Northern Ireland’s hair and beauty industry lacks date for reopening

The Northern Ireland Executive has published a five-point plan for a phased exit from Covid-19 restrictions, with ‘contact retail’ such as hair salons listed in the fourth step.

However, no dates have been given for when each step will happen, with the Executive saying this will be led by the science and not by a calendar setting artificial deadlines.

The owner of a Belfast hair salon has criticised the lack of dates and said it was “not good enough”. Andrew Mulvenna voiced his worries that the lack of certainty was pushing some hairdressers to flout the rules, both risking further infection spread as well as undermining the profession. He said Stormont needs to give some dates because because the sector needs to plan ahead.

Barbers in the North already expressed concern about the number operating in the black market during lockdown. Garry Jackson, who runs Garry's Barber Shop in Holywood, Co Down, said some barbers were blatantly breaking the law, possibly transmitting the virus and charging over-inflated prices for their services, without being insured or paying tax.

Meanwhile, with salons in the Republic given a July reopening date, The Journal ran an online poll asking readers ‘Should hairdressers open up before 20 July under strict measures?’ and 61.6% said yes.

In a statement, the Hairdressing Council of Ireland said it is ready to see all the hairdressing community back to work as soon as possible. “However, we have to be guided by the HSE, the HSA and Government and recognise that we are not health and disease experts. Therefore, we as a Council will not be pushing for an earlier start date than is recommended by them. The key message is: ‘When it is safe to do so?’. Roll on 20 July.”