Eden’s beauty industry got to back to work pampering and preening customers as premises reopened on Monday for the first time in nearly six months.
The latest tranche of businesses allowed by the Government to reopen following COVID-19 closures included beauty salons, tattoo studios, piercing studios, nail salons, massage parlours and tanning studios.
However, many businesses are being forced to offer reduced services with facial treatments still off the cards.
Opening in Penrith on Monday was Miss Flitty Tattoo and Piercing Parlour in Castlegate.
The business has been run by owner Claire Atkinson, 39, for three years and Claire said she made use of the extended break during COVID-19 closures to improve the studio.
Building work was carried out on the premises during the closure, which could have impacted business if they had been open.
Claire has also taken a Government-backed Bounce Back Loan to boost the business by using the money to have a new website designed, replan the studio and update some of the furniture and equipment.
Although piercing studios were allowed to reopen on Monday nationwide, Claire took the decision to only offer tattooing at present.
She said that although the piercing brought a large footfall to the shop, not offering enables them to ensure greater social distancing. This is supported by only offering appointment bookings, with no walk-in facilities available.
Claire said: “It’s a mixture of excitement — because everyone’s bursting to get back to work and clients want to get back — but it is also just getting used to the new routine.”
With customers keen to get back into the tattoo chair, both Claire and a second artist who works at Miss Flitty’s are both already booked up for around three months.
It was Manicure Monday for customers who flocked back to the Nail Bar and Beauty Lounge in Little Dockray, Penrith.
Owners Rebecca Boyes and Donna Taylor said customers were upbeat and excited to be back — as were staff.
They too had used the closure to improve their business and have given the premises a full top-to-toe makeover, with new nail stations, a resin floor and redecoration.
This has included moving some of the stations on to another floor of the building, to allow for social distancing, and installing plastic screens which separate the nail technicians from their customers.
Other measures introduced are taking customers’ details under the track and trace system, having no waiting area inside the shop, and staff wearing masks or visors while working.
Despite the changes, Rebecca said they had got good feedback from customers, with one elderly woman commenting how nice it was to be able to get out and have a face-to-face conversation with someone.
“We’ve put so many things in place to be safe — everything is immaculate — so I think that’s giving customers confidence to be here,” said Rebecca.
Despite being able to offer nail services, the beauty lounge aspect of the business is still largely on hold, with government rules meaning all facial treatments — such as lashes and eyebrow waxing — are not permitted.
Reopening of Armathwaite Hall Hotel and Spa was due to take place yesterday, although the spa it is currently only available to hotel residents.
