HAIR WE GO! Salons celebrate reopening as lockdown eases
Stylists in salons across Wishaw are hoping it won’t be a case of hair we go again as they open their doors to clients for the first time since Christmas.
A relaxation of coronavirus restrictions by t he Scottish Government meant that from Monday, hairdressers and barbers have been able to welcome people through their doors.
Salon owners are cautiously optimistic that this time they will be able to remain open permanently but are taking nothing for granted. They were only allowed to ply their trade for a relatively short period of time at the end of last year, before most of the country was again moved to Level 4 and they had to close for business again.
Most hairdressers witnessed a surge of interest via their social media pages prior to opening this week.
Now allowed to operate on an appointment-only basis and with measures in place to prevent spread of the virus, demand looks as it is sure to outweigh the number of slots available at most salons.
Yvonne Peat is the owner of Wishaw salon A Touch of Class in the town’s Kirk Road.
She said: “We need to patch test everyone who wants a colour.
“We can’t colour anyone’s hair two weeks before or after they’ve had the vaccine.
“The patch tests only take a couple of minutes, they can come in a couple of days before their hair appointment for the patch test. And we need to carry out checks, ‘Have you had Covid? Have you had the jag etc?’
“We need to go through all that with them. Hopefully this time we’ll be able to stay open. Businesses just won’t survive another closure.”
Nicola Hamilton runs The Salon in Shottskirk Road, Shotts. When we spoke to her she was readying to open for the first time this year.
The stylist from Allanton, said: “I’m normally closed on a Monday anyway and it is the Easter bank holiday.
“I am looking forward to opening but I’m still a bit nervous about it.
“We had a few weeks and then were shut down on Christmas Eve again.
“I really want to get up and running but you’re scared it’s going to happen again [lockdown]. That’s my fear, but I’m optimistic.
“Everyone is desperate for haircuts, I have people that I had to cancel in November and December and I’m still trying to fit them in.
“It’s tougher this time as we need to do patch tests and can’t do any colour services in the first two days of opening.
“Everyone is asking ‘Why?’
“But we don’t want anyone taking a reaction.”
From April 26 all parts of Scotland that were in Level 4 will essentially move to Level 3, allowing make-up and nail artists, other beauty services, chiropractors, podiatrists, and tattoo artists to resume business. Mobile hairdressers also have to wait until then.
Commenting after the Scottish Government decision, Richard Lambert, NHBF (National Hair and Beauty Treatment) chief executive, said: “Obviously we’re delighted that hair salons and barbershops can reopen, but we cannot understand why those offering beauty services have to wait until April 26.
“The Scottish Government has offered no scientific or medical evidence to support a staggered decision.
“Scottish hair and beauty businesses were hit harder than those in any other part of the UK, losing more than half of their turnover in 2020, yet still having to pay to keep their premises ready to return to.
“Even with all the financial support, the situation for many is now beyond precarious.”