A hairdresser from Co Derry has spoken out about the impact almost two years of restrictions have had on the beauty industry.
Valerie Kennedy has at the helm of Valerie Kelly Hairdressing in Eglinton for the past 16 years, but said coronavirus restrictions have made her feel as if she's starting out in the industry all over again.
She said the close contact hair and beauty industry has suffered during the pandemic, and now her salon is only able to operate at 50% capacity due to current restrictions.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Valerie said lockdown was the first time she was able to have a break for years.
"I was always very aware it was going to be hard work whenever I got back, but never realised just how hard it was going to be," she added.
"I feel like I've been pushed back at least 15 years. My business is 16 years old, so I feel like I've been pushed to being a fresh new business getting started out.
"I had went through the challenges of having to build my business again, and because of the restrictions I can't fill every seat. Personally, in my own career I've always been busy and I'm still busy, I'm booked up now for the next month again.
"If I have regular customers looking to get booked in, I can't book them the same way I used to. You're trying to get regulars booked in quickly but you can't, as you can't pack the salon out anymore. It has had a huge impact on the hairdressing industry, it's been hard going."
Valerie is part of Salon Logic, a UK-wide support group for the hair and beauty sector, consisting of members of the industry.
They carried out a survey of 600 members on December 30, 2021, and found many are under "extreme and unsustainable pressure" due to delays in government support and a focus on stay at home guidance.
During lockdown, two members of Valerie's team who had worked alongside her for 13 years left their jobs. However, she was able to get the positions filled in two weeks thanks to social media, but still worries about the time it may take to build up a rapport with customers.
She said: "Customers will make their minds up about where they want to go, they may not want to come into a salon where there's people they don't know. We're a village salon and in a town you're going to get a lot more footfall with passing trade, but in a village you're working with your own local people, and you're depending on them to support you all the time.
"So you can't really ask them to come in to somebody they don't know, it's going to take a while for new staff to build up a good clientele for themselves again. But I'm not scared of hard work and we will survive and we'll come through this."
As a result of working long hours and being under strain, Valerie said her health is beginning to take a toll.
"I'm actually seeing a chiropractor now because I've been in overdrive working all the hours God sends," she continued.
"I'm the first in and last out, making sure the salon is working and Covid friendly as well, that everything's safe for the clients. Being the boss, and doing the social media, and keeping things on track at all times, you can't take your eye off the ball for one minute now."
Valerie said that the hair and beauty industry are "definitely not getting the support we need" from the government.
She said: "We've been left to do our own thing, and to do the right thing. Everyone in the industry supports each other.
"It would be amazing to get another grant just to reassure us that our government is behind us. At the minute, you just don't know what Stormont are going to do as they say one thing and do another. We're all probably in the red and panicking, and we shouldn't panic.
"We can get out of it ourselves without the government by working hard, but if we knew they were behind us it would definitely help. With restrictions, we're still in masks and spacing people out, and we're operating at 50% capacity. Salons are safe - we're washing seats down after we use them, and everything gets sterilised.
"We're all in the same boat now. I think if people keep their heads up and work hard we'll get through this."
For the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter here.
