Hairdressers and barber shops in England will not open before July "at the earliest", the government declared today.
Downing Street crushed hopes of an early reopening, despite millions growing shaggy locks or relying on their loved ones for a trim.
The government's plan has always been to include barbers, hairdressers and beauty salons in the final tranche of reopenings from July 4 at the earliest.
But reports overnight had suggested Boris Johnson wanted them to reopen earlier than planned with "dentist style" PPE measures.
A source told the Daily Telegraph: "Hairdressers were supposed to be the next thing.
"Boris has talked about unleashing the great British haircut again. It would be treated under similar rules to dentists."
However, quizzed on the reports today, the PM's official spokesman flatly denied hairdressers or barber shops will reopen this month.
He said: "The road to recovery plan set out that we’re looking to open hairdressers from July at the earliest."
Asked if that was still the case he said: "Yes."
The PM's spokesman added: "It’s correct to say we’re working as quickly as we can to get hairdressers up and running safely. That is one of the areas we have a ministerial led task force focused upon."
But he said reports they would reopen in June were wishful thinking, and even in July, they would only reopen subject to scientific advice.
It comes as Boris Johnson continues to ease the lockdown in England - with Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales under separate rules.
Primary schools in England have already reopened for Years R, 1 and 6 and people are allowed to meet in socially-distanced groups of six outdoors.
Non-essential shops for clothes, toys and other good will begin reopening from June 15, following by hospitality and leisure venues from July 4.
But the coronavirus "alert level" is still at 4 - the same as it's been since lockdown was imposed in March.
And there were more than 350 new deaths announced in the UK yesterday, about as many as in the whole of the EU put together in the same period.
Some of the government's scientific advisors have broken ranks to warn the lockdown is being eased too soon.
Ministers insist lockdown will not be eased until there is scientific advice justifying it.
