With salons across the country reopened for just over a month, the transformative power of a good haircut has never been clearer. Though the process may differ slightly, the end result is the same, if not better – distance, social or otherwise, does make the heart grow fonder after all.
For salons like Element Lifestyle, the new government mandated measures have been taken in their stride. From the introduction of masks, both on staff and customers, to the liberal application of hand sanitiser across the board, one cannot help but feel that the matter is entirely in hand.
Element Lifestyle are not alone in adopting these new measures. Across the country, the days of perusing the latest copy of Vogue while awaiting a quick trim are over, replaced instead with a plastic screen and disposable gowns. PPE, commonly reserved for medical professionals and particularly sought after at the beginning of the pandemic, has found another consumer base, with many hairdressers plumping for a visor instead of a mask.
For Barbara Khattri, the importance of feeling great cannot be understated. An expert in classic cutting, as well as up dos, her continued focus on training and the personal development of her staff continues in spite of the pandemic.
Khattri works to the needs of a range of clients, providing both haircuts and extensions, both of which have been in great demand since salons reopened across the country. As the salon’s founder, she understands the importance of leadership more than most, overseeing a team of some 15 members.
For Khattri the most important thing to remember as the world slowly returns to some semblance of normality is to stay safe, and to stay positive. Both her words and her work can inform leaders across the country.