Salons inundated with booking after lockdown easing announcement

Salons across Scotland and customers desperate for haircuts are rejoicing after the First Minister announced yesterday that easing of lockdown restrictions would see hairdressing salons and barbers reopen along with garden centres from April 5.

Twisted Sister hairdressing salon in the east end of Glasgow has seen bookings piling up already, with owner Courtney Stewart saying she cannot wait to have customers back from April 5.

Philip Politi, owner of his well-established and eponymous salon in Corstorphine, said the news of an earlier reopening date than expected is “absolutely fantastic” for him, his staff and his customers.

Politi explained that almost as soon as Nicola Sturgeon unveiled the plans, he was inundated with booking requests and calls from clients eager to get back in the chair at his salon.

“When she announced that we could reopen on April 5th, we just about died because it was three weeks ahead of schedule. At that very second too, my phone began to buzz with calls, WhatsApp messages and emails began flying in.”

“The clients are just unbelievably grateful,” Politi added. “People are desperate to get out and get back to a little bit of chat and normality, and that’s exactly what we do as hairdressers - we’re non-judgemental and listeners more than anything else.”

Dylan Brittain, Rainbow Room International’s George Square salon owner in Glasgow and Current Scottish Hairdresser of the Year, commented: “After the last lockdown we were fully booked for 12 weeks after we opened with further demand for rebooking and most clients booking three appointments in advance.

"This time, we expect to be very similar, as clients won’t have had their hair done since Christmas or before and they will be ready to book in for their spring revamps and to get a fresh new look in time for the warmer weather.”

Over in Glasgow, Courtney Stewart, owner of Glasgow hairdressing salon Twisted Sister, said she was delighted to finally have a reopening date for her salon and already has a full set of bookings for the first week of reopening.

“We had been expecting the announcement on or after April 26th,” Stewart explained, “so to be told it would be so much earlier was great because everything can get moving so quickly.

“For me, my clients are my friends,” she added. “They’re so loyal, I’ve had them for years and the most exciting thing won’t even be cutting their hair again, it’ll be getting to chat and catch up with them after so long.”