The hair and beauty industry returns today after more than three months with many salons fully booked for weeks.

Dark Secrets Hair Salon on Lord Street in Blackburn is already fully booked for four weeks as people are excited to get back in the chair.

Owner Haseena Hamaid, who runs three hair and beauty businesses in Blackburn, said that it is both exciting and nerve wracking to be back.

She said: "It's very exciting but in the same breath, the team and myself, are a bit nerve wracking as well.

"It's going to be a mad rush and we have some clients back who we haven't seen for over 12 months."

The Westmorland Gazette: Dark Secrets hairdresser in the town centre is opening this morning

Dark Secrets Hair Salon

Haseena also runs Secrets at Dark on East Park Road and My Laser, also on East Park Road and works between the three, with five members of staff working in the hair salons.

During lockdown she has been able to renovate all three of the businesses, giving them a fresh new look ready to welcome clients back.

The Westmorland Gazette: (L) Haseena who runs Dark Secrets and (R) Karen who runs Reflektion

(L) Haseena who runs Dark Secrets and (R) Karen who runs Reflektion

In Lancashire, hairdressers and beauty salons were told to close from New Years Eve due to tier four restrictions being imposed in the county and due to the third lockdown they have not been able to open since.

They closed in November for the second lockdown and re-opened for just under a month over the Christmas period while the county faced tier three measures.

Another salon which is welcoming clients back today is Reflektion Salon on Livesey Branch Road.

Owner Karen Billington said she is over the moon to see her customers again after so many months.

She said: "I'm absolutely over the moon! I never thought I would miss work as much as I have.

"My customers are like my family - they are a second family to me.

The Westmorland Gazette: Reflektion Hair Salon

Reflektion Hair Salon 

"They are your mums, your grandmas, your aunties - you miss them and they miss you.

"You are their agony aunt and councillor. I can't wait to hear all their stories when I am back."

Karen, who is the only hairdresser in her salon, is fully booked until the middle of May and is working 10 to 12 hour days to fit all of her clients in.

Hairdressers and beauty salons have been told to avoid long and complex treatments in order to reduce the length of time customers spend in the chair however, Labour MP Judith Cummins, for Bradford South has asked for clarification on this.