How the hair industry can help the nhs during coronavirus

There are many ways the hair industry can help the NHS during the recent outbreak of coronavirus. For example, the NHS is desperately short of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers, so the hair industry can help the NHS by donating unused masks and gloves to hospitals for frontline staff. The NHS strategic incident director Professor Keith Willett has written to health bosses to explain that additional PPE is being distributed, with 2.6 million face masks and 10,000 hand sanitisers sent to NHS Trusts last Thursday, however the risk of a shortage is especially important given the virus’s expected upcoming peak. Professional Beauty Group, which includes Hairdressers Journal International, Professional Beauty, Modern Barber and Aesthetic Medicine is urging the hair, barber, beauty, spa and aesthetics communities to come together to help. Many hair salon owners, clinic owners and suppliers are already donating their spare masks and gloves to the NHS to help protect the lives of those who are working and being treated at hospitals and you can too. Below, we’ve compiled a guide on what your business can donate to the NHS during this challenging time:

What personal and protective equipment does the NHS need?

• Fluid-repellent surgical masks
• Disposable gloves
• Alcohol hand rub and sanitisers
• Protective eye wear
• Long-sleeved plastic aprons
• Plastic shoe covers
• Disposable hygienic bags and boxes

How to donate PEE equipment to the NHS?

Depending on where you are based, there are lots of ways you can safely drop off equipment to benefit the NHS. Hair salons and barbershops based anywhere in the UK are advised to donate PPE to their local NHS Trust. You can arrange a drop off by contacting the emergency planning officer at your local NHS Trust, details of which can be found on each individual NHS Trust website. Here are just a few examples: Central London Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells Bridgewater West Hertfordshire Shrewsbury & Telford Please do share the contact details of your local hospitals and we will add them to this list so salons close to you can also help them. We'd also love to know what you and your salon teams as well as hair brands are doing to help.

How else can hair salons helping the NHS during coronavirus?

Personal protective equipment is just one way hair salons and barbershops can help the NHS during the outbreak. There are plenty of other ways the industry, including professional hair brands can help during these challenging times. Here are just some of the ways hair salons, barbershops and professional hair brands are already helping NHS staff.

Take part in National Hair Sunday for the NHS

Royston Blythe is calling on all salons and hairdressers to sign-up to a National Hair Sunday. The aim is to give something back to the incredible frontline NHS workers so as soon as the lockdown is over you can join salons up and down the country by offering free hairdressing to NHS staff on the first Sunday that salons are allowed to  re-open. Go to nationalhairsunday.co.uk to sign-up. Offering NHS gift vouchers

Offer gift vouchers for NHS workers

Barrie Stephen Hair is giving out vouchers to NHS workers as a thank you for their tireless work during the Coronavirus pandemic. The initiative means all NHS staff are welcome to claim a £20 voucher to use at any of the five Barrie Stephen Hair  salons across Leicestershire until the 30^th November 2020. Barrie Stephen, owner at Barrie Stephen Hair said: “It is an incredibly scary and uncertain time for everyone, from individuals to businesses alike. But we cannot ignore the unwavering commitment and care shown by our NHS staff." 

Offer a full pampering makeover to a NHS or key worker

Ken Picton Salon is giving away a full pampering makeover to one lucky recipient, via a social media giveaway. The salon is asking followers to nominate an NHS or key worker who is deserving of some TLC with one winner being rewarded with a luxurious pamper at the salon once salons are open again. Ken Picton, owner at Ken Picton Salon said: "These are testing times for us all and no-one is doing more for the community than the NHS frontline staff and key workers who are out there every day keeping Cardiff running. As a salon, we pride ourselves on our close-knit relationship with our clients and know that we have many members of the community that are still working hard. The least we can do to say thank you is offer a full on pampering session in the salon once we’re back open. We also want to say thank you to our loyal clients for staying supportive and connected during lockdown, which is why we’re also offering two £50 vouchers to someone who can’t wait to be back in the salon.”

Provide free barbershop haircuts to NHS staff

Hairforce1 Training Academy, which has a group of barbershops and a training academy in Essex is launching a scheme to offer free haircuts to all NHS staff at its Romford branch once it re-opens again. Director and lead educator Anderson Boyce said: "We appreciate that this doesn't even scratch the surface in terms of paying back the debt we all owe you. In my opinion, I dont think that debt can be paid. This is just a small token of our appreciation and our way of saying thank you for your service."

How are hair brands helping the NHS during coronavirus?

A number of professional hair brands are donating healthcare equipment, products and switching-up production lines to help the healthcare system and key medical workers during the coronavirus crisis.

Crazy Color Creates Exclusive Hand Moisturiser for the NHS

Professional colour brand Crazy Color has switched protection to hand moisturiser to gift NHS staff during the coronavirus pandemic. The brand has donated 60,000 free hand moisturisers in appreciation to the huge efforts made by the NHS. Crazy Color ambassador Sophia Hilton says: "This week I had 1,000 bottles dropped off to the hospital where my baby was born, Homerton Hospital, thanks to Crazy Color.... Thank you so much @crazycolorltd you guys are awesome."

Wella Professionals Donates gloves, shampoos and conditioners to the NHS

Wella Professionals is donating 110,000 pairs of gloves to help the healthcare systems within the UK and Ireland. Wella Professionals parent company Coty Professional has also gathered 7,300 shampoos and and conditioners from its Wella Care, Nioxin, System Professional, Sebastian Professional, Sassoon and Kadus Professional brands to support staff working in hospitals. Coty Professional beauty general manager Nick van Holstein said: "We are so grateful to all the doctors, nurses and medical teams out there who are helping fight this awful pandemic. We want to help however we can, and this is a small gesture from Wella Professionals to show our love and support."

Denman switches production to NHS protective visors

Denman International's sister company Denroy has switched much of its production to producing the Hero Shield, which is a visor designed to protect healthcare workers from coronavirus when treating infected patients. The company is assembling the Hero Shield and will be shipping it to hospitals and clinics in the UK and around the world. Denroy managing director John Irwin said: "I am very proud of our team and want to thank them for their ongoing efforts during this outbreak. By helping provide the Hero Shields the Denroy team is making a worthy contribution to helping fight this terrible virus and support the NHS."

Paul Mitchell switches production to hand sanitisers

John Paul Mitchell Systems, maker of professional hair care products, including Paul Mitchell is producing hand sanitiser to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. The company is moving forward to manufacture more than 20,000 units of an 80% alcohol spray formula, which will will be donated to high-need groups who are facing shortages in the US. John Paul Mitchell Systems Michaeline Dejoria said: "The health and safety of our community is our first priority, especially those on the frontlines working to keep us all safe. We saw this as an opportunity to use our resources to help fill a crucial need during a time of crisis."