Leven salons prepare to re-open

As the lockdown went on, Fifers were forced to reach for the clippers and try their best, despite lacking the years of training required to become a hairdresser. Quite often, the results were not good.

The good news is that the Scottish Government’s phase three on easing lockdown will see personal retail services, such as hairdressers reopen. However, customers will find a different kind of service than they are used to.

There will be no magazines to read, no waiting areas, and only one client per hairdresser at a time when Craig Boyd reopens his salon in the heart of Leven. Without any clear guidance from the Scottish Government, he has looked south of the border to see what measures could be brought in.

“I’m lucky in that I’ve got a big salon,” said Craig.

“We can work at every second station and keep social distancing in place. The staff will also have the correct PPE.”

Running at half capacity, salons like Craig’s also face a financial challenge, but he is just happy to be coming back.

“We can’t wait to get our customers back through the door,” he said.

The salon has also made the most of the break. The staff have been taking part in courses,including some related to Covid-19, while part of the salon is getting refurbished.

Craig says his Facebook page has been inundated with messages from people seeking hair tips since lockdown, and he has been doing his best to help – when he can.

“I’ve be able to give out some advice,” he said.

“Some cuts have been so wrong there is no way of fixing them.”

Sharon Adair, owner of the Nail and Beauty Studio, is making similar changes.

Touch-free hand sanitisers and wall-mounted soap dispensers have been installed on the walls, staff will be given the correct PPE, and customers will also be given a mask, should they not have their own.

Sharon does not even know what services the studio will be able to provide when it reopens.

“Hopefully with the new ‘normality’ we can still make the visit to the salon a welcoming and comfortable environment,” she added.