Hairdressers and barbers reopen for business as rules ease

Hairdressers and barbers are back open for business as Scotland’s route map out of lockdown continues.

From Monday, they are able to reopen for pre-booked appointments.

Garden centres, homeware stores, car dealerships and click and collect retail services are also able to reopen.

Tony Mann opened his barber shop in Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, at 6am to enable people to get their hair cut for the first time in months.

It will be a busy day for the four barbers working, with 96 customers booked in on April 5 when the shop is open until 8pm.

When he reopened in July last year after the first lockdown, Mr Mann opened at midnight and worked for 24 hours.

He decided not to do the same this time but is excited to be welcoming back customers to Tony Mann’s Barber Shop.

Mr Mann said: “It’s been four months since the last day we cut hair so the feeling today is slight anxiety and slight worry, like ‘is everything going to go to plan’, but I’m also feeling really excited and happy because my shop is open again.

“We start at 6am and finish at 8pm. I didn’t fancy doing another 24-hour shift this time but we’re open long enough. Last time we did 24 hours but what I’ve come to realise is doing shifts like that is not good for you.”

He said customers have been delighted to be able to book haircuts again.

Mr Mann said: “It’s mental health, getting a haircut and making yourself feel good is a big part of life, and if you can’t make yourself feel good and you only get it from a small variety of places then you’re not going to be in a particularly good place.”

His brother Maxx Mann was one of the first people in Scotland to get a haircut on Monday and was delighted with the result.

He said: “It’s a good feeling. It’s been a long few months but it’s always worth the wait if you know you’re coming for Tony to cut your hair.

“I usually get my hair cut one every week or once every 10 days so to go months and months without isn’t ideal, I’m sure the general public probably feel the same.”

Barber Tony Mann trims his brother Maxx's hair after his shop reopened. — Barber Tony Mann trims his brother Maxx’s hair after his shop reopened. PA Media

University and college students are now allowed to return to on-campus learning, and outdoor contact sports for 12-17-year-olds can resume.

The Scottish Government’s ‘stay at home’ order was lifted on Friday and replaced with guidance to ‘stay local’, which urges people to remain within their own local authority area for at least the next three weeks.

Additional updates are expected throughout April, however Scotland is on schedule to ease restrictions further with cafes, restaurants, and gyms expected to open from April 26.

Non-essential shops, libraries, museums and galleries will also reopen from that date, and six people from up to three households will be able to meet outdoors.

In bloom: Garden centres have reopened.

Beer gardens will be able to open until 10pm, but pubs will have to wait until May 17 to reopen indoors.

Hospitality will be able to open indoors from April 26 until 8pm each day, but only for food and non-alcoholic drinks.

On Easter Sunday, deputy first minister John Swinney urged Scots to continue following the coronavirus restrictions as rules ease over the holiday weekend.

He said: “The virus is down but it’s not yet out, and the last thing we need is to see it making a comeback and undoing all the progress from the massive effort and sacrifices we have all had to make.

“My message is simple – enjoy the latest relaxing of the rules but remember to look out for each other too. Together we will beat this virus.”