Lancashire salons delighted to be be back in business after lockdown

Hard-hit beauty salons, tattoo parlours and tanning salons breathed a sigh of relief as they reopened this week after the coronavirus lockdown.
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After being forced to close in March when the pandemic struck, businesses across Lancashire were delighted to be generating an income once again.

New stricter rules including personal protection equipment for both operator and customer are in place.

But the salons are happy to say they are back in business.

Rachel Gray and daughters Lily- Mae, Lydia and Megan at Pink PsychoRachel Gray and daughters Lily- Mae, Lydia and Megan at Pink Psycho
Rachel Gray and daughters Lily- Mae, Lydia and Megan at Pink Psycho
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Tattooist Stu Allen, of Studio 81, in Friargate, Preston, said extra precautions had been taken and he was delighted to be back open again after more than three months.

He said customers would be asked to fill out a form with their contact details and all would have to wear masks.

Stu said: “We are cleaning more surfaces. Everything is sterilised anyway.

“Everything is single use disposable anyway, and our machines are disinfected afterwards.

Charli Hickson of Charli BeautyCharli Hickson of Charli Beauty
Charli Hickson of Charli Beauty
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“It’s been a long time – we are looking forward to seeing our regular customers.”

Charli Beauty of Penwortham was also seeing customers through the doors for the first time in nearly four months.

Owner Charli Hickson , a single mum, closed her Liverpool Road shop in March and went straight to a new job at Asda.

She said: “I had no choice – I needed money to keep a roof over our heads. In the end we got financial help through the Government schemes so I have had great support.

Nail salons had been closed for nearly four monthsNail salons had been closed for nearly four months
Nail salons had been closed for nearly four months
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“But I really needed to get back to work. I have missed it and my customers so much.”

Also open again are hairdressers and beauty salon Pink Psycho in Station Road, Wesham.

Set up by Rachel Gray, the family business opened a week ago for hair – and on Monday for nails and other treatments.

Rachel said they were new premises and recent weeks had enabled her to get the salon ready for opening.

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She said: “It is all appointments only and we have to alow extra time for each person.

“We are all wearing visors and all the appropriate equipment and we ask our customers a whole series of questions before they come in.

“We are being very careful but it’s great to be open.”

Spas, massage studios and physical therapy businesses have also opened their doors.

But restrictions remain in place banning treatments which involve work directly in front of the face.

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Government guidance states that face waxing, eyelash treatments, make-up application and facials should not be provided because of the greater risk of Covid-19 transmission.

Outdoor performances in open air theatres, including opera, dance and music, are set to restart from this weekend.

However to keep to social distancing rules, audience numbers will be restricted.

The Government has also said that indoor gyms, swimming pools and sports facilities can reopen from July 25.

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