Brits Are Being Told To Join Waiting Lists Now Or Risk No Haircuts For Months

Many UK hairdressers have already opened waiting lists for when salons re-open - so if you want your hair cut any time soon, you'd better get booking!

While the government originally told us that salons wouldn't be opening until mid July, The Telegraph reports that this could be moved forward to as soon as June in a bid to keep the economy afloat.

It looks like salons are preparing just in case, with Rush, Blue Tit, Duck & Dry and several Aveda salons already either accepting bookings, or opening up waiting lists for eager customers.

Basically, if you haven't got your name down, what are you doing?!

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Beauty app Treatwell has revealed its seen a staggering 410 per cent increase in appointments being made last week when compared to the beginning of lockdown.

And Luke Hersheson, creative director of Hereshons, told Tyla that their waiting list for July 4th already has 3,000 people on it, despite only launching at the beginning of this week.

"We decided to launch the waiting list because we didn't know when we were exactly going to open and we had so much demand that it seemed the right thing to do," he said.

"Also, we have such long standing, loyal clients that we wanted to give them the opportunity to come in as soon as they could and ensure our clients are treated in the right way".

Hairdresser Michael Van Clarke also has a 3,000 person waiting list at his Soho salon, he tells the Daily Mail's Femail.

There will be less appointments to spare across many salons, too, as they abide by new social distancing guidelines.

Michael added that he would be operating with a reduced team, and removing half of the seating in their central London salon.

Meanwhile, hairdresser Ricky Walters said he already has 2,000 clients on his waiting list - and they'll all have to wear face masks when they eventually have their appointments.

On Monday, Toni & Guy said it had 1,000 clients on its waiting list at its branch in Sloane Square, Chelsea; 800 at Wimbledon; and even 300 at East Grinstead.

And Gina Conway's Aveda Salons & Spas are said to have a wait list of "several hundreds" according to the reports.

It doesn't look like this is just a select few salons, either.

On hairdresser chain Rush's website, it advises: "You can still book today, by clicking on Find a Salon and following the links if you want to grab a date with your stylist for when Rush salons reopen."

While London boutique chain Blue Tit has also opened its waiting list, so you can be first to bag an appointment with your favourite stylist as soon as they reopen.

Unruly Curls in London is asking people to email in advance to 'register interest' in a haircut, and Afrotherapy has also opened its booking system again, with appointments cropping up from the start of July.

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Headmasters says a booking service is coming, too.

"We are making plans in the background to be able to open the booking centre at least two weeks prior to salons opening and working with Public Health England to identify what safety measures will be required upon re-opening," its website reads.

Plus, London blow-dry bar Duck & Dry has also opened its booking system again from mid-July, meaning that bouncy blow-dry you're after could be all booked up unless you get in there *stat*.

Speaking to Tyla about what people will want from their long-awaited hair appointments, Hersheson added: "I think people are really desperate to get their colour done.

"I think people, more so than ever, are now up for a change and something new. I think we'll see clients be a little bit more experimental with their hair."

The Hair and Barber Council - which represents 11,000 of the UK's 40,000 hairdressers - has said that many salon owners are keen to open by June 15th, alongside shops and non-essential food retailers

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And they're readying themselves for whatever may come next. So, basically, we need to do the same, too!

We don't have any official confirmation about whether this is a-go yet, but we'll certainly be getting on that waiting list just in case...

It looks like getting a cut and colour is going to be like the Hunger Games.

Topics: Beauty, Style News, Coronavirus, Hair

Joanna Freedman

Joanna is a journalist at Tyla with a particular interest in highlighting women's issues and telling inspiring first person stories. She's also their resident foodie, and loves covering exciting new beauty launches, too. Contact her at [email protected].

@joannafreedman