Worthing hairdresser says ‘it’s amazing to be working again’

Worthing hairdresser Abbie Olliver saw her business boom yesterday following the reopening of non-essential shops, hairdressers, gyms, and outdoor hospitality, and many people, including myself, finally got their hair done.

Yesterday marked an important day for many. People flooded to the hairdressers and the barbers to finally have their hair cut, dyed, washed, and blow dried after months without anyone to tend to their hair.

Abbie, 21, is a mobile hairdresser who said she has been eagerly awaiting the rules being relaxed.

She added: “It feels amazing to be working again, it doesn’t feel real. It’s a weird feeling because I was really nervous about

opening back up after ages of not doing hair, but I just feel so good to be up and running again.”

A lot of preparation went into the reopening day. Abbie said: “I had to make sure all of my stuff was sterilised. I cleaned everything and ordered more stock to make sure I got in there before it all sold out.”

Through the long months of the third national lockdown, Abbie found herself looking for another job to make ends meet.

She started working at Pizza Hut to earn more money and has decided to stay there alongside hairdressing, as a backup in case we go back into another lockdown.

“I was panicking before lockdown as I didn’t know how I was going to pay for outgoings, I was worrying about stock as well as a lot of the products are very expensive.

“I got the job in October last year before we went into the second lockdown, and I think if I didn’t have that it would have been a nightmare. I would have gone stir crazy. Its nice to earn a bit of extra money each month and keep busy.”

Abbie was the first person that I ever let do anything to my hair. Since meeting her for the second time last night, and being the last of her many clients throughout the day, it felt great to sit down and have someone do my hair.

Abbie became my hairdresser after my friend had her hair done by Abbie and I saw her work on Instagram (@byabbieolliver). She is incredibly passionate about hairdressing and it shows in her work.

She said: “Hairdressing is more of a hobby for me, so to be able to work and do something I enjoy at the same time is incredibly lucky, not a lot of people can say that. I actually love doing hair and when I couldn’t do hair, I felt lost.”