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Picture this, Ireland 2020/21
The world has turned into a scene from a horror movie,
masked zombies riot the streets of the emerald isle, a deadly virus fills the air and threatens to wipe out mankind. The streets are empty and the shops are closed. The world is one big ghost town! If I’d have told you this before 2019 you’d think I was talking about the plot to a movie and maybe one day it will be? But we lived, not all of unfortunately, many of us lost loved ones, and are still living in this world!
Salons across the country have been closed half of the year and I’d really like to take a moment for the salons that didn’t survive, maybe they couldn’t cope financially, maybe it was too stressful in this new world order, maybe it was just their time. I applaud you for making the tough decision to close your doors as when faced with difficult decisions, I had to close one of my salons and it was a tough choice to make.
As the government fed us with information and facts we became more and more confused and disillusioned and I for one didn’t understand half of it. The mental health of our industry plummeted and it’s been desperate to watch. We took to our beds and hid from the world, me included! It’s been, personally, one of my most difficult years! But then I saw a change, hairdressers who once wouldn’t share their secrets online, free of charge, helping the hair and beauty industry rise to its feet. Organisations came together for the greater good to see how to solve the problems facing us. Educators created free training platforms for all, salons communicated with their staff in Zoom meetings, Industry experts gave advice that would usually cost a fortune! Salons created new business through online stores, we communicated with our clients even though we couldn’t see them.
I won world’s best stylist, Barber of the Year, and became the new President of the Hairdressing Council! What was happening, this wasn’t the usual state of play? I’ll tell you what happened, we adapted, we moved on, we came together as an industry and fought for our right to be fabulous. The press called out for us, clients begged us to come back to work, we worked harder, longer, tougher, stronger and we got the job done! We were appreciated by all. And then news of a vaccine, is this good news, let’s hope so. Then Boom! Another level 5 Lockdown with figures higher than ever. As we go through these awful times again, remember, we will return and get through this together. Why? because we’re ‘Super Heroes’, we’re ‘Hairdressers’ and on a daily basis we can do anything!
Wayne x We adapted, we moved on, we came together as an industry
Hair: Wayne Lloyd Photography: KEST
