Berkshire


<p>Happy hair days are here again (well, from 4 July… thank god). The Government&#8217;s given hair salons the green light to reopen. Whoop whoop. Great news if your lockdown locks resemble a dishevelled badger. Or you&#8217;ve you&#8217;ve attempted a DIY cut after watching a YouTube video and convinced yourself that your scissor skills were up to the job. *Ahem, raises hand*.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="480" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/GildedHairSalon-720x480.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-21606" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/GildedHairSalon-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/GildedHairSalon-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/GildedHairSalon-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/GildedHairSalon-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/GildedHairSalon.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /><figcaption>Jo Gilder at Gilded Hair in Wokingham</figcaption></figure>



<p>Yup, I&#8217;ve home dyed, hacked my hair and had an acrimonious reunion with my natural colour. Pretty it is not, so I&#8217;m booking in pronto. But what will lockdown lift off hair appointments look like? I caught up with Jo at <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/gilded-hair/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Gilded Hair in Wokingham (opens in a new tab)">Gilded Hair in Wokingham</a> to get the lowdown on salon life after lockdown.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="480" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Young-woman-bad-hair-day-720x480.jpg" alt="GIRL WITH HAIR OVER HER EYES, GLASSES bad hair day" class="wp-image-28232" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Young-woman-bad-hair-day-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Young-woman-bad-hair-day-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Young-woman-bad-hair-day-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Young-woman-bad-hair-day-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Young-woman-bad-hair-day-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Young-woman-bad-hair-day.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Help! Hair SOS</h2>



<p>Woah there. Hold your horses. We&#8217;re as excited as you are to get your back in the salon, but things are going to be different. For starters, if you need colour, you&#8217;ll have to have a new strand test in advance of your appointment. Four months or more out of the colour game is a long time and lots could have changed. </p>



<p>We&#8217;ll be doing telephone consultations to reduce the time spent discussing what we are going to do in the chair and, 48 hours before your appointment, we&#8217;ll call again to run through the Covid19 symptoms questions. Providing all those boxes are ticked, you&#8217;ll come to the salon and we&#8217;ll get you back to your gorgeous self.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Clock watching</h2>



<p>Appointments are going to be longer. I know, it&#8217;s not ideal for anyone, but we need to build in more time for cleaning and following the new procedures. Allow 60-90 minutes for a cut and 3-4 hours for a colour. At present, we&#8217;re not even sure if we&#8217;re allowed to blow dry hair, but we&#8217;ll keep everyone posted.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="480" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Salon-experience-1-720x480.jpg" alt="Hairdressing tools" class="wp-image-28235" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Salon-experience-1-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Salon-experience-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Salon-experience-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Salon-experience-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Salon-experience-1-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Salon-experience-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The salon experience </h2>



<p>Only two stylists will be working at any one time at Gilded Hair. We&#8217;ll be working in bubbles – 8am-2pm, close for a deep clean from 2pm-3pm and the second bubble will work from 3pm-9pm. Windows and doors will be open to help air circulate. It&#8217;s as close to taking the salon outdoors as you can get.</p>



<p>Don&#8217;t freak out, but we&#8217;ll be kitted out in PPE and will wear masks and plastic-free visors during appointments. You need to arrive wearing a face mask. We&#8217;ll take your temperature at the door and sanitise your hands, before showing you to the chair. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="480" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Hair-salon-coffee-720x480.jpg" alt="Hair salon coffee with scissors and comb on top" class="wp-image-28237" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Hair-salon-coffee-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Hair-salon-coffee-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Hair-salon-coffee-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Hair-salon-coffee-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Hair-salon-coffee-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Hair-salon-coffee.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Time out treats</h2>



<p>Love a salon coffee and a glossy mag? All gone (for now). No drinks will be offered, so bring your own. You also have to drink your bevvy when your stylist is nowhere near you. I know, it&#8217;s a lot to remember. Laptops are a no no, but a phone and a book are okay as long as you keep them on your lap. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">No more natter</h2>



<p>Some people love a natter with their hairdresser, others hate it. But the amount of chat will be reduced and will largely take place when stood behind you. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="495" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/12/KevinMurphyHairSHORT_Fotor-720x495.jpg" alt="Kevin Murphy short cropped hair" class="wp-image-12816" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/12/KevinMurphyHairSHORT_Fotor-720x495.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/12/KevinMurphyHairSHORT_Fotor-300x206.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/12/KevinMurphyHairSHORT_Fotor-768x528.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/12/KevinMurphyHairSHORT_Fotor.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Money money money</h2>



<p>Expect to pay a bit more. All salons are forking out on huge amounts of PPE to ensure you can safely get our hair done. Like all businesses coming into close contact with clients, that additional cost has to be passed on. It&#8217;s roughly an extra 10%-15%. So just bear that in mind. We&#8217;re also taking 50% deposits to avoid no shows for colour sessions. Previously we could work on more than one person during your appointment, but not anymore. No cash payments. Card only and contactless is even better.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Clean freaks</h2>



<p>Don&#8217;t be offended when we grab the Dettol and start cleaning down the chair the minute you vacate it. It&#8217;s not personal, but we&#8217;ve become Covid19 clean freaks. We reckon it&#8217;s a price worth paying for fabulous hair.</p>



<p><strong>Crikey, I&#8217;m so desperate to get my do done, I&#8217;ll clean the salon myself. If you&#8217;ve got a hair SOS, contact <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Gilded Hair (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.gildedhair.com/" target="_blank">Gilded Hair</a> for an appointment. Bagsy first dibs. Only joking… Go Go GO!</strong></p>


Happy hair days are coming

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