'We are ready to rock and roll': Northampton's hairdressers back in business as salons given green light to reopen

Northampton folks are officially waving goodbye to their split ends today as salons throughout the town have reopened their doors after staying shut for four months during lockdown - with some customers having to wait over two hours to have their hair trimmed at the barbers.

Never has there been a better time to be a loyal customer as the first call-backs on bosses waiting lists were first up in the chair - at Rockabelles it was Kerry Davis first up in the hot seat on her birthday.

Kerry, who was sporting bright pink and orange hair, said: "I booked my haircut as soon as Emma (owner) announced it. I'm friends with her on Facebook so I got in pretty quick.

"I'm just having a cut today - towards the last couple of weeks I've been pretty desperate but I don't mind waiting. I have got wild, curly hair so I can get away with it a little bit."

Emma Holloway, of Rockabelles in Dychurch Lane, said her creative team have never been more ready to bounce back and start styling again.

The salon owner who has been in town for five years said: "Our appointments now run right through until August and I think there are 48 people waiting to have a colour done in July.

"It's likely that we will be fully booked now until the foreseeable. We are all eager to rock and roll and get painting and cutting again."

Hairdressers at the salon, like many others throughout town, were wearing face coverings and up to 45 minutes has been set aside to wash down after those with more eccentric dos.

Daniel Granger, boss of Daniel Granger Hairdressing in Abington Street, however decided to remain closed today to settle his staff into the swing of things and ease their anxiety. They were practising on each other's hair today instead.

He added: "I want to see how everyone else has got on today at the 60 salons that I'm looking after.

"We are fully booked until Christmas with 2,556 people [on the waiting list]. What I've decided to do is not open, others are doing 8am-8pm and stuff like that, but my team this morning you could feel the anxiety and the fear. This morning is about them feeling fabulous, experiencing the client's journey first.

"I'm going to have my hair cut and they are going to have their hair cut and spend some time together as we haven't seen each other for three months. We are opening on Tuesday and we are fully, fully, fully booked."

Helen Barber, owner of Barbarella Hair in St Giles Street, is asking her customers to complete a questionnaire to help with track and trace.

She said: "We are doing everything we can to keep us and guests safe and that's our priority. We've sent out a detailed newsletter to our clients on what to expect so it's not daunting and scary.

"Some people are still really anxious and we are lucky with the space that we've got. We've got an isolation room shut off downstairs for people who are particularly vulnerable.

"We have a few older clients who fit into that category and pregnant ladies and also people who are nervous about being around other people. We are fortunate to have that, which is lovely, and I think it makes people feel safe which is the main thing, they feel safe and leave looking lovely."

Pictures all by Kirsty Edmonds.