Hair worries? Meet the Yaxley hair dresser with a vision for her salon after lockdown

Businesswoman and mum-of-two, Donna Young (33) who opened Locks & Shades, in Mere View, three years ago and which now has 13 staff, faced losing it all after being forced to close.

Determined to save her business she has looked overseas to create an ambitious plan to re-open the salon.

She is confident hair dressers can cope with social distancing regulations once the Government allows them to re-open - but says it will be tough.

Donna, who had invested £20,000 in training, marketing and a refurbishment of her salon ahead of a planned expansion, said: “Hairdressing will have to find a new normal upon re-opening.

“Before Covid-19 we might have 20 plus clients and staff in the salon at one time and quite often a full waiting area.

“When we reopen it’s likely to be nearer a third of that if we are lucky.”

She said: “As the physicality of our job doesn’t allow for social distancing we have invested in disposable aprons, gowns, masks, visors and gloves. We’ll also have hand sanitiser stations and disposable cups for refreshments. We’ve invested in an air purification system.”

Donna said that guidance to salons has not been clear and she has been left looking at measures being used by salons in other countries.

“It is looking likely our team will need to be split into two or three separate sub teams and our opening hours will be extended to cope with the high demand for our services whilst operating at lower efficiency.

“All these practical safety precautions are much needed to ensure the safety of our team and our clients.

“But I am very aware that having your hair done should be a relaxing, enjoyable experience.”

Following the enforced closure, Donna furloughed her staff and launched an online shop offering tutorials - including how to fix botched DIY jobs – and grew the salon’s Instagram following to 3,500.

She also offered a hair clipper rental service and launched virtual hair consultations.

Donna said: “When we first had to close I was in fight mode. Everything I’d built could be lost.

“I’ve encouraged myself and the team to fill our time with charity work, educating ourselves, keeping the team together, keeping morale high and putting business survival plans in place to ensure we come back from this a strong and growing business.

“It is a struggle every day, but what other choice do small business owners have?”

“I have put my life savings and 20 years of salon knowledge into my business and letting it wither away is not an option.

“I have apprentices that have put their future careers in my hands and I have to keep going for them if not for myself, my family and my other employees. It is fight or flight mode at the moment, and myself and my employees are definitely fighters.”