HAIRDRESSERS have been forced to extend their opening hours in a bid to cope with demand, with diaries fully booked until the end of May.

With barbers and hairdressers open from Monday morning, staff face working extended hours to cut “desperate” clients’ hair as lockdown eases further.

Customers are even now booking in advance until Christmas to get ahead.

Denise Burton, the owner of Perfect Partners in Westcliff, is only allowed two people in her hairdressers at once, meaning she can only welcome 15 clients a day, down from the usual 22.

Denise, 55, who works alone in the hairdressers, will face 12-hour days in order to cope, with her diary fully booked for six weeks.

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Jim Shaw, manager of the Toni and Guy salon in Billericay, says his diary is full until the end of May.

Mr Shaw, 55, said: “We’ll be open from 9am to 9pm. We’ve got an ‘A-team’ and a ‘B-team’ who will be on a rota.

“Everyone is really excited to be back.

“Our clients are like friends and family, they’re desperate to come back in. Some of them are even booking in advance until Christmas.

“We closed a week before our busiest time of year at Christmas. We’ve had to accommodate those bookings as well as taking new ones.

“The first six to eight weeks will be mental. We need to get money in the tills and the business back on track.”

From April 12, personal care premises such as hairdressers, beauty and nail salons, and indoor leisure facilities such as gyms and spas will all be able to open.

Mrs Burton added: “I can only have two people in, and I’m a one-man band, so I’ll be working into the evenings for clients.

“The longer hours of sunlight give me a chance to get through more people.

“I’m booked for six weeks, which is really great.

“I can’t wait to get going, I’ve been closed for so long.

“Customers are ready to come back in now, I’ve missed them so much.”