Should barbers and hairdressers be classed as key workers?

barbers key workers

A new survey has revealed that more than a third of Scots want their barbers to be classified as key workers if the nation faces another lockdown.

The survey of 1,500 people also found 33% wanted barbershops and salons to be excluded from future government-ordered high street closures.

It was men who were more worried about their haircut (or lack of it), with 36% of men saying they wanted their barber to remain open if the country faces another lockdown. This was compared with 31% of women.

The study also found that 61% of women had attempted at least one DIY haircut during the lockdowns. But only 53% of men had given their hair a go themselves.

The poll was commissioned by Sovereign Grooming, which has salons in New Waverley in Edinburgh and Union Street in Aberdeen.

Kyle Ross, managing director of Sovereign Grooming said: “Like most, we’ve been overwhelmed by the client response to us reopening after lockdown and our diaries have been packed for six weeks.

“Therefore, I’m not surprised to see such a large proportion of men, in particular, keen to see salons remain open. They play a big role in male mental wellbeing.

“The Scottish Government’s approach to salons changed quite dramatically between the first and second lockdown.

“After the first, salons were among the last businesses to reopen. However, this time around the government had us in the first wave to open.

“The reality is that salons are very well controlled and sterile environments, which can be operated safely with social distancing in place.”

Kyle also revealed one major change since the last lockdown – the rising popularity of longer, mainly retro, hairstyles like the mullet!

 

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