PICTURES: Nurses among first to get hair done as salons reopen
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
HAIRDRESSERS, homeware shops, garden centres, car show rooms and churhes have all welcomed people back through their doors.
Churches welcomed congregations back - albeit socially distanced and wearing masks - in time for Easter services at the weekend.
And hairdressing salons and barbers got to work on those lockdown hairstyles yesterday.
Garden centres also reopened just as snowstorms raged across the north of Scotland, but with better weather on the way they are doing a brisk trade.
Among those enjoying getting their hair done professionally for the first time in months were nurses Edith Campbell and Mandy Davies.
Edith is a nurse at the Fiona Elcock Vaccination Centre in Elgin, Moray's main vaccination centre, which has been giving people their crucial Covid-19 vaccine jabs.
And Mandy is a cardiac nurse at Elgin Health Centre at Maryhill.
Edith said: "It is fantastic and so exciting to get our hair done."
She and Mandy were among the first clients welcomed back through the doors at Weir Hairdressing in Bishopmill.
"The girls here have been great and have kept in contact with us over the last few months," added Edith.
Mandy said: "This is amazing. I think all the women in Elgin will be smiling."
"I have been working and still seeing patients throughout."
Masks, temperature checks, hand sanitizer, appointment only, Track and Trace details and perspex screens were again the order of the day at the salon.
However, Mandy added: "It is just a way of life now. If this is what we have to to be able to go out, it is what we have to do.
"Lots of people are being vaccinated so that is a huge bonus."
The salon is run by sisters Moira Mulloy and Alison Milton and it was a day for a double celebration - welcoming customers and friends back after lockdown and the 21st anniversary of the salon opening in April, 2000.
They bought the building in 1999 and converted it to a salon, which had been their dream.
Alison said: "It is lovely to see the salon busy again and people back."
Moira added: "It feels a bit easier this time than when we came out of the first lockdown, because we know what we are doing now. Last June it was quite daunting.
"This is just the new normal and something we have to deal with."
It was a similar story at salons across Moray with diaries fully booked for weeks ahead.
And garden centres are hoping the end of the icy blast from the north will see people venture into the garden for some welcome lockdown respite.
Churches across Moray which have been conducting services online for months, were able to welcome members back for Easter services.
Rev Jenny Adams, Minister of Duffus, Hopeman and Spynie Church of Scotland, said: "It is good to be back and I am very pleased to see people again."
