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We are living in perilous times where touching your face is frowned on We wake up and fall asleep reminded of social distancing selfquarantine and flattening the curve How do personal groomers makeup artists and hair stylists cut out physical contact from their workdayWhen Savio John Pereira shuttered his salons at Bandra West and BKC on March 17 as a precautionary measure the decision was not without trepidation That he was the first among Mumbais salon owners to take the call was a concern as was the high rent and staff salaries We get 50 walkins every day and more now since students are on college break I didnt know if I should be putting my clients and employees at risk he says Pereira is undecided when he will reopen but in the interim he will retain his staff of 54 on pay roll Everyone has bills to paySana Shafi Shaikh salon owner and makeup artist Samir Srivastav CEO Jean Claude Biguine Salon amp Spa IndiaA day later Sapna Bhavnani closed Mad O Wot Pali Nakas popular salon They will remain shut until further notice Health is more important than business It coronavirus is like an Armageddon that has hit us she says We had started getting a lot of clients from Dubai Despite using masks gloves and hand sanitisers and disinfecting our tools and workstations after each haircut I didnt wish to put my staff at risk Bhavnani works with a team of seven and although her stylists work on commission she is responsible for footing the rent of the 500 sq ft property She speaks of how the French government is supporting companies by ensuring the staff gets wages Here small businesses like mine run without backing she says emphaticallyPushkaraj Shenai CEO Lakmeacute Lever Savio John Pereira salon ownerShivarama Bhandary runs 18 salons between Walkeshwar and Thane supporting a staff of 300plus Three properties are selfowned while the rest are rented The personal stylist to the Thackeray clan including the chief minister and former CM Devendra Fadnavis wife Amruta Bhandary of Shivas Salon admits he is worried about his businessThe larger beauty businesses like Lakmeacute a beauty products and services brand and Jean Claude Biguine JCB which is a global beauty chain have made the use of masks gloves and hand sanitisers mandatory The list gets longer with extra attention being paid to disinfecting hairbrushes clippers and scissors The regimen also includes deep cleaning the interiors including door and cupboard knobs nail care and haircut stations spa cabins washbasins and bathrooms at regular intervals through the dayClint Fernandes makeup artist Smita Lasrado cofounder FeatArtists talent managementAs the challenges mount Lakmeacute India the countrys first cosmetic brand has got its employees to use spatulas to apply products and not use their fingers Sanitation standards for our products and tools have and will continue to be top priority We have temporarily suspended all product tester demonstrations and makeovers at our counters reads the official statementElton Fernandez makeup artist Pic Anjana Rajan InegaLakmeacute Salon has suspended threading services across its 485plus branches in India and for the moment stopped the use of mascara lip pencils liquid liner and kajal because these cannot be sterilised For customers willing to avail of their services the salon is offering a 30 per cent discount in Mumbai as part of their Happy Hours campaign Monday to Thursday 9 am and 3 pm We are monitoring the situation closely following the guidelines recommended by the government and health officials said Pushkaraj Shenai CEO Lakmeacute Lever The salon has rolled out selfdeclaration forms making it compulsory for clients to disclose their health history of 14 days prior to the visitThe barber at a roadside shop goes about the days work but with a mask Pic Shadab KhanJCB too is requesting client travel history across its 14 branches in Mumbai four in Bengaluru and two in Pune A move such as this has never been implemented at salons so we have to introduce it politely but firmly If the client has travelled to any of the 13 restricted countries we would have to refuse services politely says Samir Srivastav CEOJean Claude Biguine Salon amp SpaIndiaSana Shafi Shaikh owner of Trends by Sana a budget salon in Dadar says she is surprised by the widespread ignorance of clients towards safety We are providing all customers with a mask and hand sanitiser but so many of them ignore our instructions They dont realise whats at stake says Shaikh who is also an independent makeup and hair artiste She has suspended personal makeup services temporarily Shaikh charges anywhere from Rs15000 for bridal to R5500 for party hair and makeup The decision has meant a loss of business but the contents of her vanity case costs way more I cant take the risk of contaminating my products The other day I had an urgent request from a client who wanted a 60s look for a birthday party I made an exception but on the condition that she brings her own makeup including eyelinerWe represent makeup artists Mitesh Rajani and Kritika Gill and hairstylist Sonam Singh who work mostly on fashion editorials ads and Bollywood movies We are not taking on any projects for the moment says Smita Lasrado cofounder FeatArtists talent managementI have chosen not to work and selfisolate at home for a month saysElton Fernandez makeup artistSafeguarding your makeup essentialsDont share your beauty products dont use your sisters eye pencil lipstick brushes and applicators This is a rule to follow now and for all timeRegularly wash your applicators sponges and brushes in hot water mixed with DettolDisinfect your lipsticks and tubes eye pencils mascara by using highalcohol based wipes before and after every use Dont ignore the outside packagingIts best to stay away from makeup altogether for a while but you can moisturise and use sunscreenAsk your salonFind out how often they disinfect the spacesDemand that stylists and technicians wear masks and gloves and you do tooInsist on them giving guests hand sanitisers once they enter the salonCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates