‘Crazy’ response as tattoo studios reopen

TATTOO artists and beauty salons are once again able to prim, preen and ink after opening for the first time in months.

While hairdressers, barbers, restaurants and indoor licensed premises have had more than a week of trade under their belts, staff in the beauty and tattoo industry were still waiting on the sidelines until yesterday.

Now parlours including Carpe Diem, on Arbroath Road, have finally welcomed customers back to their studios for the first time since March.

Carpe Diem owner Andrew Burns said the response to reopening had been “crazy” as his six artists’ diaries filled up with bookings.

He said it had been “harder” having to wait that little bit longer to open in comparison to those in the hairdressing sector.

The 39-year-old added: “We had initially thought we would reopen along with the hairdressing industry but that didn’t happen and it made it a wee bit harder having to wait to get back.

“When we first went into lockdown I envisaged we were going to be closed for a period of two to three weeks and at that point I wasn’t too concerned.

“The government funding did give us peace of mind and really helped us.

“There are obviously a lot more restrictions in place both for staff and customers but everyone has taken to it really well.”

Although there has been no need for a “major overhaul” of the studio, Andrew said customer consultations have generally gone more hi-tech with the use of smartphones.

Andrew, from Coldside, added: “Like many businesses we have the screens up now and our staff are wearing masks and additional PPE-like arm covers.

“Customers have to ring a bell to get access and can only come into the reception area alone.

“Generally speaking we would usually do consultations for a design face-to-face and the use of video calls were probably in the minority before.

“At the moment we are more commonly doing those consultations for designs over a video call or other devices.

“It’s great to be back and people who had their appointments cancelled due to lockdown have been booked back in.

“It’s crazy the response we’ve had since it was announced we could reopen.”

Meanwhile, Gina Clarke, from Unique Holistic and Beauty Therapies, on Emmock Woods Crescent, was also able to welcome back her first customers yesterday.

She has introduced new hygiene measures, such as washing down the bed, chair, door handles and floors between each client, and asking people to complete an online form before they come for their appointment.

She said: “At the start of the lockdown I had to tell anyone who had an appointment booked they couldn’t come.

“It was a bit of a worry because we didn’t know what was happening or how they have been doing so I had really been looking forward to reopening.

“It feels pretty good to be out of lockdown now and it is great to see customers coming back in and hearing about how they have been doing.

“We have some new hygiene standards because it is important to make sure the customers feel safe.

“I have to wear a mask and a face visor and I ask all the customers to wear a mask as well.

“It is quite weird having to wear that on a daily basis but we will all get used to it.

“This will be the new normal for quite a while.”

Andrew Burns, owner of Carpe Diem.