25 signatures reached
To: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
I'm NOT Sally
Reopen specialist African-Caribbean hair and beauty shops
I am asking the UK government to review its lockdown measures. On 23 March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK on lockdown to tackle the spread of coronavirus/COVID-19. From midnight, the British public were ordered to stay at home except for shopping for basic necessities, exercise, medical needs and traveling to and from work for "key workers." On 16 April, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the UK that the measures would continue until 7 May. Subsequently, Mr. Raab (who has been deputising for Boris Johnson), told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that the country would likely end up "moving to a new normal" of social distancing measures rather than than a complete lifting of all measures in the months ahead.
With the death toll rising, conflicting arguments about personal protective equipment (PPE) and nurse shortages causing a London Nightingale hospital to turn away patients. And Birmingham's equivalent "not being used at all" 10 days after it was opened by the Duke of Cambridge; it is a sobering reality that there is no visible step down from self-isolation.
Polls have shown that Britons are happy to prioritise limits on personal movement. However, with hairdressers, salons and barbers all forced to close their doors in March, African-Caribbean communities are left exposed. Unlike my European counterparts, I cannot buy specialist hair and beauty products from the likes of Sally, Superdrug, Boots or branded supermarkets - who remain open. For example, as an eczema sufferer, I have to seek out particular skincare ranges to avoid inflammation. My hands react to Carex and other so-called anti-bacterial hand-wash. The only brand that cleanses my skin without any swelling or itching is the Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bar w/ Shea Butter, which I have nearly depleted. Online quotes are exploitative. On the Beautizone website, the product retails for £5.99 GBP. Shipping costs £4.99 bringing the order to £10.98. My usual outlets retail the product between £3.99 - £4.50. A vegan shower gel and body butter purchased locally prior to the lockdown now has to be bought online adding postage of £3.10 each time.
Without my barber and hair salon, my afro hair is splitting and in bad condition. The needs of natural and protective hairstyles including afros, braids and dreadlocks are traditional ways to express our heritage and simply have our hair. It is because this is not understood, that specialist shops have been deemed "non-essential". Yet, DIY chains B&Q and Homebase have reopened for home improvement purposes and construction giants, including Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey, both annnounced they would be resuming work and reopening sites. As ever, clusters of the well-heeled are allowed to push the rules. The spaces dedicated to black hair and beauty need to join the list of "essential" shops, with some urgency please.
*Pic credits as per below:-
1) Shot taken by Richard Yaw, CEO of Koshmo Photography.
2) Shot taken for the talented stylenationbykimmy_ltd who won Braid Stylist of the Year and Weave Stylist of the Year at the Black beauty SENSATIONNEL hair awards in 2018.
3) The stunning model is Chiomahh.
4) The makeup was performed by the gifted Venus Valaron.
I am asking the UK government to review its lockdown measures. On 23 March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK on lockdown to tackle the spread of coronavirus/COVID-19. From midnight, the British public were ordered to stay at home except for shopping for basic necessities, exercise, medical needs and traveling to and from work for "key workers." On 16 April, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the UK that the measures would continue until 7 May. Subsequently, Mr. Raab (who has been deputising for Boris Johnson), told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that the country would likely end up "moving to a new normal" of social distancing measures rather than than a complete lifting of all measures in the months ahead.
With the death toll rising, conflicting arguments about personal protective equipment (PPE) and nurse shortages causing a London Nightingale hospital to turn away patients. And Birmingham's equivalent "not being used at all" 10 days after it was opened by the Duke of Cambridge; it is a sobering reality that there is no visible step down from self-isolation.
Polls have shown that Britons are happy to prioritise limits on personal movement. However, with hairdressers, salons and barbers all forced to close their doors in March, African-Caribbean communities are left exposed. Unlike my European counterparts, I cannot buy specialist hair and beauty products from the likes of Sally, Superdrug, Boots or branded supermarkets - who remain open. For example, as an eczema sufferer, I have to seek out particular skincare ranges to avoid inflammation. My hands react to Carex and other so-called anti-bacterial hand-wash. The only brand that cleanses my skin without any swelling or itching is the Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bar w/ Shea Butter, which I have nearly depleted. Online quotes are exploitative. On the Beautizone website, the product retails for £5.99 GBP. Shipping costs £4.99 bringing the order to £10.98. My usual outlets retail the product between £3.99 - £4.50. A vegan shower gel and body butter purchased locally prior to the lockdown now has to be bought online adding postage of £3.10 each time.
Without my barber and hair salon, my afro hair is splitting and in bad condition. The needs of natural and protective hairstyles including afros, braids and dreadlocks are traditional ways to express our heritage and simply have our hair. It is because this is not understood, that specialist shops have been deemed "non-essential". Yet, DIY chains B&Q and Homebase have reopened for home improvement purposes and construction giants, including Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey, both annnounced they would be resuming work and reopening sites. As ever, clusters of the well-heeled are allowed to push the rules. The spaces dedicated to black hair and beauty need to join the list of "essential" shops, with some urgency please.
*Pic credits as per below:-
1) Shot taken by Richard Yaw, CEO of Koshmo Photography.
2) Shot taken for the talented stylenationbykimmy_ltd who won Braid Stylist of the Year and Weave Stylist of the Year at the Black beauty SENSATIONNEL hair awards in 2018.
3) The stunning model is Chiomahh.
4) The makeup was performed by the gifted Venus Valaron.
Why is this important?
Equality. A mounting expense on delivery charges for essentials at a time of decreased income streams.
