Lockdown restrictions will ease on Monday, allowing beauticians and hairdressers to reopen.
Many people have eagerly awaited haircuts, pedicures and spa treatments since the third lockdown began in early January.
Consequently, businesses in the Harrogate district are bracing themselves for a hectic month. Many customers are struggling to get appointments.
The Treatment Rooms in Harrogate has been shut since December 30 and set up a waiting list six weeks ago to deal with high demand for bookings.
Alex Smith, owner of The Treatment Rooms, said:
“We’re fully booked for the first month and we wanted to make sure we were booking in our loyal customers first before we can fit in new customers.”
Ms Smith said this has been the busiest return from any lockdown so far.
“It could be because the weather’s getting nicer, pubs are reopening or because people have this hope that this will actually be the last time.
“Either way, we can’t wait to go back and see some normality.”
Aimes Health and Beauty in Knaresborough is almost fully booked April, but owner Amy Dodsworth thinks the beauty industry could be adversely affected after the initial rush.
Ms Dodsworth said:
“I think we will be affected by people maybe not feeling safe enough to go out yet, and even working from home might affect business because people won’t want their nails doing as much with no one to see them.
“But we’re looking at the positives. Now is the time to get pampered and have something to look forward to.”
Susan Schofield, owner of the salon Headroom Harrogate described the measures it has instigated to make customers feel safe:
“We have the screens between each customer and all of the team will be wearing masks and visors. We are also doing a few early mornings to ensure we can properly clean each station before every customer.
“Reopening is an exciting time but it is a strange feeling. We’re looking forward to seeing how the first busy week goes.”
Montpellier Beauty in Harrogate, which is also opening its doors on Monday, has kept in touch with clients about government guidelines to demonstrate continuity of care.
Owner Judy Robson said this lockdown has caused stress and uncertainty for the business.
“It has prevented us from implementing some development plans moving the business forward, but has also afforded us some reflection time to brainstorm!
“We have been in survival mode, but are now emerging excited about reopening and thankful that all our lovely, loyal clients have been so supportive and we can’t wait to get back.”
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Harrogate beautician warns treatments could happen “underground”A Harrogate beautician has told the Stray Ferret that she is seriously worried for the industry as people are being driven to go “underground” to be able to make a living.
Beauty salons now have the green light to reopen but therapists will not be able to perform many of the treatments that are their “bread and butter”, she said.
Treatments which involve work directly in front of the face are not allowed under government guidance.
Michelle Mohindra, owner of Coco Tan
Michelle Mohindra, owner of Coco Tan, which is a group of three salons in Harrogate, told us that she has some major concerns:
“We have been given green light to go ahead and then told we can’t do certain treatments. People are so desperate to do treatments and to earn money again that we are actually driving our reputations and our industry underground and I am very concerned that we are going to damage our industry.
“People feel they have no choice but to carry out treatments behind their front door and they shouldn’t be doing that, but I understand we have been forced into a very difficult place.”
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Michelle went on to say that despite a demand for other treatments, they have lost customers.
“We have had lots of clients that wanted to book in, but because we can’t do any work to the face we have lost the appointment. Sometimes it doesn’t make sense to us that we can wax from the neck down without any issue at all but we can’t touch anyone’s face. This means no eyebrow waxing, no threading and no lashes, and people are desperate to have these done.”
With the cost of PPE rising, this creates another challenge for salons.
“There’s a lot of financial concern because of the cost of PPE. We used to purchase a box of face masks for £3.99 – the price of this just quadrupled overnight, so we have had to budget very, very carefully to staff the salons with the budget we have.”
It comes as questions are being asked by the beauty industry about why barbers can offer a beard trim but a beautician can’t offer treatments such as eyebrow waxing.
Harrogate beauty therapists upset they cannot re-openBeauty salons, tattooists and tanning salons now have the green light to reopen from Monday 13 July but some types of beauty work are still banned.
Treatments that involve work directly in front of the face such as facial waxing, eyelashes, make-up application and facial treatments are not allowed due to the much greater risk of transmission.
The Stray Ferret has been speaking to some local beauty businesses who still won’t be able to re-open on Monday.
Anna Jones, Owner of Harrogate Electrolysis
Anna Jones who is the proprietor of Harrogate electrolysis said she feels “very hard done too.”
“I specialise in permanent hair removal and 95% of my work is facial so there’s just no way I can re-open. I felt totally deflated yesterday and I think it’s very unfair, as medical procedures such as facial aesthetic work can resume as they deem that as a ‘sterile and clinical environment’ but what I do is no different. I have always worn PPE and I work in a totally hygenic way but yet I am still in the beauty bracket rather than medical… I just feel left in the lurch.
“I’m hoping that by august we will get open, but to totally rule out facial treatments is just ridiculous. If they actually knew the figures, the bread and butter of the industry is facial- more needs to be done to help the beauty industry.”
Charlotte Wilson, Owner of CW Artistry
Charlotte Wilson who owns CW Artistry in Harrogate also feels ‘furious and upset’ by the restrictions.
“I am a makeup artist and lash technician so 100% of my work is facial… I feel annoyed as people are able to get on a flight and go to a pub, yet I can’t open even though I have a medical level of PPE and know it’s a safe environment. I initially thought I would be able to open at the same time as hairdressers so I had provisionally booked my clients in and I had a full diary for three weeks, but then when beauty was given the green light and i still can’t open its pretty devastating.”
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Charlotte who is 25 started her beauty business in January 2019:
“Financially its been terrible. I have had no help as I’ve not been self-employed long enough and I still live with my parents. I am hoping my clients will come back, but I can’t see the makeup side of my business being very busy as a lot of my work is weddings and there just isn’t any going ahead and also people aren’t going out to events every weekend so they have no reason to get party makeup.”
Ripon hairdressers ready to cut hair and chat
Scissors, trimmers, combs and brushes, along with face shields, masks, hand and surface sanitisers, are at the ready as Ripon’s hairdressers prepare to cope with the pent up demand tomorrow..
For Sharon Bielby, who owns and runs a men’s barbers shop bearing her name and Deborah Chalmers, owner of Love Hair and Beauty Boutique, it’s going to be a busy weekend.
The new post-lockdown reality means no magazines to read, a strict one in, one out system and chat kept to the absolute minimum.
Both women,say it’s going to be strange re-acquainting themselves with customers who have become more like friends than clients, but they appreciate that the hygiene and social distancing measures are there to protect everybody.
Deborah Chalmers, in her hair and beauty boutique
Deborah, who has been involved in the beauty business since leaving Ripon Grammar School aged 15, told The Stray Ferret:
“We have had a refurbishment over the past few weeks and are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our customers and staff.
“Unfortunately, that means no conversations while we cut and style hair, which will be difficult, because I haven’t been able to see customers face to face for ages.”
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Sharon, whose North Street shop is approximately 100 yards down the road from Deborah’s, is booked to provide dozens of haircuts over the weekend. She said:
“It will be odd cutting hair while wearing a face shield and that in itself will make speaking difficult.”
In spite of being closed since 23rd March, her premises, have provided a shop window for bird houses and bee homes made by adults with learning disabilities at the Jennyruth Workshops charity.
Sharon, pointed out:
“Jennyruth had the shop before I took it over six years ago and I thought it would be nice to help them raise funds. I’m pleased to say that I have been able to sell quite a few during the lockdown, as people rang me to ask for them and I’ve delivered to their homes.”
For Deborah, the coronavirus crisis meant she has temporarily lost out on revenue that would have come from her core business of providing hairstyling and make up for brides and bridesmaids.
Since March, she has had 40 wedding postponements and though this was a devastating blow, she felt the need to give something back during the lockdown to her home city.
She turned her hand to supporting friends Annette and Nathan Kite, by volunteering to cook hot meals for 14 weeks, which were delivered to people in need around Ripon.
Deborah, added: “This gave me a purpose that helped me to get through these difficult months.”