Some hairdressers have been caught defying government guidelines as councils received reports of hairdressers without the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Hairdressers and barbers are instructed to wear a visor when servicing clients due to their proximity to a person’s face, mouth, and nose, as part of government guidelines.

But since receiving the greenlight in reopening on July 4, local councils received just 15 complaints about hairdressers and barbers not following the rules.

The environmental health teams for Watford, Three Rivers and Hertsmere stressed that businesses in their areas have been mainly compliant, despite the few reports.

The government produced a 43-page document before the reopening date to offer advice for any hospitality close-contact services including hairdressers and beauty salons.

Practitioners are advised to wear clear visors which must be regularly sanitised, with other social distancing measures in place such as spaced-out bookings.

Here is a breakdown of how many complaints were made to specific councils.

Watford

Six complaints were made about hairdressers and barbers in Watford not following the correct guidelines.

Cllr Karen Collett, deputy mayor at Watford Borough Council and portfolio holder for community, said: “Our environmental health team has been proactive in giving guidance and advice to all hairdressers and barbers in Watford in advance of reopening.

“Our local businesses have done very well at implementing new ways of working and from the spot checks we’ve carried out, compliance has been excellent overall.

“A small number of complaints were received – 6 in total – these have been followed up and businesses have taken the necessary actions to comply with best practice guidance.

“To report concerns you can contact envhealth@watford.gov.uk and advice for businesses is available at www.watford.gov.uk/coronavirus.”

Three Rivers

Watford Borough Council provides the commercial environmental health service for Three Rivers District Council.

According to the district council, all hairdressers and barbers in Three Rivers were contacted before reopening with guidance and advice.

The council received just three complaints in the area about hairdressers and barbers defying rules.

A spokesperson said: “A number of check visits have been undertaken and on the whole compliance has been excellent, businesses have done very well at implementing the new way of working.

“We have had three complaints in Three Rivers, and these have been followed up. Where businesses need to make adjustments, they have done so.

“If you have concerns you can contact envhealth@watford.gov.uk and business advice is available at https://www.watford.gov.uk/coronavirus.”

Hertsmere

In Hertsmere, the environmental health team received six complaints about hairdressers and barbers not following rules.

A spokesperson said: “Our Environmental Health team contacted all hairdressers and barbers through targeted mail prior to their reopening.

"This gave advice on opening in a Covid-19 safe way, as well as links to additional national and local information and support. We also ran a number of free Webinars and officers continue to be available to answer enquiries from across the trade.

“To date we have received six complaints about hairdressers and barbers in Hertsmere. Our officers have contacted each of the premises to provide additional practical advice of working safely within the latest guidelines.”