The government’s roadmap out of lockdown allows hairdressers and beauty salons to reopen in England from April 12.
Most have been closed since Somerset entered tier 4 last year on December 31.
We spoke to four owners of barber shops, hairdressers and beauty salons in Somerset to see how they feel about reopening on Monday.
Kay Reeves, owner of Penhalagans Hair and Beauty in Ilminster, said that she mainly feels relief about being able to reopen.
She said: “We’re a family second-generation business and this is our 13th year.
"Despite government help we have only just survived financially so I just think being grateful to get there with all our loyal clients, and just relief that a well established business has been able to survive,” she said.
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She spoke about how things had been difficult despite government help.
“The government has been really good but it’s nowhere near enough money to survive. It’s been my personal money that has supported the salon through the last lockdown - to go 15 weeks without trading is really really tough,” she said.
The salon will continue to use PPE and monitor the number of people in the building as they did before the lockdown.
Ms Reeves said that the salon can also offer people private rooms if preferred, adding that demand has been “absolutely huge” since the reopening was announced.
She said: “We’re at maximum capacity now - our client base is 2,000 clients so we’ve been making priority lists over the last month.
"Just in case Boris changed the date we didn’t make confirmed bookings until a fortnight ago, but we’re already booked through until the end of June."
George Webber, who owns Westlake Barber Shop in Taunton, is already anticipating the lockdown haircuts he will be fixing when his shop opens on Monday.
“So you generally have two different types of people: those whose hair has grown out of control - completely mental - or the DIY haircuts by themselves or partners. Some people just shave it all off.
“It’s quite nice, I feel like people underestimate the skill behind doing a haircut but when they do it themselves they come back and appreciate a proper haircut.
"You can see a massive difference between a home haircut, and I’m sure a lot of people and their partners have fallen out about people cutting their hair," he said.
Although lockdown has been a negative experience for many, the barber shop owner said he will miss the positives of staying at home.
He added: “I have mixed emotions really because I have a newborn baby. Obviously I’m really looking forward to getting back to work, but at the same time it’s mixed emotions because I’ve been able to spend every day with them. But I’m looking forward to life getting back to normal.
The barber shop will prioritise booked appointments but will also offer walk-in appointments when space is available. Clients will have to use the track and trace systems when entering the shop.
Mr Webber said that the council had done a good job in helping his business throughout the pandemic.
“Taunton Council have been so good financially, they’ve helped us out so much over the lockdown with grants and things like that,” he said.
When asked how she feels about reopening, Ellie Redwood, owner of Beyond Beauty in Bath, said: “I’m excited, it’s been a long time coming.”
In July 2020, the reopening of beauty services was delayed longer than hair cutting services. However, this year the government has made the decision to reopen both at the same time.
Ms Redwood said: “I think they’ve realised that they are just as safe as each other. There was hardly any record of Covid being transmitted in beauty salons or hairdressers or anything in our industry.
"I think they’ve realised that it’s just as safe, or in my opinion safer than going to the pub."
She said that her beauty salon will continue with the Covid-19 safety precautions that they previously used.
“When we opened the first time after the first lockdown we put all our changes in then like protector screens, gaps in between treatments so that there are no passing of clients. It’s a different way of business, definitely,” she said.
Marlene Fear, owner of Marlie's Hair Salon in Bridgwater, said that she feels reassured by the progress of the vaccine rollout.
“I’m quite excited to be opening but also very cautious about Covid. However, I’m sure that all of our clients have been vaccinated because we’ve got quite a lot of elderly clients. We’ve also got the track and trace in place,” she said.
Before the lockdown the salon was already adapted to be Covid-19 secure in line with government regulations.
Ms Fear said: “It will be the same as before really - cleaning in between each client, PPE, masks, goggles.”
The salon has managed to stay financially stable throughout the pandemic despite multiple lockdowns. Demand for appointments has also recently increased following news that the hair salon is reopening.
“It’s been a bit quiet at some points in the pandemic, but we have been averagely busy over the last year.
“We’ve got people booked for at least the next month,” she added.
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