Tony Mann: Giffnock barber opens at crack of dawn as lockdown eases

Hairdressers and barbers are able to reopen from today, along with some non-essential shops, including garden centres and homeware stores.

Tony Mann opened his Giffnock salon at the crack of dawn so that customers could get their hair cut for the first time in months.

It will be a busy day for the four barbers working there, with 96 customers booked in before the doors close at 8pm.

When he reopened in July last year after the first lockdown, Mr Mann opened at midnight and worked for 24 hours.

He decided not to do the same this time but is excited to be welcoming back customers.

Mr Mann said: "It's been four months since the last day we cut hair, so the feeling today is slight anxiety and slight worry, like 'is everything going to go to plan', but I'm also feeling really excited and happy because my shop is open again.

"We start at 6am and finish at 8pm. I didn't fancy doing another 24-hour shift this time but we're open long enough. Last time we did 24 hours but what I've come to realise is doing shifts like that is not good for you."

Mr Mann said customers have been delighted to be able to book haircuts again.

"It's mental health, getting a haircut and making yourself feel good is a big part of life," he added. "If you can't make yourself feel good and you only get it from a small variety of places, then you're not going to be in a particularly good place."

His brother Maxx was one of the first people in Scotland to get a haircut today and was delighted with the result.

"It's a good feeling," said Maxx. "I usually get my hair cut once every week or once every 10 days, so to go months and months without isn't ideal, I'm sure the general public probably feel the same."

Today's easing of some lockdown restrictions will be followed on April 26 with a wider reopening of the economy, as beer gardens and gyms return to trading and more people are able to meet outdoors and inside public places.