Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1347398
associated-professionals.com 41 o beauty professional has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic unchanged, myself included. Having recently returned to work for a second reopening, I realize how much has changed already. The consistency and reliability of my salon operations, which I've worked for decades to achieve, have been replaced by uncertainty. While that makes me uncomfortable, I must develop new routines to handle my responsibilities as a salon owner, manager, and service provider. My priority has always been on existing clients—the individuals who month after month, year after year, support my business. Protecting their safety, doing quality work, and showing appreciation for their loyalty remains of the utmost importance. But as a new cosmetologist in this new environment, the old ways of keeping loyal clients and finding new ones won't work anymore. Both new and established beauty professionals must adapt. ADAPTING APPOINTMENTS To eliminate the time wasted in negotiation and the stress of trying to accommodate every client's desires and availability, I encourage a policy of standing appointments. Requiring reservations for appointments gives clients incentive to plan ahead. Before the pandemic hit, every summer, I'd reserve standing appointments for the following calendar year with the understanding that adjustments could be made for holidays, travel, or the unexpected. Whenever possible, my nail technicians and I would provide services simultaneously to The prohibition of simultaneous services has proven to be the biggest obstacle to resuming business as usual. This may be inconsequential in some salons, but in my salon, it changes everything. maximize resources and limit the time clients spent at the salon. Clients responded very positively to this time-saving feature, and our busy schedule reflected that. So much for planning ahead. The first closure in March 2020 made all those appointment reservations defunct. The subsequent reopening and closure in late June/early July invalidated another laborious attempt to reschedule clients. Most clients were excited to return, but some chose to wait, and others would never return. Being cautiously optimistic feels strange at this stage in my career. When I look at this year's empty calendar, I'm resisting the urge to plan ahead. In past years, the appointment schedule would already be filled to 60–75 percent of available capacity. Plans are difficult to make while I wait to see if further closures or restrictions will impact my ability to operate. ADAPTING SERVICES The prohibition of simultaneous services has proven to be the biggest obstacle to resuming business as usual. This may be inconsequential in some salons, but in my salon, it changes everything. During the first reopening, I tried staggering clients, but that exposed clients who wanted multiple services to two different service providers and made scheduling more complicated. Now we're just doing consecutive services with the same provider, which reduces the risk from interacting with multiple people, although it extends the time the client spends in the salon. Each appointment takes an additional 15 minutes to accommodate the screening, cleaning, and other COVID-specific precautions. by Jaime Schrabeck, PhD