Beverley Irving Hair Design

It's officially my last day hairdressing on Saturday before getting ready to start my PhD. It's been a rubbish end to my business to say the least and I'm really disappointed that I didn't get to see most of my clients who I have known for years. I've had some ask me if I can keep doing their hair beyond August and I have said that I will sort something out for them. Realistically.... I know I've said this cause I hate to let people down. I've been reading through the studentship paperwork and I would be breaching the T&Cs. I thought it said I could work 16hrs per week on top of the PhD, it doesn't, it's 6hrs pw including travel. I have to get permission from the doctoral college to do the work and it has to be work related to what I'm doing. That would be freelance illustration, workshops, or teaching. I can't see them agreeing to hairdressing beyond what's needed to satisfy the government furlough conditions. I'm getting away with enough as I should really have had to move to Belfast but they are making an allowance. They are paying for my tuition and my wage, I don't want to exploit that. Also, I know I'm going to be knackered with long hours and travelling so extra hairdressing is unrealistic.
I'm really sorry that I've got to say that this Saturday will definitely be my last day. I'm also sorry that I told a lot of my clients that I wasn't going back to hairdressing with the covid situation. I had to in the end but I didn't feel safe enough to have my full clientele list come to my home. It was messy trying to stay safe and meet furlough T&Cs. I hope you have all found a new hairdresser ❤️

Last minute appointments are still being held at my house and subject to T&Cs until end of day Saturday ❤️

Huge thank you to my clients for meeting me half way with my safety guidelines ❤️ I got to see my mum properly yesterday for the first time since March. Before I went back to work in July, I cut her hair for her in full PPE and we barely spoke, so it was great to finally see her after she was able to stop shielding. It's been 2 weeks since my last client so I know that I was able to sit with her safely.
The clients who have been with me for years know about my mum. They know how we are with her, how we know to stay away even if we just have a cold, with her being housebound she picks things up ridiculously easily. Colds always end up in chest infections. We're already lucky to have her here now, 2.5 years after she was convinced she wouldn't live beyond her expectancy. We know that so we are precious about her. I'm not saying all of this for any kind of sympathy. Mum will never be the one to bring up her disease. I'm saying it because it's relevant. The safety measures I have taken go beyond looking out for my health and that of my clients, it extends out to our families and to others. In a way, mum was familiar with being locked down, but she keeps stimulated by reading and by us going to see her. There's no way I would be able to have gone to sit near her if I thought there was a chance I could be infected and might pass it on. So thank you for protecting me while I was protecting you 💗

(this photo is from about 5 years ago now! 😲)

First 2 days are fully booked, availability for the following weekend.

*edit*

*I'm required to ask if there is anyone vulnerable living in your home, and if so, ask if the service necessary.

* I will need an email address to send you a receipt for the service. For my benefit really with HMRC.

***clients!*** I've been speaking to Matt about going back to work. I'm not going to open on the 4th, I'm going to give it 2 weeks to see how things pan out after the easing. I know a lot of you will have made other arrangements now, especially as I'm leaving in Aug anyway. If anyone does want me to book them in from 18th July, here are the safety measures:

* all appointments will be at my home. We will work in the back room if we can't work outside.

* please sanitise your hands when you come in.

* one client at a time.

* I will wash your hair off at the sink with my shampoo.

* bring drinks with you but I'm sorry, no toilet visits. I'm trying to keep my area to clean strictly to the back room.

* I won't be doing blow dries, even after colours and cuts. I can leave my hairdryer outside in the back for you to blast your hair off before leaving.

* it will be basic services and basic colours. Limited highlights as its advised not to linger around the front and sides of the head.

* following guidance, I will be wearing a mask and visor. If you can wear a mask, that would be great.

* all consultations will be done over messages, WhatsApp /Facebook video call.

* I know this sounds a bit 😕 but we can only talk when sat apart when the colour is processing, not when I am working around the head.

* I will need you to read and sign a disclaimer saying you understand that I have done everything I can to work safely. I will also need contact details in case they needed for track and trace.

* all payments via bank transfer before I start the service. No cash.

* prices will stay the same due to extra time, and product and PPE costs apart from cutting services which will be charged as dry cuts.

There might be things I've missed off so I might be updating this. Sorry it all sounds a bit 😕 just got to keep us safe!

See some of you soon 🤞🏻 xx

I've been looking into how I can work safely come July. I've read articles on how salons in other countries have opened and the safety measures they have taken as the UK government are yet to release any advice. The thing is, I'm looking at salons and I'm not a salon. I'll attach the articles and advice I've found from the HJ (Hairdresser's Journal) below this post. Clients are expected to book online, not to arrive early, no drinks, no magazines, no talking and they have to wear a mask. There are no blow dries in case the virus is blown around the space. There is time in between each service to clean down and sterilise equipment while using another set of equipment on the next client and having a non toxic disinfectant sprayed over the salon twice a day. Payment is taken online, no cash. Screens are put up between backwash stations. Maintenance services are available, no long colour appointments, no colour corrections and consultations done via zoom.

I've been speaking to Matt about maybe being able to do clients in my tiny front path. I live in a terraced house and my neighbours front door is less than a metre away so I would have to speak to them and get a tall plastic screen put up if they were OK with me working there. If it was raining, it would have to be done in my tiny vestibule. You would have to wear a mask, sanitise your hands, we couldn't talk, no going to the toilet, no drinks, and you couldn't wash your hair off. I would have to buy PPE and would already be using more products on regrowth so there is an extra financial cost and a loss due to time spent on cleaning. I'd only be doing basic colours. No half or full head foils, no colour changes/corrections, no lifting foils for a toner to cover as we would be in close contact for way too long. There would be no blow dries and you would have to leavewith the colour on your hair. This is a risk as I live at least 30 minutes away from most of my clients and the colours need to be washed off after 30 minutes (45 for grey). I would be sterilising equipment in between clients and cleaning down the space in between each client.
I've been asked if I could buy throw away equipment, but looking into how much I'd have to spend on PPE, sanitising products, and extra hair products, it seems like I'd be making very little money for a whole load of work and bringing a huge risk to my own home.

I'm leaning towards it not being worth it. The anxiety I'm experiencing over going back to work is another reason Matt thinks I shouldn't do it. I feel like I'm letting people down but there is no getting away from the fact that I have no control over my work space if I go to clients, I could be bringing the virus into my own home by having clients come to me, and there is no way to do someone's hair without being in their personal space.

I'll wait for government guidance but I expect that I will not be reassured enough to change my mind.

Please, no suggestions. I hope you understand.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52529820

https://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/article/hair-salons-reopening

https://www.syracuse.com/back-in-business/2020/05/no-blow-drying-wait-in-the-car-get-ready-for-a-different-hair-salon-experience-in-phase-two.html

https://www.hji.co.uk/coronavirus/hair-salons-coronavirus-safety-resource-guides/

So... I made a 15 minute video of me having a cuppa and banging on about how colour works, why you should really try to not use box dyes and why I can't sell you the stock that I use or pre-mixed dyes. I go through the hair structure structure, the chemistry of different colour types, contraindications, experience, etc. My phone has had a meltdown trying to upload it to Facebook so I've had to upload it on YouTube.
It barely scratches the surface and I hope that comes across. I've attached photos from my City and Guilds theory books to back up what I'm saying in the video. It's really not as simple as just throwing on a colour and the only reason I'm even entertaining box dyes is because of how anxiety shows itself in different ways and I don't want hair to cause extra distress. Although, if you colour your hair yourself, there's every chance you could make yourself feel worse.

https://youtu.be/vrWDQyfgVsU

Sooo... Box dyes 😩🤮🤷‍♀️
I've been speaking to my friend about suggesting box dyes to clients to get them through. She will only recommend semis and root sprays. I might live to regret this but I'm going to share some posts over the next week with information on hair structure, why some dyes won't cover grey, why sometimes a semi will work more like a permanent or just wash off, and why you should not use a box dye if you are a light blonde.
What you need to remember is companies make a LOT of money out of this. For example, L'Oréal is a massive umbrella company. It owns Matrix, Redken and Garnier. So if you spend money on a home dye, wreck your hair and have to go to a hairdresser for an expensive colour correction, there's a good chance they are making a lot of money from that service too.
I'm sorry if people are finding it difficult. I have had clients offering to provide me with PPE to come and do their hair. Gloves and masks don't cover it all. Surfaces that I put my equipment on, other family members wanting to get in the kitchen to make a cuppa while I'm working, plug sockets, taps, showers.... You're not recommended to be in close contact with anyone for more than 15 minutes. My most basic service takes double that. If I do one person's hair, how do I say no to others?
If you can refrain from dyeing your own hair please do. Everyone is in the same boat. If you can't, I'll post information so you can make an informed decision but I will not be responsible or liable for anything that goes wrong or if someone doesn't carry out their own skin test ❤️

Hello ladies! I've had messages about the 4th July. I'm not going to be taking any appointments yet. I think it's irresponsible for dates in July to be given as we don't know how the R rate is going to be affected by people going back to work and some children going back to school. It's also a bit mad that people can go to work with others but can't meet in their personal time, and, you can't have people in your home. I work in people's homes. Not all hairdressers work in salons... It's almost like they don't know what they're saying/not saying/recommending /not recommending/implementing /not implementing 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️ So no change here as yet.

Hello ladies. As some of you may know, I've been awarded a studentship for my PhD at Belfast School of Art. I'll be starting full time in September and although I'm not moving, I will have to be there a lot due to the nature of the research. I'm expecting to be working over 40/50 hrs a week and travel on top. It's not going to be realistic to be hairdressing too so I will be closing shop the end of August.
The funding body is investing a lot of money in my project and what this Covid-19 situation has shown me is that at the moment, I am completely financially unstable. I need to future proof myself and be dedicated to this opportunity 100% for my own future.
Even as lockdown begins to lift, I don't know when I will feel safe to work. What's the chances of me being able to source full PPE to go into each home? I don't want to catch it and I definitely don't want to be spreading it around. I don't have the control of cleaning down all surfaces and equipment in the homes I go into and I'm not wanting to invite anyone into my home. It's too risky.
So, what this means is 🤷‍♀️ There is a chance I might be able to do hair before the end of August, but right now I don't know. I do know that I will be ceasing to trade on Saturday 30th August. If I can get your hair done for you, I will. I would like to see you all before I finish! I've known many of you for years and years. I appreciate your loyalty and friendship over the years, but I care about all of our health more ❤️ I'll be in touch if I can start to take appointments soon.

Sorry for the radio silence ladies. It's been quite a lot to take in, hasn't it? Has anyone else felt like they've needed more sleep? I have. Elvis has, look at him! Probably cause it's been mentally exhausting.
Anyhoo... I hope everyone is well and safe and staying inside? Boredom is a small price to pay for the health of others, our friends and family, and ourselves.
With the way everyone's roots are going to grow, no one will want to go out anyway 🤣🤣🤣
Sending love to all the NHS front line staff who must be scared stiff going to work 😔

See you all soon. Lots of love ❤️

***APPOINTMENTS CANCELLED*** Apologies to all my clients for the inconvenience but health is more important. I'm following government advice and will be social distancing from today until the foreseeable. Please take this as appointments are cancelled until the situation has changed. It's not safe for me to be going in to people's homes. Not safe for me and not safe for my vulnerable clients. I hope everyone understands.
Also, please follow reputable advice. Be critical of advice shared via social media.

Sending love to workers who are not yet given permission to stop working and the self employed who are not able to stop 😔

I'm asking again that any of my clients who are experiencing any (mild) symptoms to please cancel or not book any appointments. I've cancelled my most vulnerable clients today as I have visited a client who had experienced symptoms three days before and it would be irresponsible of me to not tell them. I have vulnerable clients, a vulnerable parent and I have asthma. What may be mild for you, may not be for others.even if it's not Coronavirus. Please consider this before booking. Thank you ❤️