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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Dave Stubbings

When will hairdressers reopen in the UK and what are the new guidelines?

It's been more than three months since hairdressers were last open.

The coronavirus lockdown has led to some people making tricky decisions about their hair, as they grapple with how maintain it without professional help.

Many people have tried cutting it themselves - with some disastrous results - while others are letting their hair grow as they wait for hairdressers to open their doors once again.

Hair salons and barbers have been shut since the UK's lockdown began in March, with many staff placed on furlough and having the government pay 80% of their wages.

But while lockdown rules have slowly been eased in recent weeks - with non-essential shops opening earlier in June - businesses such as hairdressers have so far remained closed.

But that could change soon.

When will hairdressers open in the UK?

The wait for a haircut could very nearly be over (Getty Images/Westend61)

The wait is very nearly over for those desperate to have their hair cut and styled.

On Tuesday Prime Minister Boris Johnson is gave the green light for hair salons and barbers in England to reopen from Saturday July 4.

On Sunday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock joked "the nation needs a haircut".

There were initially fears that hairdressers could to remain closed for six months, as opening them would risk spreading coronavirus and infecting more people.

However, after 13 weeks of people getting more tempted to undertake a DIY trim on their ever-shaggier hair, people can soon return to the salon, although the experience is set to be very different.

However nail bars and beauty salons are not reopening.

The PM said on Tuesday that nail bars will reopen "when we are confident they can operate in a Covid-secure way".

What will the new hairdresser rules be?

Hairdressers and barbers will have to wear full-face plastic visors, customers will have to make appointments and equipment will be disinfected more frequently.

Staff have also been encouraged to cut down on small talk in a bid to avoid potentially infectious droplets spreading between stylists and their customers.

Guidance issued by the National Hair and Beauty Federation says that chat is to be "kept to a minimum".

Discussions about styles and colouring should be made using the mirror, rather than face-to-face.

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