THE President of the Irish Hairdressers Federation has appealed to Waterford hairdressers not to engage in so-called 'black market hairdressing' so that the entire industry can return as soon as possible.
Danielle Kennedy, who also works with Lloyds salon (they have a branch in Waterford), said she is sure there there is "some" black market activity going on but said that if all hairdressers "stand together and hold out" the industry will be back open sooner.
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said this week that hair salons will open "way later" than March 5 now, with revisions to the new 'Living with Covid' plan to be published in the coming weeks.
Danielle Kennedy said the continued closure is "disappointing" with many hairdressers now very worried about their businesses.
However, she says the industry is also fully behind the Government strategy to rid society of Covid. When revisions are made to this, she said the hope was there will be a clear plan for the hair industry and re-openings will take place a little sooner than after previous lockdowns.
"We were just getting over not opening until March and then we wake up today and see reports mentioning April," she told Damien Tiernan this morning.
"People are worried about their business and at this point, we just hope that the Living with Covid plan will provide more clarity in the next two weeks as to when we can re-open."
Lisa Cantwell, owner of Plush Hair Salon at the Woodlands Hotel in Waterford city, said the current situation was "disheartening" and she was in regular contact with her clients who missed getting their hair done but also the social side of attending a salon.
"It's not knowing (that's difficult)," she said this morning.
"People feel safe in salons. We have worked our backsides off to get everything in place in our salons and people feel safer in salons that in some places that are still open like supermarkets and banks."
Regarding the 'black market' situation, she said she didn't think it was widespread during this third wave as people were more nervous about contracting the disease due to numbers being quite high.
She said there were also some really good 'root sprays' available at the moment and with most people having got their hair done during the re-opening period in December, she didn't think people were rushing to 'black market' operators.
Louise Hanlon from 'The Bearded Lady' barber shop on Michael Street in the city also spoke to Damien Tiernan on Deise Today this morning.
She said it was very difficult at the moment for people in the industry with bills and rent to be paid. With barbers specifically, she was worried that men would get used to cutting and shaving their own hair and then won't return to barber shops when they do re-open.
You can listen back to Danielle, Lisa and Louise speaking to Damien this morning by clicking below here...
If you want to listen to the full Deise Today from this morning, click below here...
