Hairdressers and barbers prepare to lop the lockdown locks

Monday, 6 September 2021

The owner of Hair Technique Whanganui, Allison Murray, is expecting to be busy later this week as most of the country moves to alert level 2.

Whanganui Hair Technique salon owner Allison Murray is “ecstatic” at the news she can open her hair salon on Wednesday.

“We are very happy to be back in business and very happy to comply with the new level 2 rules,” Murray said.

“It would be hard to wear a mask all day but we, of course, will because we need to be open.”

Murray has five staff all ready to come to work and a tenant that operates a beauty salon. More than 150 of her regular clients are getting their pre-lockdown appointments rebooked.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says all of New Zealand other than Auckland will move to alert level 2 from 11.59pm on Tuesday, September 7.

* Some hospo businesses 'opening the doors to lose money' in level 2

Hair and Barber NZ spokesman Niq James says level 2 means hairdressers can earn a living again.

* Barber business busier than ever after lockdown

“We will be very busy and are prioritising our regulars first, our first day will be huge,” Murray said.

“The women want their hair recoloured and this is what our first few days are focused on.”

After last year’s lockdown salon customers were queued out the door at some hair salons.

During the lockdown Murray had GST, provisional tax and suppliers to pay, and like other businesses she needed to get back into business to pay bills and staff. Her builder husband used the time to do some upgrades at the building she owns.

Head of the industry association, Hair and Barber New Zealand, Niq James said on Monday morning he was “nervous and excited” about the anticipated change to level 2 for south of Auckland.

“We don’t have any income at all really until clients can come into the salon as our online products are categorised as non-essential, so we were keen to get to work,” James said.

He said that the industry was made up mostly of women and many of them were running their businesses alone. He said for them to have their children back at school meant they could earn a living again without juggling parenting and running a business.

“Our hairdresser mums would be hugely relieved at the announcement they can get to work.”

He said that after the last move down to level 2 the industry lobbied for mandatory mask wearing for clients and salon staff at that level. James owns Headspace Hair in Christchurch and employs four staff.

“Physical distancing can’t be done obviously but masks keep us and our client safe. We were planning to require masks be worn and are pleased they are mandatory.

“Business needed to open, so we can feed our whānau and I am pleased with the decision,” James said.

James said his landlord had given him some rent relief but he said he knew this had not been the case for everyone.

“Rents were due for many on the first of the month and this has been very tough on our industry, and I really feel for my colleagues in Auckland,” he said.