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Alexa, should I get bangs? Amazon is opening a hair salon in London
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Alexa, should I get bangs? Amazon is opening a hair salon in London

By Jason Diego / April 22, 2021
The world’s largest online retailer is opening a two-story, 1,500-square-foot salon equipped with new technology, including augmented reality hair consultations and point-and-learn displays that give customers information, videos and educational content when they point to a product on a shelf, according to a press release from Amazon (AMZN).

As for Covid-19 safety protocols, the salon will maintain reduced capacity and employees will check guests’ temperatures upon arrival. Free face masks and hand sanitizer will be provided. Customers will be required to wear masks, and separation screens will be used to divide the styling stations.

The general public will have to wait a few weeks before they can get an Amazon coif for themselves. Initially, the salon will only be open to company employees. Amazon doesn’t currently have plans to open any other locations, according to a company press release.

The London salon is the latest example of Amazon’s growing brick and mortar footprint. The e-commerce giant currently operates dozens of Amazon Go cashierless convenience stores, Amazon 4-star general merchandise stores as well as around 500 Whole Foods locations. Amazon also recently opened several Amazon Fresh stores in London, as well as a checkout-free grocery store.

Amazon Salon arrives as the beauty industry is primed for a comeback. After more than a year of sporting the “casual look”, consumers are itching to get back to their well-styled pre-pandemic selves. An uptick in demand for body waxes, eyelash extensions and shampoo and blowout combos offers a glimmer of hope that consumers are emerging from their cocoons after months of social isolation. The pandemic-driven drop in demand decimated service-centered businesses like restaurants, spas, nail and hair salons, forcing many businesses to shutter for good.

CNN’s Parija Kavilanz contributed to this report.

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