Northampton salons team up so everyone can get a good haircut when barbers reopen next month

Four St James salons will work together next month to make sure everyone gets a good haircut when they open again after the lockdown.

Barbers and salons across the UK will have more customers to tend to than ever next month when they are allowed to reopen their shops again on July 4.

And rather than go it alone, four stylists in Northampton have teamed up to make the relaunch in St James one to remember - and to make sure everyone can get some time in the chair after three months of lockdown.

The four St James salons - Octopus Hair, Beauty With Inn, The Gentleman's Quarter and Daniel Anthony - are working together to plan for how to run a hairdressing business in an era of social distancing and PPE.

Dana Toulson, owner of Octopus Hair, said: "Can you imagine the demand we're all going to have?

"We first reached out to each other to talk about how to get hold of PPE and now we're talking to each other about how to get ready to reopen again. None of us planned for this but it's been great having someone to turn to and ask their opinion on how to reopen.

"I've had mixed emotions about reopening but now I'm excited. We're as prepared for this we can be. Our customers know things will not be the same but they are happy because they will be able to come back and look fabulous again.

"We'll all have more than enough clients to go around so why shouldn't we support each other?"

The four salons aim to relaunch together on July 4 with balloons and displays in St James, and to support each other to make sure everyone gets a haircut.

The pandemic will have a long-lasting impact on how salons and barbers operate.

For Octopus Hair, Dana has had to refurnish her salon to cut down the number of work stations and remove the reception area to make it safer for customers.

She said: "It's such a social business normally. Now we've had to take away the toys and remove the reception area.

"But we've also managed to make an outdoor space so our staff can take a break with their PPE off. We're going to run special sessions for children and clients who need carers.

"We've got hundreds and hundreds of clients waiting to see us again, and they've all been so supportive."

It comes after the National Hair & Beauty Federation issued guidelines for how salons can operate after the lockdown.

It recommends that all appointments must be booked and to turn down walk-in clients, and for customers and staff to wear PPE or face masks.