I am Isabel McRobbie – Owner of The Wax Factor – a home business since 2009. I’m super busy with many loyal clients who have become friends. Over the last 11 years I have built up a thriving business based on hard work and dedication to providing an excellent personal service.

On 22^nd March I felt like Alice going down the rabbit hole when I closed my business – to say I was devasted was an understatement. However I recognised that the health of my clients, my family and myself was paramount.

 I have a Salon insurance policy with business disruption cover included  but it appears the insurers are unwilling to pay.

 Mr Rishi Sunak gave me hope til I found out I didn’t qualify for government assistance because my (non-related) part time job took me over the 50% of month’s earnings threshold making me ineligible for any government assistance – no furlough scheme, small business grants or bounce back loans for me. Since lockdown I have survived on savings which are now depleted. 

Hairdressers have now been told they can return on 15^th July – if this is scientifically based can you please provide me the evidence? I do not remember any hairdressers with long enough arms to be over a meter away from me and still cut hair. So why no mention of the beauty industry? Beauty salons have extremely high hygiene factors -higher in fact than hairdressers. For example, my premises have been inspected by the local council as I have a skin piercing license.  In fact I would argue that because I am a home salon (one in and one out) my footfall is lower and therefore hygiene is much more manageable. 

I would be absolutely delighted for you to visit my salon socially distancing or virtually and would be happy to go through the hygiene routine we have always had in place for contact with clients– I am always gloved up. Pre-covid I always put on a mask if I had a cold and I clean and disinfect the work area in between appointments. I can easily adapt to any new protocols. My clients can wear masks through most treatments and very often treatments are often not face to face i.e. leg waxing.  If some treatments could create more of a risk, surely it is better to suspend those treatments rather than keep salons closed. (Eg when restaurants open they can’t do buffets but can still operate).

Just now I sit and wait for someone to decide my businesses fate. Or maybe I could show you first-hand how this home salon operates? You would then see that I am a lesser threat of infection than the local barber.

However the stark reality is that if we are not open soon I will not be able to reopen my salon. Although  overheads are smaller than a separate business premises, they are still there. With a young family to bring up I have to put them first and try to find some other income.

The simple question is, how do the services I provide (with the appropriate protocols) form a higher risk to health than a hairdresser? And when can I welcome back my clients?

Isabel McRobbie