It was all systems go for the only hair salon in Liberty Promenade mall, following the easing of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
Staff at Salon Eve and Steve were in for a surprise when Premier Alan Winde stopped by at the mall on Wednesday June 24.
Moegamat Amien Hare, 28, of Morgens Village, said Mr Winde had entered the shop and had walked straight to him.
“I did not have much time to prepare, but I was ready to serve any customer,” he said.
Mr Hare said he had completed various online Barbicide courses during the lockdown to be ready to work with clients during the pandemic.
Certificates on the mirror at his workstation say he has been trained in sanitation and disinfection practices “consistent with the highest industry standards” and has “Barbicide Covid-19 certification”.
Mr Hare said: “This will benefit us in the future to keep us safe.”
He treated Mr Winde to a “sleek back” – short at the back on the sides.
Mr Winde said it was his first professional haircut since the start of lockdown on Friday March 27. During that time his wife, Tracy, had trimmed his hair once.
Mr Winde has been in quarantine twice during the lockdown after having had contact with people infected with Covid-19.
He said he had visited the mall to see how small businesses were managing after being closed for two months under lockdown
“People are definitely feeling the strain because they haven’t been able to earn a living,” he said. “People haven’t been able to put food on their table. At least now it’s a new norm.
“It is going to be more costly because they’ve got to have cleansing, social distancing and you can’t have too many people in the shop at once.”
Mr Winde said he had let Mr Hare decide how to cut his hair, and he was glad he had had it cut in Mitchell’s Plain.
Receptionist Tashney Arendse pointed out the register at the door where clients list their contact details in case there is a Covid-19 contact. They must also have their temperatures checked and hands sanitised. And everyone must wear a mask.
Apart from hairdressers, other personal-ca re services that can now resume business include nail bars, beauty salons, massage facilities and tattoo and body-piercing parlours. They have to comply with all the standard Covid-19 precautions, including hand washing, physical distancing, the wearing of masks and disinfection of surfaces and equipment.