From home dye to root growth and a baron business to a booming industry, hairdressers are facing it all as lockdown measures are eased.

Hair salons were given the green light to reopen on Saturday, July 4, with hundreds of businesses opening their doors after months of closures due to the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the first shops to open in Southampton was Jacks of London on Above Bar Street. Owner John Swiegers said: “Since we’ve opened we’ve been fully booked, it’s going really well.

Opening on a busy high street has been both a blessing and a curse to Mr Swiegers who’s shop window had been “smashed in” on Sunday morning.

Daily Echo:

The industry was hit especially hard during lockdown with a majority of salons being independently run and many hairdressers being mobile.

As a result hundreds of salons have had to close and many have seen staff cuts due to being unable to keep their businesses afloat.

Among the salons that have reopened is Lissy Hair and Beauty on Portsmouth Road.

Salon owner, Melissa Ferguson, said: “At the start of lockdown I was getting really upset and worried because that was a massive part of my income that has been taken away.

“I’ve been doing Lissy Hair and Beauty for seven years but I only opened this salon in January and then it was closed in March, so I was a bit panicky and anxious.”

Salons across Southampton have been fully-booked since Saturday with back-to-back clients for the next month as people try to tame their mane.

Ms Ferguson said: “I worked 12 hours on Saturday and even though it’s a bit hectic and I feel completely full on I’m so glad the salon’s back on its feet.”

Jacks of London had previously been a walk-in barbers but to adhere to Government guidelines the shop has now changed to a booking-only system.

Mr Swiegers said: “We have six chairs now and we have removed the benches at the front where clients used to sit and wait.”

The internet is filled with tales of hairdresser’s horror stories since they’ve reopened and Southampton has had its fair share of infamous home-dye disasters.

Ms Ferguson added: “I’ve had a lot of clients that have come in who have done their own hair during lockdown and people's roots are insane. I had one that had given herself an undercut, but it actually looked really nice.”

We have all tried to maintain our hair as best they can but it’s finally time to let the professionals take over again.

People across the city have been flocking to their nearest salon to trim their tresses, Ms Ferguson explained: “I’m having to cut off two to three inches of hair per client, so what would normally be a trim is now a complete restyle.

“Everyone’s just a bit overgrown at the moment!”

Delighted to be open after months of closure and loss of revenue Ms Ferugson said: “It’s really nice to be back on my feet and see money coming through the door again.”

To support local hairdressers and barbers during this time it is key to follow Government guidelines to ensure public safety.

New rules for hair salons include: 

  • Keeping a temporary log of all customers entering the salon with details remaining on their system for 21 days.
  • Appointment-only booking systems.
  • When customers come they should be alone, arrive on time (not early) and be Covid-screened (asked if they have any symptoms).
  • Hairdressers should wear a visor or facemask and face-to-face talking should be limited.

Mr Swiegers stated that Jacks of London is taking every precaution to ensure the safety and comfort of his clients, having also brought an excess number of gowns which are washed after every client.

With a high-demand for salon services across our city it’s clear to see that hairdressers and barbers are up to the challenge of fixing our beastly barnets.