Can "recession-proof" salon business survive the coronavirus pandemic?

At a time when touching one's own face is advised against, it won't be surprising if patrons skip their monthly facial sessions.

The manicure, pedicure sessions will also take a hit, and nail studios could remain empty for a long time.

In fact, the salons, which function from congested set-ups, will find it difficult to retain even the existing customers.

In the third phase of coronavirus-induced lockdown, the government allowed salons to open in green and orange zones, and soon mask-wearing stylists were spotted giving hair cuts.

But the fear around hygiene remains. This will affect independent shops more than the bigger chains.

Notably, salon businesses started taking a hit from March's first week, much before the country was forced to live under restrictions.

The damage caused by COVID-19 can be judged by the statement of Dhiraj Kumar, who owns D Triple One Hair, Beauty & Spa in Goregaon, Mumbai.

He told Moneycontrol that in the heydays he earned Rs. 4,000-5,000 per day by servicing 10-15 clients.

"However, March onwards (before the lockdown), the number of clients came down to as low as one or two," he said.

Similarly, Jessi, who owns a parlor in Chennai, told she effortlessly got 2-3 bridal appointments per month, but with COVID-19 that changed.

"Customer psychology is unpredictable. So, even after the lockdown, I am not sure how many people will take up beauty services," Jessi added.

And Uma Devi, who provides services at home, stopped receiving bookings from February itself.

In Chandigarh, a large chunk of salon employees didn't get salaries for April while the owners are struggling to pay rent.

Richa Agarwal, the owner of Cleopatra, which has seven outlets, said she incurred losses of Rs. 10 lakh.

"We pay heavy rents, and even if salons open by June, people may not come due to the COVID-19 fear," she told The Tribune.

Reflecting the same sentiment, Pushkaraj Shenai, CEO, Lakme Lever, said, "For an industry that is based on human interaction and touch, salons have been greatly affected."

However, Sam Paul, the Chairman and Managing Director of TONI&GUY chain in India, said people will visit salons as they can't keep chopping hair inside homes.

He told News18 the uncertainty would be there till September.

Meanwhile, Munuswamy, Tamil Nadu Barber Workers Association President, agreed that smaller salons will be subject to more scrutiny. But they too are capable of maintaining high hygiene standards. The smaller businesses might not lose to bigger brands, he predicted.

"Our customers are like our friends. We have a rapport with them so they are used to coming to us," he told News18.

The lull in business isn't just restricted to India. In the US, the country worst-affected by the pandemic, thousands of salon employees have filed for unemployment benefits.

In Colorado, some salons opened after nearly 50 days with the owners taking extra precautions to ensure it stays that way.

Walk-ins weren't allowed and before letting a patron inside, receptionists screened them.

Mindy Bodley, the owner of one salon, told NYT, masks have been made mandatory, stylists are required to don rubber gloves, the seating area has been done away with, the interiors have been changed to ensure a minimum of a six-feet distance between customers, and everything is disinfected often.

These measures would have been perceived as unnecessary earlier but have become new normal now.