Mumbai: For some Covidiots, beauty regimes can’t wait!

Although the state government is yet to relax Covid19 related restrictions amid an abating second wave some businesses seem to have started operating When the state imposed restrictions amid the second wave of Covid19 on April 5 salon services were stalled However outlets of at least two chains seem to be offering services discreetlyA confirmation sent to a customer by the Hill Road outlet of Enrich SalonLast week three women availed a Borivli branchrsquos services One of them who did not wish to be named said ldquoThe salon is being really safe and following all guidelines They are careful with customers It was a risk we didnrsquot mind takingrdquoAlso Read Mumbai records 1037 Covid19 cases doubling rate at 345 daysA woman in Powai had a different experience After she was caught availing services at a Powai branch she and the branch were penalised heavily by the police Another customer took a phone booking for their Hill Road branch for May 25 She on condition of anonymity told midday ldquoI heard of this and first called the Santacruz branch They told me they are providing home services but not taking insalon bookings But then I rang up the Hill Road branch The lady on the phone informed me that I can drop by and avail of their insalon services She requested me to not tell others about it I was sent a booking confirmation on text as well I would have taken it up but both customers and salons need to be responsible I didnrsquot want to be complicit in the matterrdquo The woman shared the confirmation slip and a phone recording with an employee from Enrichrsquos Hill Road outlet The employee confirmed that salon services are availableWhat about other areasThis reporter made calls to Four Bungalows Lokhandwala and Adarsh Nagar outlets of Enrich Salon all of whom promised home services An employee at the Four Bungalows branch told midday ldquoWe keep hearing about employees at other salons losing their jobs The salons were shut from March till October last year It has been economically straining for all of us We just want to make some money and right now thatrsquos on our minds more than our health and the possibility of contracting Covid19rdquo She also said that a few branches in the chain have also made fresh hirings in the last few months to continue home services while competing brands Lakme and Urban Clap have kept their services on hold since early April midday reached out to the communications team of Enrich Salons for a comment There was no official response until the time of going to pressAnother hairdressing salon chain told midday that their Tardeo outlet is allowing clients by appointment Representation picAppointments 24 hrs beforeIn the case of another hairdressing salon chain Toni amp Guy all their branches are shut but the one in Tardeo is providing services by appointment When this reporter called the branch posing as customer a professional on the line said ldquoWe are opening the branch only for customers with appointments which we are taking 24 hours in advance The other branches across the city are currently shutrdquoMany standalone salons across the city are offering behindthedoors services to customers reaching out to themApril 5Day stringent Covid19 related curbs began in the state