Your year in lockdown: Fife hair salons count down to opening doors

The industry has been on hold for much of the last year as lockdown restrictions hit hard.

And business owners have taken time to reflect on the impact of the pandemic - and the road ahead.

Dom Panetta, owner of Migele Experience, said: “Coming back, we will be leaner and more agile being quick to change or adjust with what changes around us.”He is looking to recruit and grow the business which has been part of the town centre for decades.

“My hope for our town and town centre is that the people of our town buy from and support local businesses.”

Another long-term operator in the town is Byron Hairdressing in the town’s Alexandra Street. Owner Ronnie Marshall has changed procedures and systems within the business since lockdown - it offers flexible opening and working hours, giving customers more choice with appointment times and it has also given his team more flexibility with the days and times they work to create a work- life balance.

He said: “We have adapted well with the changes.

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“Communication has been key with the team and our salon guests so they understand the changes that have been made.

“The salon experience has now got additions to create as safe an environment as possible, we have also created longer appointments to allow us to have more time with our guests.”

“I hope that 2021 will see restrictions easing and a return to more freedom to travel and socialise, and above all allow us to have more physical contact with people.”

While hair salons may be counting down the days until they can re-open, for mobile hairdressers, life in lockdown still has several weeks to run.

They won’t be allowed to visit clients at home until April 26.

Steve Gunn from Glenrothes who has worked for himself since 1987 after learning his trade at Dom Migele.

He said: “We were able to work from last summer, but even then some clients were uneasy letting people into their homes, which was understandable.

“The aim is to keep them safe, as well as myself.”

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