Pune: Salons reopen with 50 per cent rate hike

Pune: After the relaxations are given by the state government, salons and beauty parlours in the city have reopened from today, but salon professionals have hiked their rates by 50 per cent citing the extra expenses incurred due to the norms to be followed for sanitisation and single-use materials.

As per the guidelines issued by the state government and Pune Municipal Corporation, the salon shops will be open from 9 am to 5 pm every day. The employees at the shop will have to wear gloves, aprons, mask and have to keep hand sanitiser available. After every service, the customer seat will have to be sanitised. Sanitisation of the entire shop after every two hours is mandatory. Use and throw type napkins and towels should be used and after every service, the equipment used should be sanitised. Also, the shop owners or operators should call customers by appointment only.

Amit Shinde, Owner of Famous Mens Parlour in Sadashiv Peth said, "I have sanitised the entire shop before reopening it for customers. Every customer will have to use hand sanitiser before entering the shop. I am using use-and-throw type aprons. The comb, scissors and other equipment used will be sanitised before using it for any customer. Considering the extra expenses for following these norms, I have hiked the rates for hair cutting to Rs 180 from earlier Rs 120."

Parag Saidane, Owner of Welcome Salon in Narayan Peth said, "We are excited to reopen our shop after a gap of so many days, but we won't compromise on customers and our own safety. We have to increase our charges by 50 per cent to make sanitisation arrangements in the shop."

Barbershops, salons and beauty parlours will only be permitted to provide services such as haircuts, dyeing hair, threading and waxing. Any services related to the skin will not be allowed. Employees at the shop must wear gloves and masks. The shop, including chairs, must be sanitised after each service. All area and the floor must be sanitised after two hours.