The government regulations around salons and hairdressers have prompted some to temporarily close in fear of the safety of their staff and clients.
Current regulations mean only one person is allowed in the salon for every four square metres, a measure that was put in place after the government moved away from their initial 30 minute appointment limit.
In Sydney, hair salon Extra Silky voluntarily shut its doors last week, but that didn’t mean an end to their connection with clients. Straight away, they began making short DIY how-to videos. The first few have included instructions on cutting your fringe at home - long been held as a big no-no - as well as hair curling and smoothing.
Owner Nina Ratsaphong told The Feed after such a tumultuous week with restrictions for hairdressers changing every few days, they felt they couldn’t continue how they were working.
“I just didn't see it right to stay open, due to how closely we work with our customers,” she told The Feed.
Extra Silky has followed a trend that’s seen an emergence of beauty and salon workers taking to social media to share DIY tips. Ratsaphong says she wanted to be involved in the hair journeys of her clients, especially during this tough time.
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“I think it's important to me so that I can stay connected with people,” she said.
“As well as offer a service in a fun and exciting way that people can utilise because they have a bit of time on their hands.”
Extra Silky want to make sure they can serve all their customers.
“I'm trying to keep it as easy as possible and things that you can definitely do yourself,” she said.
“Because I for one, even though I'm a hairdresser, I'm not amazing at doing my own hair.”
“It's a really shitty time and people still want to feel good.”
Founder and lead colourist Jaye Edward of Sydney salon EdwardsandCo decided to create an IGTV series called ‘The Lockdown' when they decided to close for the shutdown period.
They had 15,000 views on their first episode on hair colouring, and 19,000 for an updo tutorial. They plan to cover DIY hair extension removals and better home hair washing.
Edwards sees the decision to close at this time as an opportunity.
“I mean, now is really the perfect time for businesses to adapt and be flexible and to pivot to what they're currently doing,” Edwards told The Feed.
“All I wanted to do is ensure my staff and my clients felt supported and safe. And then the purpose of it was just to create tips and tricks for people at home maintaining their hair.”
The coronavirus pandemic has had an impact on Edwards. He says he’s probably cried every day for a week. He believes now more than ever in the value of teaching accessible skills.
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“Even just having the sheer knowledge on how to do a basic colour application on yourself, that makes you feel accomplished. It makes you like: fuck, I've got these videos on, I can do it,” he said.
“I know people might think it's just hair, or it's so trivial but actually, like, people still have to work.
“And it's a really shitty time and people still want to feel good.”
“We don't think about our self worth. So I think this is a really important time. If you can feel a little bit better, more confident about what you do, your day actually changes.”
Rae Morris is a renowned make-up artist and educator, and decided to begin a makeup boot camp on Instagram last Sunday. The first cab off the rank was an eyeliner tutorial. She told The Feed the make-up world is “smothered” with so much information that it can be confusing to know where to start.
“You go on Instagram, they show you how to do their eyeliner,” she told The Feed.
“But eyeliner can actually make your eyes look really aging, it can make them droopy.”
As an educator, Morris teaches how to demystify make-up and give users the confidence in their own judgement. She says she’s imparting the same skills makeup artists around the world use, but are rarely taught.
“I'm using these little boot camps to give women power. So that they just don't get swept up with beautiful eyeshadow,” she said.
She recalls being in a seminar with 500 women, and asked for womento put their hands up if they were confident about their make-up routine.
“I rarely see one hand go up,” she said.
“It's something that women do...it's like cleaning your teeth for some women, they do it daily. But they don't always understand why or how they do it.”
For Morris, fear and insecurity comes from the complication of the process and once that is taken away so do the questions like: does that suit me or does this look okay? In their place, come better judgement, and self-esteem.
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“Remember, women still go to professional makeup artists, to put makeup on for something they do every single day,” she said.
“And I want women to own that and do it themselves and be more self reliable. Don't get ripped off by a product. Don't buy something that doesn't fit your skin tone.
“We don't think about our self worth. So I think this is a really important time. If you can feel a little bit better, more confident about what you do, your day actually changes.”
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
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