she clearly made you uncomfortable. So would lose my customer.

I m at the hairdressers now and everyone is wearing a mask. Unless medically exempt it’s standard procedure I would have thought when in close contact with clients

Nope not in any way unreasonable ! We have Covid in our household right now due to one member of our household going out, perfectly legitimately, on NY Eve whilst the rest of us stayed home, many infected now in both our household and in the other households who formed a part of her party ! Not happy as two of them here are school teachers so their schools now short of teachers and my husband and my mother who lives round the corner alone and is disabled are both CEV !

My daughter is a hairdresser.

They wear masks and faceshields.

They will not let anyone in without a mask.

We are in Dorset, if that has any relevance.

I don’t believe masks are a secure prevention against Covid unless properly fitted hospital grade masks. Wearing them as I do is merely a courtesy to make other people feel better; I, like many others, and proven by scientific studies the powers that be here do not choose to circulate, do not believe them to stop the spread to any large degree. No mixing is the key. Our society can’t enforce or do that without breaking down completely. Omicron/Covid will become endemic, like ‘flu, with jabs against the predicted variant, like ‘flu. There will be vulnerable people who will unfortunately be more severely affected, like ‘flu. I am an older person, technically more at risk and having been triple vaccinated and taking ‘sensible’ (government approved!) precautions, some of which I don’t believe will do much good, am prepared to take my chance. I think the sooner we learn to live with this the better! And I personally have my hair done at home-perhaps a suggestion others might consider.

I have a mobile hairdresser who asks us all to do a test before she comes, as she visits many elderly and less able bodied people. She also tests herself regularly. I think this is a reasonable request and I would not be happy going to a salon where the staff were not wearing masks

I would have been horrified if I was you. My hairdressers always do, but when they relaxed the rule back last summer they didn’t need too but I was still unsure whether to continue with the same hairdressers. Your hairdressers doesn’t seem to care, about customer care, I hope you didn’t give a tip? If I was you I’d consider looking for a more caring hairdressers that wore masks etc, you don’t say if your in a small village but there must be other hairdressers around.
Slight change of subject, back last year when still wearing masks I was shopping in Aldi’s when at the checkout, as shopworker was putting my shopping through he sneezed & used his hand to wipe, also his mask was only covering his mouth! I carried on as normal as I didn’t really know how/what to do, but afterwards I did have s word with the store manager about him, but that moment could have made me still ok or possibly caught covid, which I didn’t. I did wipe all my food shopping down with anti bac wipes. So do yourself a favour change hairdressers

I realised something recently, I am 64, I had whooping cough as a young child, even though one of 3 children I was the only one who had it, I nearly died. I was vaccinated against smallpox and TB at school. There were life threatening illnesses and no vaccines for most of them. The people who don't agree with vaccines never had or saw others with these illnesses so they believe it when others say don't get the vaccine. My neighbours child had a bad reaction to the MMR vaccine but I don't know anyone else who had.

At my hairdressers they all wear a shield but tell you that you can take your mask off when they are doing your hair as it’s a little awkward to cut your hair with it on.
But you are far enough away from other customers not to worry.

That’s the reason I haven’t had my hair cut recently. Just don’t feel they stick to the covid rules. I do go to my massage beautician because she’s always masked and no one else can come in or out. Plus I know she tests very regularly and is vet6 careful herself. I always test before I go.

No, you are not BU! They are not compliant with the rules and frankly I would look elsewhere.

No you're not. She sounds like she's treating her place of work (for that's what it is) like a drop in centre! How unprofessional and not fair on her clients either. If you know her well maybe have a quiet word?

My #1DS had reaction to MMR at 14 months. he had high temperature and chucked up all over his pushchair in the middle of Chorley market!! Very embarrassing but afterwards he was right as rain. Better that than the diseases eh?

You also need to ensure they either have a ventilation system or that their doors and windows are open. The virus is airborne.

Had a conversation with my hairdresser before Christmas at my last appointment. He told me that he has never stopped wearing a mask throughout and has no plans to stop wearing one anytime soon. Most customers were wearing masks that I observed - except one. When I queried it, he explained that this was a lady with dementia whose husband brought her every week for her regular salon hair appointment while he went and had a relaxing coffee elsewhere.

I think you should have raised it at the time and (if your head wasn’t covered in foils!) left immediately. What these establishments don’t realise is that they’ll actually lose customers if they’re lax, rather than retain them. Eg if I had a choice of restaurant/hairdresser/shop where masks are worn and where they’re not, I’d choose the former.
The unknown woman wandering around unmasked is totally unacceptable in my view and it’s understandable that you’re now anxious.

Think you should say something. Covid isn’t nice I’m currently experiencing it but so glad I’ve had vaccinations n booster must be so much worse without that protection.

Went to my HD yesterday in her beautiful 'vintage style' salon. Only my HD, the owner, and one other stylist with work stations very well spaced. Notice on door and inside re mask wearing. I did have my home made Christmas mask present on, unfortunately the straps were getting in the way as a little thick, so I was given a new one from a supply she keeps for anyone turning up unmasked. Felt relaxed as the rules being followed.

I wouldn’t go to the hairdresser or beautician if all staff and customers weren’t masked. A general observation by someone who travels a lot is that in small towns/villages people are masked but in towns less people comply (?). Living in an area that comprises mostly residents of middle of age or above mask wearing is very high.

Masks are only one tool in the box and those who class themselves as exempt don't have to wear one. Surely vaccinations, regular LFTs and good ventilation also play a part.
BTW, someone mentioned temperature checks: I've just recovered from Covid-19 and not once did I gave a raised temperature and neither do many others. On the other hand lots of other illnesses cause a raised temperature. Maybe time for .gov to review Covid-19 symptoms.

Study measuring filter efficiency. (2010)
academic.oup.com/annweh/article/54/7/789/202744: httos://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news.
perspective/2020/04/commentary-masks-all-covid-19-not-based-sound-data;
academic.oup.com/annweh/article/54/7/789/202744
Filter efficiency was measured across a wide range of small particle sizes (0.02 to 1 um) at 33 and 99 L/min.
All the cloth masks and materials had near zero efficiency at 0.3 um, a particle size that easily penetrates into the
lung (SARS-COV-2 is 0.125 um)
Efficiency for the entire range of particles
T-shirts
- 10%
Scarves - 10% to 20%
Cloth masks - 10% to 30%
Sweatshirts - 20% to 40%
Towels -
40%