Hairdressers have finally opened their doors after months in lockdown, but things aren’t quite the same.
Salons are now stocking up on PPE as they work hard to style clients safely as the country emerges from quarantine.
This means washing hands before you enter, giant screens, masks, and gloves to be worn at all times to avoid passing on the coronavirus.
We took a look inside the new normal for hairdressers at Signature Hair Design in Hamilton for an idea of how things will work.
Salon owner Charlene Saddiq, 39, said: “It has been manic, the phone hasn’t stopped.
“We have hand sanitiser which you use before even walking in the doors then we have our receptionist behind the desk who will be all screened off.
“There are also big screens out in place to split the clients and keep the feeling safe.
“We have doubled everyone's appointment slots so we have longer to take these steps.
“Clients have been great, they are all understanding but it is trial and error the first day.
“But the biggest change is really just remembering everything and not being normal, so sterilising everything and not getting in the way of people.”
After spending weeks waiting to open their doors, staff are now spending full days on their feet working 12 hour shifts to make up for lost time.
Now staff are desperately trying to book everyone in as Scots scramble for appointments, but may have to wait till the end of August.
“We were under a bit of pressure because we had been waiting for the Scottish Guidelines to come out but people kept asking for appointments so our waiting list was like a month long.
“So they came out on Friday and we opened on Wednesday so there was lots to do.
“We are into the fourth week for bookings now and will work longer hours like 9am to 9pm, and I will stay back after that to do deep cleaning.”
Charlene added: “We were a bit anxious about starting back and nervous but once started it feels okay now, we feel safe.
“We hope clients can keep all their belongings to themselves and have patience with us.
“We are leaning along the way with everyone and everyone may be a bit more stressed out than usual.
“So far our clients have been really understanding and helpful though which has been great.”
The salon even decided to take the changes a step further by beginning the first salon in Lanarkshire to be sustainable.
As well as getting training in tackling cleaning and coronavirus staff are also using vegan products and working to keep the business certified eco friendly.
“Everyone has taken this time and used it to reflect on what is going on so we decided to make our salon eco and sustainable.
“We are the only one doing it in the Hamilton and Lanarkshire area which means we recycle everything - even hair clippings.
“Now is the time to make a change if it wasn’t now then when? So we changed all our furniture to reusable wood and ditched magazine racks for second hand books instead.
“I just wanted to make a change in the world and decided to start in the salon.”
If you are interested to learn more you can follow the salon on Instagram @Signaturehairdesignshd
