How hairdressers across Harborough have changed their businesses as they open up for the first time since lockdown began

Few businesses have been as sorely missed since the beginning of lockdown as hairdressers.

This morning, they finally reopened. On High Street and St Mary’s Road queues of up to 30 formed outside barber shops.

For many here, the last 100 days has given two choices: put up with the ‘growing it out’ look or opt for a ‘Covid DIY’ cut.

Most hair salons are running an appointment system, they don’t have the queues outside, although they are booked up for weeks.

How different will they be post lockdown? We visited Aura in the centre of Harborough to see what customers can expect.

Stepping into the salon, you notice a plastic screen placed around reception and hair stylists kitted out in visors, gloves and protective gowns. Customers all have to wear masks, which the salon can provide. There’s no seating area for you to wait, no magazines to flick through and staff won’t be able to make you a coffee - although Aura say customers are welcome to bring their own.

Hand sanitisers are dotted about the salon, on the floor there are footprint stickers advising of social distancing while the wall mounted TV screens play gentle messages about keeping safe from coronavirus infection.

It is clear Aura are taking hygiene seriously rather than going through the motions.

Business owner Sandra Pallatt said: “All areas will be disinfected thoroughly between customers including work stations, tools, mirrors, chairs and sinks. The stylists won’t be able to share equipment.

“We’re operating four of the seven work stations. This allows us to work with two metres distance at all times. I’d rather be working safely than taking chances.

Customers have been very patient regarding these new working practices.”

Aura, like nearly all salons and barbers, have seen fierce demand for appointments.

They have increased opening hours to fit as many customers in as possible, calls have also come in from Leicester, following the city’s reapplied lockdown status.

Many people are also requesting beauty and aesthetic treatments which Aura are well known for, but these are completely paused because of government restrictions.

For now, they are focusing purely on hygiene and cutting hair for the Harborough public.

Sandra continued: “Hair is important to people, it represents individuality, it dresses the face hence the reason people place so much emphasis on it but one of the biggest things for many people visiting a salon is the social aspect.

“People develop friendships with their stylists. My team have talked a great deal about missing the customers. We can’t wait to give them all a warm welcome.”

So, what of the sacred hairdresser, customer chit-chat? Usually at this time of year discussions on summer holidays are mandatory while getting your hair cut or coloured.

But this is 2020, conversations are shortened, the PPE visor doesn’t allow for the unrestricted exchanges you’d normally expect. For most customers, the relief of having their hair done on the first day since lockdown is privilege enough. The therapeutic chin wagging will have to wait until at least later in the year.

According to Harborough District Council there are around 70 licensed hairdressers in the district. The majority are located in Market Harborough town centre, which boasts more than 30, say Google, and Lutterworth which has 17. It is unclear how

many are opening today, of the 10 we contacted, all said they were.

Across these 70 or so businesses it is estimated 400 people earn a living as professional hairdressers. For them, today is a day to celebrate. The rest of the public should be happy too, over exposed roots and Covid DIY cuts will no longer be a necessity.