As hair salons and barbers reopened on Saturday some are using cutting edge technology to keep customers safe.

While most salons have staff wearing plastic visors, and are asking customers to wear face masks and sanitise their handers on entering, some have introduced extra measures.

Lisa Marie Torbett is using some of the newest sanitising technology at Minnie's Hair Studio in Helston.

She is using a UVC LED ultraviolet box to steralise scissors and other tools, explaining: "The effect is stronger and faster, the efficiency is as high as 99.9 per cent.

"Ultraviolet rays directly destroy the DNA of bacteria and destroy all bacteria."

She is also Enozo 3 equipment to clean with, which creates an ozone cleaning spray that, according to its literature, is capable of cleaning up to 99.9 per cent of most bacteria using just water as a cleaning agent, removing the need for chemical cleaners.

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Customers will asked for a £3 fee towards the cost of the personal protective equipment they will be provided with, unless they bring their own with them.

Andy's Barbers in Helston has introduced a new customer booking app to make sure there is no waiting around.

The business now has a profile on the Booksy app, where people can book cuts and beard trims, although legislation states that shaves can still not be carried out at this time.

Other salons, such as Head Rush in Helston and The Cutting Edge in Falmouth are carrying out temperature checks with contactless thermometers before customers enter the doors.

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Head Rush owner Becky Cross is having to take extra precautions due to shielding, and will not return to work until August, but the salon's other staff opened on Saturday - and their hard work paid off.

One customer, who was particularly nervous about returning, wrote afterwards to say staff "did her proud", adding: "Still the same welcome but safe, and I'm still cautious so appreciate the changes."

The Cutting Edge has created a walk-through video on Facebook showing exactly how appointments are carried out as people arrive.

At BeGorgeous in Helston sister owners Laura and Belinda have gone as far as knocking down walls to help staff socially distance better.

The salon's dispensary room has been opened up so that it is bigger for staff to be able to distance themselves when mixing colours and treatments, with reception area moved and redesigned to give more room.

They have also added screens in between each styling station and wash basin, with each client given their own 'PPE bag' that has their own gown, towels and clips that are then washed on the highest temperature afterwards.

The salon is not current offering blow dries, to prevent the risk of the virus spreading.

  • Are you a salon owner doing anything particularly different as you reopen? Let us know the details by emailing editorial@packetseries.co.uk