Salon owners call on N.L. to crack down on underground hairstylists serving unvaccinated clients

After more than 40 years in the hairstyling industry, Trish Molloy, owner of the Headroom hair salons in St. John's and Paradise, cannot recall more upheaval in her industry than during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Salons were forced to close for four months during lockdowns, but since the implementation of the vaccine passport, Molloy said, her industry has taken another, even more serious hit.

"I can get an appointment without being vaccinated," said Molloy.

Molloy says some of her unvaccinated clients — ones she has turned away — are taking their business to stylists who serve unvaccinated clients, a practice that is not permitted under the provincial vaccine policy, said Molloy.

"I know they've gone somewhere else," said Molloy. "I'm in communication with these clients. I've had them for up to 40 years, some of them." 

As of Oct. 22, the provincial government requires people to be fully vaccinated or have an approved medical exemption to enter hair salons.

Molloy said she has modified both of her businesses to follow physical distancing guidelines, installed new computers to implement the vaccine passport, and follows all the rules set out by the provincial government in order to keep her salons operating.

But Molloy said she is taking an additional hit from stylists who are not playing by the same rules.

"We've lost more than 80 clients since the NLVaxPass was implemented," said Molloy.

Now Molloy and three other salon owners are speaking out and calling on the provincial government to enforce its own regulations on stylists who flout the regulations.

"I think they have to be called to task. If there is a fine then these stylists have to be fined," said Molloy.

Paula Adam, the owner of Signature Salon, and Brenda Chaytor, owner of Hair Connection, agree with Molloy..

Both say they are losing clients who are not vaccinated to stylists who don't require proof of vaccination. 

"We follow rules and we make sure we put them in place the way the government has asked," said Adam.