A RM5 to RM10 price increase for haircuts was a suggestion to smaller salons and barber shops and is not compulsory for all barbers and hairdressers, the Malaysian Hairdressing Groups Association’s spokesman Bambang Sutrisno Soteto said.

He said smaller operators usually charged lower rates for haircuts and would find it more difficult that larger salons to cover the extra cost of disposable gloves, aprons and hand sanitisers that are now needed to resume operations under the recovery movement control order (RMCO).

“There was a slight misunderstanding in news reports that quoted me on the price increase.

“The price should be for small salons and barber shops, which charge between RM20 to RM25 for haircuts. They need to cover the cost of gloves and aprons.

“For bigger salons in the city centre or in urban areas, which charge customers RM60 to RM80, some even higher – I don’t think raising prices to cover the cost of disposables is necessary,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

If a salon or barber shop decides to increase prices, it must notify customers with a clear sign on its premises.

“At the end of the day, it is the customer who has the final say.

“Even if an expensive salon decides to increase its rate, show the price clearly so that customers can decide,” he said.

Yesterday, Bambang was reported in the news saying that hairdressers’ associations had agreed to raise fees for haircuts by between RM5 and RM10 per customer.

This was decided at a meeting that took into account the additional costs hairdressers and barbers would incur for the use of disposable kits and other precautions to prevent the curb of Covid-19.

The increase is considered minimal because salons and barbers will only be allowed to take in a smaller number of customers due to social distancing requirements.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi last night said new rates to reflect the additional costs must not be burdensome to customers.

Malaysian Indian Hairstylist Empowerment Association (Mihass) president Mohd Jaafar Salim Thamby also agreed with Bambang on raising fees for smaller salons and barber shops only.

“If you are already charging RM40 to RM80 for a haircut, I don’t think you should charge additional fees for gloves and aprons.

“However, there are smaller shops charging RM20 to RM26, and some shops are still charging RM7 for a haircut. They need to cover the cost.”

However, Jaafar suggested a meeting be held with the authorities to fix a rate increase so that customers and industry players have clarity.

The RMCO begins on June 10 and runs until August 31, and will see more sectors and services reopen – except those involving mass gatherings.

Interstate travel and domestic tourism will also be allowed.

For salons and barbershops, the standard operating procedures under the RMCO include social distancing, use of face masks, gloves and hand sanitiser, temperature checks and face shields for children.

Services should also be provided on an appointment basis.

House calls by hairdressers are now encouraged to reduce the risk of crowding at barber shops and salons. – June 8, 2020.