Peterborough’s hairdressers fully booked until August within days

Rachel is preparing for a busy few weeks (picture taken before the start of lockdown)

As many of us have been looking forward to getting our hair done hairdressers across the city have been planning and preparing for bookings from July 4 as salons can reopen.

Inundated with messages and calls, Kirsty Brown, Kirsty’s Hair and Beauty, was ‘overwhelmed’ after the announcement. She said: “We made a decision to start booking provisionally at the beginning of June, it was quite overwhelming. You don’t realise how many people you see until you have to contact them all!”

With a handful of appointments left until August, Kirsty has put a number of measures in place to make sure she can see everyone. She said: “It’s very much a case of stretching some of our hours to ensure we can work efficiently and safely!

“Pre lockdown we were deep cleaning after every client, so that part won’t be a challenge. We will be wearing visors and masks which seems a tad daunting but we will try to act as normal as we can with our clients.”

For Kirsty’s salon, like many others, the creature comforts of the salon aren’t possible. So there will be no waiting area, clients have to arrive punctually or wait in their car. The usual magazines and cups of tea and coffee are also unavailable.

Beside fixing some dodgy lockdown hair decisions, Kirsty is looking forward to welcoming back her customers who she sees as friends. She said: “Being a hairdresser is so much more than just doing hair. You build relationships with your clients and they are our therapy as much as we are theirs. I’ve heard of no colour disasters yet but a few cutting ones. Mostly gents getting the clippers on it- as a lockdown trend. It’s all fixable though!”

Solo hairdresser, Rachel Brightey who runs Hair By Rachel from her home salon has been able to book multiple appointments as she doesn’t need to socially distance from anyone else. She said: “My phone was buzzing within the hour of Boris’ announcement. I’m now fully booked until the end of July. I’d already put in place and bought most of the things to go with government guidelines and as I’m a solo salon the distance restrictions and others in the salon were covered. We all know things will be different but we have to be sensible but I’m looking forward to seeing my lovely clients.”