RETURNING TO LIFE BEHIND THE BARBER CHAIR: KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THAT FIRST WEEK BACK

Well…the time we’ve all been waiting the guts of a year for has finally arrived!

Time for us all to return to some sort of quote-unquote…‘normality’.

The kids are back at school for their final term before the Summer holidays. Men everywhere are getting their mammies and partners to iron the ‘good shirts’ so they can hit a (any) beer garden for cold pints. Stock is scarce as Primark finally reopens. And hairdressers, MUAs and barbers all over the county have wiped down their tools and opened their doors to walk-ins and appointments again. 

Here’s how our first week returning to life behind the barber chair went…

BEING ON THE SAFE SIDE!

Seems the most obvious starting point – new (temporary) ways of working.

As far back as 2002, millions of people worldwide consumed in awe footage of the Chinese wearing PPE everywhere…receiving mass vaccinations – when China became the epicentre of the deadly SARS virus. Now, almost twenty years later, we’re here (in Northern Ireland) living in very similar times. But that’s OK. By working together, we’re confident that we can maintain a fluid way of working that’s safe for all.

When it comes protecting ourselves and everyone who steps foot in the shop – know that we’re on it. While it’s great to be back at work…until such times as legislation (and our own better judgement) deems it safe to remove COVID signage, sanitising stations, protective screens, and full PPE – it will remain. These measures are in place for everyone to use – so feel free to use them to your heart’s content

WE’VE SEEN TO SOME CRAZY HEADS OF HAIR!

Many a dude this week has said to us – “THANK F**K YOUS BOYS ARE OPEN AGAIN!”

During those initial “What are you after?” interactions, none of the same said ‘dudes’ will mind us saying that we’ve seen everything from the ‘my bird cut it for me’ trim – to the ‘gone shave that off before people start throwing money at me’ beard – to the ‘I’m all for growing it out – but when it started tickling my back…’ disciple dos.

The way we look at it – after almost a full year of shop closure – we’re glad to welcome (just like before) all manner of hairdos and beards back to the chair. It genuinely warms us that so many new and familiar faces have this week penned ‘Visit The Barber’ high on their back to normality to-do lists. So fear not. It doesn’t matter what it looks like right now. Just give us a shout and we’ll get it sorted.

OH, NIPPING LOWER BACK PAINS…IT’S BEEN A WHILE!

Take it from us – there’s a lot more to barbering that short fades and beard trims.

Any (good) barber who stands behind a chair and leans over head of hair after head of hair six days a week will tell you that it’s not as easy as it may look to those watching from the waiting area. We know first-hand that those lower back pains can niggle out of nowhere and kick your arse slap bang in the middle of a heavy shift.

It’s easy to read helpful but totally unrealistic tips online that suggest we should ‘sit down whilst cutting’. A barber’s work is never done. May our backs be nipping like a wee granny’s – we stay dedicated to our game. We push on (albeit under the influence of Paracetamol and Deep Heat Rub) and let not a niggling lower back ruin our ability to adapt, overcome and hit the ground running. For you.

WE’VE MISSED YOU ALL!

It may sound pure cringe for a collective group of big, hairy barbers to come out and say…but we’ve genuinely missed you all in recent times.

The madness that knocked our doors over a year ago (*don’t say the C word…don’t say the C word*) forced us all into a new way of living like never before…irrespective of lifestyle, family dynamic, financial position or profession.

Returning to work after almost a full year off is for many, us included, a daunting, somewhat new (while it shouldn’t be) experience. Thankfully, as part of adapting to life in lockdown, we refused to fall out of touch with what we love.

In the absence of our beloved, home from home barbershops, we kept our eyes and ears open to changing customer requirements, ensured our skills were kept as sharp as our scissor sets, developed a range of exciting new products, and upped our digital marketing game – positive in the knowledge that folk from near and far would again…one day…flock through our doors for trusted grooming products and services.

We’d like to take this opportunity to welcome you all back, say thanks for staying with us throughout the past year, and wish well everyone out there lifting their shutters again in the coming weeks.

We’re ready and waiting.

Come see us soon!