Michelle Webber from Fibre Hair Salon – masked up and ready to see clients.
By Hayley James
Beauty therapists and hairdressers are scrambling to make up for three weeks of lost business – and work through a backlog of appointments.
Michelle Webber who owns home salon Fibre in Te Awamutu says coming out of lockdown level four, and the loss of revenue, adds up to more late nights and more days.
“But the work is waiting for you, that’s the good thing about hairdressing – I know I am going to make money when we get out of lockdown, whenever that is, so I’m happy to wait it out”
With three weeks of appointments lost, and no income, many salons are working longer hours and adding extra days to their schedules to compensate for the lost appointments.
“This time is not as overwhelming, I have learned to pace myself and to take breaks, my clients know the routine. When I cancelled bookings and said I would be in touch for rescheduling they were super understanding”
The wait time can be up to a month for those wanting a specific therapist, day, or time at another Te Awamutu salon, Luxe Skin and Beauty.
Owner-manager Tyla MacLennan says “although we aren’t having official extra late nights or days some of the girls are extending their hours on their normal days to fit clients in.”
She said hygiene standards are always high for the industry but even more so coming back from lockdown.
For Luxe Skin and Beauty Level 2 is busier – but with fewer clients than usual because additional work to prepare rooms, and equipment, changing linen, and getting clients from their cars instead of waiting rooms adds more time onto each appointment.
Hayley James is a Wintec journalism student
