Cambuslang hairdresser on why safety has to come first before resuming her business

Barbara Fraser fears her business could take a serious hit even after lockdown is eased

A Cambuslang hairdresser has told the Reformer she doesn’t mind waiting until the third phase of the lockdown plan before resuming her business, as safety has to come first.

Self-employed Barbara Fraser, a hairdresser for 13 years, has not worked for two months.

Under the best case scenario laid out in the First Minister’s route out of lockdown, she would be able to resume work in July.

Barbara, left, who lives in Newton and works on Stonelaw Road in Rutherglen, believes it is worth waiting for.

She said: “It’s definitely the right thing to be cautious.

“It was a real strain in the weeks before the lockdown worrying  about it.

“I’ve got a young daughter and my parents are both over 70, so I was concerned I was going to be the wrong link and pass it on to someone.

“It was actually a relief when the lockdown was announced. So waiting a bit longer before starting up again makes sense to me.”

However, Barbara fears the post-lockdown period will hit hairdressers hard.

She explained: “People keep saying to me ‘oh, you’ll be rushed off your feet when you go back, but I don’t know if that will be the case.

“Many of the salons that have reopened in Europe have adopted ‘one in, one out’ policies.

“I’d often have two people in at the same time, and that’s not possible now. It won’t be business as normal, and we will all be needing to make sure we have PPE too, which will be an extra cost.

“Economically, it could be a nightmare, even when we are working again.”