Our salons want to see an increase in revenue and growing possibilities to push the bar higher. However, many hair industry folks are struggling to gain their footing while working through covid-19 hurdles.
Regardless of your stance on masks or vaccines, here is what salon owners need to know. With the covid-19 vaccine available to the public, many cities lifted their mandatory mask policies months ago. As a result, many cities are no longer required to wear a mask during familiar summer activities such as vacationing, wedding celebrations, and taking the kids to get "back to school" haircuts.
I think it is safe to say that we all were greatly impacted by Covid-19, but businesses were hit even harder. Covid-19 started affecting us all in March of 2020, and for many, life has seemed to return to normal; we don't need to wear masks everywhere we go, we can get our hair and nails done, and we can even go out to clubs and bars again.
Hair clinics everywhere are struggling to meet the demand for hair commodities. With delivery delays stretching back for months, salons are wondering what they have to offer. If there's no hair to apply, what else can clients expect from us? The Hair Society discussion panel all agreed this is an awkward situation for our industry. Hair system clients cannot obtain new units as frequently, and we've exhausted all possible alternatives.
I think that we can all say, without a doubt that COVID-19 has caused many of us some major stress over these last few months, but to what extent? The stress has not only been affecting our mental health but our physical health too. A common issue people are seeing in their day to day life is stress-related hair loss.
At the beginning of 2020, a few salons were seeing increased revenue in comparison to 2019. One hair salon reported, "We were up 25%. And then we were shut down for six weeks.". The pandemic has not only made local impacts, but it also hit us all globally. It is important to remember the repercussions of covid-19 are happening worldwide, not just in our communities. From lockdowns to border closures, the coronavirus has disrupted the system of trade for goods and services in the hair industry around the globe.
As Covid-19 continues to sweep our nation, researchers have been able to monitor and learn from the various symptoms of the virus. Recent developments indicate that in addition to any hair loss from the stress that comes with living through a pandemic, hair loss may also be an additional side effect from the virus itself.
It's safe to say that we are all beyond ready to finish the 2020 year. This year has brought new challenges and overwhelming changes. Soon, we will all close the door in 2020 and welcome the new year of 2021. What does that mean for your hair business? What does that mean for our industry?
As the covid-19 virus continues to spread, and cases are on the rise, salons, spas, and clinics everywhere are tackling many unanswered questions.
