Sierra
Leone: COVID-19’s Effects on The Salon Industry
The
COVID-19 pandemic has upended the hairstyling industry, forcing salons to close
or limit capacity under public-health orders and resulting in a major economic
impact on the thousands of people who work in the sector. This
has been devastating for hairdressers in Sierra Leone because of the nature of
their job-touching people-a thing that obviously can’t be done from a six-foot
social distancing setup.
Since Sierra Leone recorded its first case of
coronavirus on 31st March 2020, there has been livelihood challenges
for hairdresser because of the restrictions instituted by the Government including
lockdowns and curfews. Some people even preferred staying away from salons for
fear of contracting the disease.
Miata is a hairdresser at Sackville Street. She said since
the outbreak of coronavirus in Sierra Leone, business hasn't been the same. She
added that there has been a drastic loss in customers.
“Sometimes I come to work and no one is there to do
their hair because people are afraid to contract the virus”, she said, adding:
“The lockdown that was implemented by the government of Sierra Leone was very
challenging for me; this business has been my only source of revenue to take
care of myself and children”
"Before the lockdown, I used to make between Le 250,000
to 500,000 everyday, but now, it is very difficult to have Le 50,000 daily.
Miatta is a single mother of 2 who lost her husband in 2015.
"Since the death of my husband I have been the
only one taking care of my children”. She concluded that despite all these
challenges, she is grateful to God and happy that things are going back to
normalcy.
Cecilia, Owner of Reflection Salon at Campbell Street in
Freetown pointed out that the COVID-19 outbreak has had a negative toll on her
business, especially during the ‘Third Wave’.
“We had to close
the salon for some time and we suffered during that period. I had to lay off some
of my staff because weren’t operating at all, and there was no money to pay
them. They’ve definitely been adversely affected economically during this for
sure”. Cecilia is however optimistic that everything will be ok again.
Nineteen year-old Yabom who is attending the Government
Model Secondary School used to work in an Adelaide Street Salon where she
earned money to support her education. She was asked to stop coming to work when
COVID-19 was at its peak in Sierra Leone.
“The news made me feel sad and hopeless because that was
the only source I was depending on to take care of myself and my expenses”, she
explained. This prompted her to start a new business at home.
She said she started selling fish ball and braiding at
home. “Although the money I made wasn't enough, I was grateful that it helped
in keeping me going. Yabom is an orphan who stays with her aunt. She said the
only thing she is guaranteed is a sleeping place; all other things, she has to
fend for herself.
According to the National Hair And Beauty Federation, the hairdressing industry been one of the sectors
hit hardest by the Corona Virus Pandemic with turnover falling
by 45% in 2020.
Social distancing restrictions resulted in salon capacity falling down
to 70% of what it was before the pandemic, with beauty and hair businesses
losing on average two hours of appointment time per therapist/stylist per day,
the report found.
This story was put together with support from journalists for human rights (JHR) and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) human rights fellowship.
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