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

Excellent points Amalegra!

I can't understand why people feel safer with a mask. On some of the packets it states they are not effective against viruses. So a waste of time really.
That said I do wear one in shops etc but find breathing difficult as I have a lung condition. I always thought this was psychological but GP confirmed I should be exempt as its caused by my lung condition. However I do still wear it in shops so others feel safer but I'm in there for a very short time only.

Yes, you are being unreasonable. I'm presuming you are double jabbed at least. The people in the hairdressers obviously feel happy and comfortable not wearing a mask.

If you are wearing yours, and have taken all the precautions YOU feel comfortable with, why are you still nervous. Honestly, this is getting ridiculous now.
Go to the hairdressers you love, it's important not to change things/places you like, keep your mask on if you feel the need. Otherwise, you are letting this damn thing win, time and time again.

My hairdresser, who works from home and had a serious covid infection last year, asked her pre Xmas appointment clients to take a lateral flow test before going to her house.
It wasn’t compulsory but because she didn’t want her family, or anyone else’s, to be as sick as she had been.
We were amazed at how many people refused and cancelled their appointments.

Fortunately my salon continues to wear masks, sanitize etc, and insists that clients do the same. She did say I could be exempted as I'm asthmatic, but I prefer to wear a mask regardless of my asthma. However I know of at least two nearby salons who have completely abandoned all safety measures. Very foolish. My DIL (unvaxxed) visits one of them which is a bit of a worry.

My hairdresser has a salon attached to her home and only has 1 customer at a time as she works alone. She takes my temperature when I arrive, we both wear masks and we both sanitise our hands before I sit down. Only problem I have is that she got her 1st jab no problem, but now has listened to her family and won't get any more vaccinations. I have been going to her for over 20 years, but it has made me question will I still be happy going now.

My home dresser also uses a visor and it's as much use as a chocolate teapot! You can see the spatters and vapour deposits both inside and outside the thing, she's not the sharpest tool in box and I've not caught anything but still, why are they so insensitive and stoopid?! It's as if money drives out all other considerations for a lot of trades people. Pity they've not realised that you can't take it with you and it won't bring someone back either!

I don't understand why you didn't draw the attention of the maskless to the fact that they had "forgotten" to put on a mask.

If they had been offended, so what? It is surely wisest not to risk spreading infection. If they were deliberately disobeying the restrictions that are in place just now, I would either just have got up and left, or asked the hairdresser to finish my hair as quitckly as possible, pay and inform her that I would start looking for a hairdresser that obeyed the restrictions.

jeanie99 my husband went into hospital with gall bladder infection caught Covid-19 in there and never came out.

I don't think it's the virus itself that's airborne it's the droplets from an infected person. If the virus was truly airborne itself it would be spreading even more than it is and 2 metres would not help at all.

Masks are unfortunately false protection unless you’re going to wear an FFP3 one. The majority are just there as show. However, someone taking a lateral flow test is much better for your protection and you cannot see that. I resent wearing a mask that does nothing when I am regularly testing for my job and know I don’t have the virus and am not infectious. You have no idea whether someone has tested or not, so cannot judge someone else for their lack of mask wearing, nor do you know if they are exempt. I’m afraid the only answer is to go elsewhere. Personally I will not live in fear - I am triple jabbed and test regularly.

Cabbie21 - You are not being unreasonable in wanting protection for yourself and others in the hairdresser's especially as they are often warm places with dryers working that help to circulate what's in the air. I would draw the line, however (not that you've mentioned that) at the suggestion that people can only go into such a place if they're vaccinated which is unfortunately something that some people will be asking for.

I noticed in Scotland the mask regulations changed in that non mask wearers are now obliged to prove they are exempt. Other nations need to step up and do the same. Your hairdresser has been very lax when you were in. Dread to think just how she is at other times.

The first time I returned too the hairdresser the Covid Security was good, face masks, shields and gloves were worn by the hairdresser and all bags and coats put in plastic bags. This year, it was almost back to normal. I time my haircuts with the infection rates, as I do cinema, theatre, eating out etc. I know of a Christmas Party with 20 people, all tested negative in the morning, one tested positive in the evening, one other person also caught it from same party. This Omicron is so easy to catch, unless you really really don’t mind the risk of getting it, and feel your hair is more important, then I would not go to an indoor situation where hardly any face mask wearing is practiced, with little or no ventilation, and hairdryer’s blowing virus particles about the salon. Wait till the end of January/February maybe if you can.

Just to repeat, someone I know tested negative in the morning,, but positive in the evening. It does not creep up on you.

My hairdresser's salon ensured all staff tested regularly, all used to wear face masks, shields and disposable plastic aprons, plastic screens between each 'station' and dramatic decrease in customers allowed in at any one time plus temperature check at door, no magazines or drinks etc. Felt really safe.
Nowadays staff wear masks but some customers don't. They are all asked to wear one but seems several refuse and there's nothing the staff can do about it.

when i was in Wiltshire during the summer it was the over 65s that were not wearing masks, sitting in the bus seat behind the driver which clearly stated DO NOT SIT HERE, met in cafes without masks etc. no wonder the young don't want to comply as the examples that are set by the elderly are deplorable.

i applaud people that test regularly but i am bemused by those that ignore the words about the vaccine - SHOULD PROTECT is not the same as WILL PROTECT. if the vaccine was as effective as we are told then it would have made a bigger impact on the R rate. Jethro the comedian was triple jabbed and died of Covid. Hence masks are a useful tool . I've met too many people that think they are invincible once they have been vaccinated - their stupidity is the real killer .

For the benefit of those who consider mask wearing and compliance with the law ridiculous, please read on:

My son had a friend. He was in his mid 40's, but very healthy, ran every morning. Was double jabbed and boostered he always wore a mask.

Last Thursday he had a rotten headache and just didn't feel well. In the afternoon he went home.

Friday he stayed home from work. Friday afternoon he seemed to be a little better.

He woke on Saturday feeling horrendous and had begun to feel as though he couldn't breathe. His wife took him to A & E, where he was immediately admitted to a high dependency unit.He had a good night but by Sunday lunchtime his condition deteriorated to the point that he was transferred to ICU and ventilated.

On Monday he started showing signs of organ failure so his treatment was increased. He remained stable on Tuesday, and the consultant began to talk about reducing support the following day.

On Wednesday morning before any treatment was changed, he died.

He was a strong, active, sporty man, with no previous ill health except for the everyday childhood conditions. He always wore a mask, and twice weekly tested using the LFT tests.

When tested in hospital he tested positive for Omnicron.

I hope that reading this will ensure that people can take on board the risks of this virus. I believe that the death of my son's friend is an horrific example of why we need to really take care.

I also believe that his story shows just how serious Covid still is. Personally I believe that we are in it for the for the long haul

I wouldn’t use them tbh
This variant is highly contagious, my younger sister works at a dentist as a hygienist and four of the 7 team are off sick all with this one variant, yet their masked booted and gowned and have been taking ever precaution possible..if they can’t get temporary staff or at least two army personnel in, they will have to close the practice at least a month
Masks should be made compulsory to help protect the public
I would consider yourself fortunate if you have avoided this nasty virus.
Boris needs to act protect both the NHS and all those trying to cope under some horrible circumstances..
All his concerned with getting in his clubs and his financial record .. we need a responsible leader to get through this
God help us ..

The Omicron virus really needs a 5 layer FFP2/ KN95 masks.
I bought several for my husband and myself. I have been taking steroids since summer 2020 due to having Polymyalgia Rheumatica. The steroids lower my immunity a lot. I have had both my vaccinations and my booster. You'd think that I was safe but we are on the Office of National Statistics covid research testing. We have swabs and blood tests every month, they come to us at home. We get the results about 4-7 days later by email. My husband who had his vaccinations at the same place and time as me has always had antibodies, so the vaccinations are protecting him. I have NO ANTIBODIES because of the steroids, and therefore have no protection. It's as if I hadn't had any vaccinations.
Consequently, I'm trying to keep as safe as possible. I can go for a short walk in decent weather as I walk very slowly due to very poor mobility because of an accident 11 years ago.
We get our supermarket shopping delivered to us and I've just started having a milkman deliver milk on Tu,Th & Saturday. My hairdresser visits my home and cuts mine and my husband's hair. We also have a chiropodist who does both my husband's and my feet.
I'll be glad when it's nice warm weather again so that we can visit Savill Gardens, Virginia Water and Wisley Gardens all of which have good pathways for my Trionic Veloped mobility Walker. If you have mobility issues then look it up online. I've had mine since June 2014 and it's still as good as new.
Wear those masks KN95/FFP2 .
I bought mine from Amaz__. I ordered those that had uk approval and they aren't too much dearer than the others that I initially bought at the start of the pandemic.
When the hairdresser and chiropodist visited we open windows for ventilation too.
Look up the different masks and face coverings efficiencies. Cloth face coverings offer really poor/ almost no protection. Omicron has very small droplets.
Take care everyone! Look after yourselves!

Usernametaken has given a comprehensive listing of the various masks after I had been typing my response. Thank you!

Not unreasonable at all. My hairdresser never stopped using masks and screens and have told me that they ask customers who turn up without a mask to please wear one. If the customer doesn't have one, they have some spares. They say they have never had a problem.
If I were in your shoes, first of all I would politely query it and then, if no sign of change, I would find myself another hairdresser for the duration of these very high cases of a very transmissible variant. The new hairdresser might even be better! We have a right to feel and be safe in such places.
On the money front, they might lose customers through not having protections in place.
This is on the hairdressers and beauticians website
England
Beauty and hair business, salons, barbershops, spas and mobile services in England may operate under COVID-19 guidelines.
The wearing of face coverings in these settings is mandatory from 30th November 2021.

For more information: www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-covid-19/shops-branches-and-close-contact-services

My hairdresser wears a mask and when not too cold, the door is open. I do feel unsafe when unmasked people come in, but the wearing of masks is not mandatory.
I lessen the time spent in the salon by washing and combing out my own hair, and if I feel uncomfortable, I skip the blow dry and just ask for it to be blasted dry.
It is a bit more of a problem if I need highlights, so usually have them done in the warmer months!

Well said Amalegra! Totally agree

I don't think you are being unreasonable, I have had a similar experience. I've been going to my hairdresser for years, but am looking for a new one. She doesn't believe in the vaccine and has therefore not had single dose. When I went in late Summer the salon was overcrowded with no room to distance, most people including staff were not wearing masks and there was no sanitiser. I went again in November, I went in wearing a mask only to be told that I didn't have to wear a mask (I did know this!!) I told them that I preferred to wear one. The door to the salon is always closed. I won't be going back. I have done the utmost to protect myself and don't feel comfortable going back there. A real shame as I like the way she does my hair.