BRITS desperate for a haircut after weeks of lockdown are in luck as Boris Johnson could allow hair salons and barbershops to reopen within less than two weeks.
It had been feared salons and barbershops could stay shut until the end of July to curb the spread of coronavirus.
But now the Prime Minister is considering proposals to reopen them later this month, The Telegraph reports.
Many Brits have not had a haircut for more than 10 weeks or have been forced to attempt a DIY job at home.
It’s understood ministers are discussing moving forward the date as part of the drive to kickstart the UK economy as quickly as possible.
And Downing Street believes salons could be open as early as June 15 with employees wearing ‘dentist-style’ PPE to protect against coronavirus.
It’s the date non-essential shops will start to reopen.
This follows calls from the Hair and Barber Council which represents 11,000 salons across the country, to open the sector within the next fortnight.
Hairdressers and barbers are likely to be kitted out in ‘dentist-style’ PPE when they’re at work.
One insider familiar with the plans told the Telegraph: “Hairdressers were supposed to be the next thing. Boris has talked about unleashing the great British haircut again. It would be treated under similar rules to dentists.”
And a Number 10 source refused to rule out hairdressers opening from mid-June and said the PM was “moving cautiously” and “monitoring the situation before making anymore moves.”
Keith Conniford, the CEO of the Hair and Barber Council, previously said most practitioners and barbers would be ready for reopening in mid-June.
He said: “I have spoken to a number of practitioners I know within barbering and hairdressing and resoundingly they said yes.”
Businesses have also been asked to get “Covid ready” before opening back up to customers.
In hair salons, this could include staggered arrival and departure times, using screens or barriers for separation and keeping the activity time as short as possible.
Hilarious photos have been circulating online of ‘home haircuts’ – with some truly dreadful results.
During the pandemic, some stylists have even been flouting lockdown rules by secretly working from home.
The Sun revealed last month that hairdressers have been posting adverts on classified websites – like Gumtree and community app Nextdoor.
But many stylists insisted they aren’t doing anything wrong as they are wearing masks and gloves.
Some have been advertising their skills at discount prices in a bid to get business, even boasting of their training at “award winning” salons in Central London.
A post on NextDoor advertised a Brazilian blow dry at “half the cost in a salon”.
One hairdresser – who did not want to be named – told The Sun: “I have a home salon, and I don’t qualify to be furloughed so I have to make money somehow.
It comes as other shops are set to reopen on June 15 with strict social distancing regulations.
These will include a ban on trying new clothes, make-up and testing products.
Tough new social distancing measures also include hand sanitiser for staff and customers, quarantining of returned items and staggering times for click and collect orders.
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