Salon staff welcoming ‘old friends’
HAIR salon staff were filled with excitement as they welcomed customers back for the first time since December.
As part of stage two of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, salons, gyms and beer gardens were able to re-open yesterday.
And with many people desperate for a post-lockdown haircut, hairdressers and barber shops have been preparing for a busy time.
Luci Owen, owner of Secret Lengths, in Heaton, Newcastle, said: “We’re fully booked for the next three and a half weeks, but we’re all so happy to be back at work and able to see each other and our clients again because they’re like friends.”
To mark the special occasion, Luci decorated the salon with balloons and ordered a cake decorated with the words “better days are here”.
While she is positive about the future, she admits she felt nervous about re-opening the salon after such a long time.
Luci added: “I felt very nervous this morning. It was like that feeling you get after the six weeks holidays when you’re a kid and it’s time to go back to school.
“I’ve been up since half five this morning because I was just so nervous and couldn’t sleep, but I’m also really excited to be back and it’s so lovely to start getting back to normality again.
“I think I feel more nervous about re-opening this time because I feel like this is it and it’s time to give my business a chance because I relocated here from Jesmond in December 2019, but it wasn’t long after we had to close.”
During lockdown Luci has been working on developing her business, which has allowed her to set up a hair extension training academy, which will begin in May.
She has also booked 38 new clients in the last week, which has given her hope for the future of the business following months of closure.
But loyal, regular clients have also been eager to return.
Fiona Cruzier and her mum Lil Cruickshank have booked with Secret Lengths stylist, Lyndsey Nichol, for 12 years.
And as soon as Boris Johnson announced that salons could re-open they contacted Lyndsey asking when they could have an appointment.
Lil, from Heddon-on-the-Wall, said: “I felt on top of the world coming here this morning, not just to get my hair done, but to see the girls as well.
“I’ve really missed seeing Lyndsey, Luci and the girls over the last few months, it has felt like I had lost friends when I hadn’t been able to see them, so even getting to see them again has made it worth coming here.”
Her daughter Fiona, 55, added: “This was the most important appointment above anything else happening today.
“I’ll be going to Fenwick later today to buy some perfume, but nothing beats being able to come here today.”
Chloe Todd was also eager to book a hair appointment once restrictions eased and admitted visiting the salon has helped her to feel better about herself.
The 21-year-old, from Killingworth, said: “With this lockdown and the weather not being too good, I think it has taken its toll on people a lot more and a lot of people will be needing something like this to make them feel better about themselves.
“I was feeling nervous before I came here, but I do feel safe in here and so I was fine once I got here. It’s nice to have a bit of normality back in our lives and getting your hair done just makes you feel a lot better about yourself so I’m really glad I came here today – it’s nice to be back.”