Keith salon team working hard to trim backlog
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THE team at one Keith hair and beauty salon are putting in all the extra hours to trim its lockdown backlog.
Stylists and therapists at Shears Hair and Beauty Retreat have been thoroughly enjoying being back in action following their four-month closure – with owner Sally Morrison saying the restart felt like opening for the first time.
The Scottish Government gave the go-ahead for the hairdressing sector to reopen on July 15 as part of its phase three route map out of lockdown.
The salon's two beauty therapists were back on board a week later, on July 22.
The team of 11 are currently working seven days a week, from 8am to 8pm, in a shift pattern designed to ensure the salon is never too full at any one time, allowing for social distancing.
Sally said the Shears team had kept in contact throughout lockdown by a group chat.
She said: "I think the novelty of a long holiday had started to wear off for many of us. As we approached reopening the excitement started to build among the girls. There were nerves too but it was more an excitement.
"A lot of the girls said they felt like they were starting a new job. And I felt like I was opening a salon for the first time.
"Some clients said they felt a bit nervous. For some, especially older clients, coming to us was their first time properly out of the house.
"It's been a massive change for us all – getting used to wearing the PPE and all the new ways."
The salon itself was given a makeover ahead of reopening and the number of chairs in the salon front was cut from 10 to five to ensure people could avoid close contact.
Sally added they were lucky that the Mid Street salon was a large space, with extra rooms, meaning the social distancing aspect hadn't presented too many challenges.
She added: "It's been extremely busy. The phone has been ringing non-stop.
"As stylists, the job has been really satisfying since we reopened as clients are coming in for real makeovers – not just the usual trims.
"Because we're working seven days a week – with some of the girls doubling their hours – we're managing to get clients booked in within four weeks. A lot of work has gone into fitting appointments into the system. And our customers have been really appreciative of this."
Sally added: "The one aspect that is a bit frustrating is that we do people's hair all nice – and we know they're smiling underneath the mask – but we don't get to see that properly. Many have been sending us pictures once they've got home.
"My team have been amazing at working to the new norm, although by end of day they are more than ready to throw off the masks."
