“We can’t wait to make everyone feel themselves again”: Hartlepool hairdressers get ready to reopen

Monday marks the first day this year that outdoor hospitality and personal care in the North East will be able to open the doors again, as the country moves into the next stage of lifting lockdown.

Michaela Porritt, general manager of At Ladies’ Room in the town’s Vision Retail Park, has said she is excited to welcome customers back and give them a much needed mood boost.

The salon is fully booked through April and has had to extend its working hours to meet the demand. Four new staff members have also come on board and the salon is looking to recruit more stylists.

Michaela said: "I am just so pleased that we are able to reopen.

"The lockdown has affected so many people mentally and I think hair and beauty treatments do have a big impact on mental health.

"When you look good, you feel good, as cringey as it sounds.

"A lot of our clients have said to us they can’t wait to feel normal again by having their hair done, or whether it’s their nails or eyebrows.

"We can’t wait to make everyone feel themselves again and feel good about themselves.

"The only thing I’m concerned about is that we can’t get all the clients in for an appointment.”

Michaela has added that safety of clients and staff will continue to be paramount, with one way system in place and staff wearing full PPE. Clients will be asked to fill in a wellness form before they go inside the building and will have their temperature taken on arrival.

Poppy’s Hairdressing’s top priority is also creating a safe environment for its team and clients, owner Janice Auton has said.

The salon, in Victoria Road, is providing an individual section and equipment to each stylist, which are being sanitised after every use. Clients ring a bell and are being taken directly to their styling chairs to minimise movement in the salon.

Janice said: “Sadly, we are hearing a side effect of Covid recovery is hair thinning loss we will be opening a private consultation room where Tracy Bourne, Poppy’s Salon manager is qualified to privately give expert advice on problems of hair loss and tailoring of wigs.”

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