Salons must reopen soon for those of us tearing our hair out
THERE’S nothing like a bit of self-interest to oil the wheels of progress, so I was heartened to see lobbying start on opening hairdressers sooner than planned.
Culture Minister Josepha Madigan raised the issue of an earlier June 29 opening and to me this was very good news indeed as she arguably has more skin in the game than Dr Tony Holohan; I’d imagine being more aware of the ability of a good cut and colour to lift one from the slough of despond currently threatening our nation.
The appointment list to get the mane tended is shaping up to be the mother of all queues, and unless you are in the favoured client list, you’ll be waiting.
Our European neighbours know the power the hairdresser wields over the human psyche and most have reopened.
In Spain, they have twice delayed allowing food service on restaurant terraces but have remained firm on opening hairdressers when promised. They know what will cause unrest.
My sister-in-law living in Madrid was first in the door after her track record of generous tips paid off.
There were masks and gloves, zero waiting around, no coffee and your belongings in a black sack, but she sailed out of there, the dodgy box dye stripped out, with a feeling she had regained control of her life.
I am nervous now as it’s looking like the loyal customers are getting in first and I could be waiting for weeks as I have no relationship with any individual hairdresser because I am happy to ‘just take whoever’ when arranging an appointment at the large salon I go to. But for my mother and sisters, as I discovered on the family Zoom chat, it’s a different story.
My mum excitedly told us her hairdresser’s wife, whose name is Karen, had phoned to let her know she was number four in a queue of 188. She has gone to the same place for more than 20 years.
This was the first time I have seen her properly happy in lockdown.
My mother-in-law who lives in France will get her day in the sun next week, and is equally animated about the prospect.
It emerged my sisters have been in cosy chats with their hairdressers, one even securing colour and instructions in the post, and the other assured of an early booking.
My brother’s girlfriend said she didn’t mind one bit as she just tied up her hair and forgot about it. There was an awkward silence as we digested this.
She is in her mid-20s with naturally straight and luscious hair, so the result of not going to the hairdresser just means a longer, glossy, brown ponytail.
The rest of us, apart from my brother who had secured a semisuccessful home trim, were not so lucky.
I’ve always found looking the part makes a difference to how you act, and I have a theory – look like a caveman, act like a caveman, and if you resemble an upstanding member of the community you are more likely to keep to societal rules.
I have no evidence my wild hair is responsible for my recent lackadaisical attitude to recycling but I suspect a strong link. Before, if I found an empty can of craft beer
I may have saved €120 over the past months but the home dye is a poor substitute, ruining my bathroom rug
in the black bin there would be hell to pay and the perpetrator coldly hunted down.
These mornings, sometimes I don’t even bother to fish them out.
Having bad hair makes me feel even more fed up these days and less inclined to care.
In the past, I would have tied in getting the haircut whenever I had somewhere notable to go – like a wedding – but with no social events I realise it is not about impressing others but about feeling better in myself.
I may have saved €120 over the past months but the home dye is a poor substitute, ruining my bathroom rug and colouring everything except the unsightly greys.
The end of July seems so far away, especially now it’s clear by the absence of any hairdresser calling me up that I am stuck in the second tier.
The industry consensus seems to be they will be ready to open safely at the earlier date rather than waiting until July 20.
Two Dublin hairdressers I spoke to, Mark McCauley and Noelle McCarthy, said they were confident the end of June gave ample time to prepare and because getting the hair done is such a huge boost to people’s well-being, many will look to the black market if there is no hope of the earlier opening.
I attempted to cut one child’s hair in my house but the bowler disaster meant the others are refusing, so now they can’t see properly.
There is one upside to the horror hair show in lockdown – at last the nits have got their marching orders from our house – but apart from that, my bad hair is making me fed up and I suspect many are in that boat.
You could argue opening hairdressers is the least of the Government’s worries, but if they could safely open sooner it would provide a much-needed boost in mood for many and this is crucial right now – but I guess some of us realise this more than others.