What Kind of Cape

Reopening salons during the coronavirus pandemic has brought a flood of new rules and regulations to keep everyone safe. But, as the old saying goes, the devil is in the details.

Emerging from the tidal wave of news is the disparate ways states are enacting guidelines.

We went to our members for suggestions on dealing with regulations their states have in place for capes. The conversation started with a simple question from member John Ranney and evolved as the discussion progressed.

Note: Submissions have been edited for clarity and style.

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Does anyone know where to get disposable cutting capes?

John Ranney, Freedom Clinic

We have to make ours out of painters plastic, and we are resorting to reusable gowns from the linen service. Cost is about (38 cents) per use. Not bad and reusables are better for the environment but also carry a risk in handling. Bryan Sepp, Hair By Bryan Dean Technically every client is to get a new cape. Especially if you are not using a sani-strip. Right now, I am using a fresh cape for each client regardless of a towel or sani-strip. I like a fresh cape for each client, I wouldn’t want to smell the previous client’s fragrance or anything else.

I am going to be a Debbie Downer here with my reply. Disposable capes are a total waste, our planet does not need more garbage in the landfills. There is no issue taking a cape off of a client and placing it into the laundry. If you are being safe and wearing a mask and washing your hands, you should be safe. There is just as much “exposure” with the handling of disposable capes. Please look at buying more regular capes and keeping the landfill free of these little plastic gems. William Collier, William Collier Design I agree with Bryan Sepp... I don’t understand why we need to throw away capes when we can just wash our regular capes in hot water. We ordered extra capes and robes so that we can do just that. Wishing you all the best!!

Not sure what they are mandating. Missouri has been vague on the board’s website about any of the COVID-19 stuff. They now have a link to the Barbicide recommendations is all I can see. I have to say I am disappointed in our board for lack of info. I use a clean cape each client – cloth or chemical and am fortunate to have a sanitize cycle on my wash machine that I use as well. Stacey M. Handel Garde Bien Spa Salon, Inc. Our county guideline is requiring clean capes per client. We, too, are using a clean cape for every client. But we always did. I just ordered personalized cutting capes with our embroidered logo ... maybe more for me than clients. We also have chemical capes. The harder part is changing lab coats/aprons between

Tina Hevey Studio Seven13

clients, which they are requiring too. Lots of laundry. Joseph Ellis, Raleigh Hair Concepts

We are doing a lot of laundry. Each client gets a clean sterilized cape. We will probably do that for at least the rest of the year. For towels, we are using the biodegradable, one use, EasyDry towel.

Sherry Schaefer, Alternative Hair

New (fresh) cape for each client. Using my current cape inventory (cloth), one per client, and laundering them daily.

Isaac Sanchez, Hair Again After waiting 2 months I received my order of disposable cutting capes. I been using them, very thin plastic, not as hot as I thought they would be. When we opened, I didn’t have enough cutting capes so I was asking clients to bring in a large towel. That worked very well, clients have no problem with it, and they feel they are contributing to the effort. A friend here in California has them for around $80 per 100. You can find them cheaper, but the wait might be very long. These have been a good alternative for me.

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