Salons, barber shops hit hard as clients keep away

Vikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 25

Barber shops and beauty salons have been severely affected after rules were relaxed in the ongoing lockdown. Post relaxation in the rules, the salons and barber shops expected their business to shoot up on opening, but the situation has been contrary as a very few people are turning up for haircut or other salon-related work.

“After the rules were relaxed, we hoped that we would get business, but people are still keeping away and not coming for haircut due to the fear of contracting Covid infection,” said Bodh Raj, a barber at Kachhi Chawni .

Meenakshi Gupta, who runs a beauty salon at Rehari Chungi, also gave a similar statement.

“I used to get six to seven appointments daily at my salon before the coronavirus pandemic. But after the relaxation in the lockdown, no one has come to visit the salon so far,” she said.

People say that can do without a haircut and beauty treatment as they don’t have to move out of their house, but they cannot afford to contract Covid infection as these places are frequented by people regularly.

“Besides, it is difficult to sterilise or sanitise appliances such as scissors, razors and other instruments used by salons and barbers shop frequently. Same appliances are used for all persons, so we cannot take risk,” said Vinay Sharma, a resident of Kachhi Chawni.