Edinburgh hairdressers reopen for the first time since lockdown began

Hairdressers and barbers across the country are welcoming back clients who might be returning with dodgy home haircuts or dye jobs as they reopen for the first time since lockdown began.

In the First Minister’s announcement last Thursday, Ms Sturgeon announced that hairdressers and barbers could reopen with enhanced safety measures in place such as face coverings, floor markings and perspex screens.

Since the announcement, salons across the Capital have been working to ensure that their premises were fit to protect both staff and clients and are booking appointments well into August. Some salons have even boasted waiting lists of over 200 people.

Queues were seen this morning as early as 7:30am for several barbers in Linlithgow, with clients asked to sign a self-declaration form and Covid-19 questionnaire and have their temperature taken before entering.

Ms Sturgeon described the move to phase three out of lockdown as ‘the biggest step so far’ in reducing measures, but also stressed that the relaxation would pose the ‘biggest risk’ to another spike of the virus.

Last Thursday coinciding with the announcement, Hilary Hall, chief executive of the National Hair and Beauty Federation, said: “The Scottish hair and beauty industry generates a turnover of over £600 million, which is 8% of the UK total. As well as the economic contribution, this sector is also imperative to our well-being and so we are delighted that hairdressers and barbers will be able to return to work on July 15.

“Protecting clients and employees is their top priority so our members have already been preparing their salons to make them safe to re-open. They are reporting that they are fully booked for the near future which is positive news and should mean that businesses can recover and grow from the pandemic.”