Locks down
AFTER FIVE MONTHS WITHOUT A HAIRDO..
DON’T hate me, girls! The blonde is back in business after a sneaky “do” ahead of hairdressers re-opening on Monday.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced last Friday that hair salons and barbers are re-opening on June 29 – so in the interest of research I was treated yesterday to a sneak peak of how the experience will change post-lockdown.
It’s been five months since my last visit, I was a blonde at the start of the year but my roots have given away my 20-year secret.
My hairdresser Aidan Fitzgerald had admitted it would be more like a trip to a clinic rather than a salon with PPE mandatory for all clients.
Husband and wife team Aidan and Karen have been in business for almost four decades in South Dublin’s Blackrock.
Prepared for action the first thing I notice is a hand sanitising station is now situated at the front of the salon and Aidan handed me a mask and gown.
Every second chair is left vacant, a perspex screen divides each station, ensuring the twometre social distancing rule is adhered to. The styling equipment was sterilised before use.
After Karen gave me my golden tresses back, Aidan cut my hair, it felt fabulous, saying goodbye to bad roots and dead ends.
Senior colourist Karen Whelan said transparency about home colour is advisable. She added:
“We’re not going to make judgments on people doing home colour, but we’re asking those who did to let us know as we will need to allocate you more time.”
Aidan, originally from Limerick, said making customers and staff feel safe is his No1 priority.
He added: “Some people have been cocooning, especially the elderly, afraid to go out.
“The experience will be more clinical, a bit like going to Blackrock clinic for an appointment rather than the salon. But there’ll be more pampering with a dedicated team only for you.
“If you remove the mask you’ll have to sanitise your hands and put on a new mask, there’ll be no refreshments as the mask must remain in place for the duration of your visit.
“We have a huge backlog and a big waiting list so we’re opening longer hours and with two teams.”
“I would say to people don’t be afraid, we’ve had a back to work health guide from the Irish Hairdressing Federation and all the staff have had PPE training.
“We’re coming back in a different mode.”
Don’t be afraid, we’ve had a back to work guide
AIDAN FITZGERALD DUBLIN YESTERDAY
IRISH Mirror reporter Siobhan O’connor will be the envy of the nation today after she was treated to a trip to the hairdresser.
Siobhan is one of the first women to get her hair done in a salon ahead of next Monday’s reopening. We think she looks hair-mazing.