Mobile barbers and hairdressers post adverts on Gumtree despite lockdown
Barbers and hairdressers are offering black market cuts and styling in spite of the lockdown restrictions.
Analysis by MailOnline has revealed self-employed workers are advertising their services online, despite strict guidelines prohibiting them going into people’s homes.
Dozens of barbers, beauty therapists and hairdressers are offering to work in homes, via the online marketplace Gumtree.
In recent days a police crackdown has seen one salon owner threatened with an ‘unlimited fine’ and a barbershop being hit with a £1,000 fine for a ‘blatant disregard of coronavirus regulations’.
Lesley Blair, Chair of the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC), told MailOnline that businesses operating outside of Covid laws were ‘doing irreparable damage to their reputations’.
Dozens of barbers, beauty therapists and hairdressers are offering to work in homes, via the online marketplace Gumtree
One barber has allegedly used the track and trace system to contact potential clients
Bodycam footage released by the City of London Police yesterday showed officers raiding The Grooming Lounge Barbers and catching two customers receiving a haircut
What are the rules for salons under lockdown 3.0?
The government brought in a new lockdown at the start of the year.
To reduce social contact, the regulations require some businesses to close and impose restrictions on how some businesses provide goods and services.
The guidance states that personal care facilities such as hair, beauty, tanning and nail salons must close.
Tattoo parlours, spas, massage parlours, body and skin piercing services must also close.
These services should not be provided in other people’s homes.
All non-essential retailers, hospitality and ‘personal care’ like hairdressers must close if they have not yet done so under the tier system.
People desperate for a haircut have also taken to social media, asking if any mobile hairdressers are working in their area.
Many critics have slammed ‘ignorant and irresponsible’ business owners for going into homes.
But others claim it is ‘no different’ to a plumber or electrician carrying out essential work in a property.
The National Hair and Beauty Federation has issued a warning to all members to follow the law.
Lesley Blair from the BABTAC added: ‘While we wholeheartedly understand the awful plight of our, and many other, industries right now, breaking lockdown rules is not only unlawful but dangerous and irresponsible, especially given the 70% increase in transmission with the new variant.
‘The longer a small minority of people and businesses continue to break rules the further out the lockdown will need to be extended for everyone.
‘Ultimately these businesses are doing irreparable damage to their reputations and are at risk of invalidating their insurance too.’
Bodycam footage released by the City of London Police yesterday showed officers raiding The Grooming Lounge Barbers and catching two customers receiving a haircut from staff on January 9.
The clip, which was shared by the force on social media, shows police enter the barber shop in London and confront members of staff.
The shop’s windows had been covered with old newspapers in an apparent attempt to stop people from seeing they were open.
The force said: ‘The owner was issued with a £1,000 fine. This is a blatant disregard of coronavirus regulations & won’t be tolerated. The message is clear: #StayAtHome.
Barbers are offering to go into homes despite the national lockdown in place
An officer enters the shop and speaks with the hairdressers who have breached the coronavirus laws
People desperate for a haircut have also taken to social media, asking if any mobile hairdressers are working in their area
Some people appear confused about lockdown rules, and others claim getting your hair donw is ‘no different’ to a plumber or electrician carrying out essential work in a property
And a salon owner who defied lockdown rules last year has been threatened with an ‘unlimited fine’.
Sinead Quinn attempted to keep her salon open in the face of national lockdown rules by quoting the Magna Carta – an 800-year-old settlement aimed to make peace between the unpopular king and a group of rebel barons.
Ms Quinn, who owns Quinn Blakey Hairdressers in Oakenshaw, near Bradford, West Yorkshire, initially faced a fine of £4,000 for repeated breaches.
She was subsequently hit with two further £10,000 fines and has now been forced to close her salon and summoned to court after a crackdown by council officials.
A mobile barber in Plymouth is also being investigated by the council and police amid reports they have been going into homes.
According to PlymouthLive, a concerned resident received a business card for a mobile barber through his letterbox on Monday evening.
Managing director of the trade body Sharon Brigden told Mail Online: ‘The NHBF advises that all hair and beauty professionals follow the law and do not, under any circumstances, provide services for clients, in the salon, barbershop or in the home, during lockdown.
‘We know that these are very difficult times and we are seeking extra financial support from the government to help businesses struggling now and to aid fast recovery once lockdown is lifted.’
How DO you look so pitch perfect, lads? Premier League footballers appear VERY well groomed despite salons being closed during lockdown – as expert claims elaborate styles would be ‘impossible’ to do at home
By Harriet Johnston for MailOnline
Turning up for a football match with the right trim is almost as important as the boots the stars wear.
And despite the Covid-19 lockdown closing salons up and down the country, many Premier League stars, including Paul Pogba and Mason Holgate, have continued to show off their fresh hairstyles, which look surprisingly professional, at recent games.
Last year, Bournemouth‘s Jordon Ibe, 24, and Tottenham‘s Serge Aurier were among the players who faced club fines and criticism after being pictured appearing to breach lockdown regulations by having their hair cut by professionals.
Celebrity hairdresser James Johnson told FEMAIL the elaborate styles on show in recent matches would be ‘near impossible’ for a player to maintain alone at home with a razor and box dye, saying: ‘At most, these footballers would be able to trim the top with the kitchen scissors – as I’m sure many of us have done in lockdown!’
It’s led to fans questioning on social media whether clubs are perhaps hiring barbers as part of their support staff, so the players can stay looking pitch perfect.
Despite the Covid-19 lockdown closing salons up and down the country, many Premier League stars, including Paul Pogba and Mason Holgate, have continued to show off their fresh hairstyles which look surprisingly professional at recent games (pictured, Riyad Mahrez, left on January 10, and right on January 13)
After playing against Birmingham City on January 10 (left), Phil Foden of Manchester City’s hair looked remarkably shorter as he took on Brighton & Hove Albion on January 13 (right)
Photographs taken days apart from players including Manchester City’s Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez show the stars with fresh trims.
Stepping out onto the field on January 10 for a match against Birmingham City, both players showed off a slightly longer style.
Yet on January 13 as they took on Brighton & Hove Albion, the men had new fades on show.
Celebrity stylist James added that it looks as though players are having their hair cut professionally, adding: ‘The styles are definitely too challenging to maintain themselves at home. A skin fade is a hard task, let alone doing it on yourself.’
Other players to show off a much shorter style after recent appearances include Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes (pictured left, on New Year’s Day, and right on January 12)
Meanwhile Tottenham Hotspur’s Matt Doherty’s hair appeared to have had a cut ahead of their match against Marine on January 10 (pictured left, during training on January 4, and right, during the match against Marine)
He said those who did try to tackle their locks at home would need help from others to achieve such perfect locks, saying: ‘I actually cut my own hair myself and even for a professional it’s challenging.
‘From getting the right blend, to making sure it’s even, is a mission. My mum has to get involved and even it out – with guidance of course.’
The expert said many of the styles would ‘have to be done professionally’, adding: ‘The fade to the perfect symmetrical design would be so hard, near on impossible to achieve yourself as a DIY’er at home.’
Players have continued to show off their fresh hairstyles which look surprisingly professional at recent games (pictured, Mason Holgate of Everton)
Football fans have been amazed the incredible styles on show during the pandemic which has seen barbers and salons close across the country (pictured left, James Rodriguez and right, Jarrod Bowen)
Celebrity stylist James Johnson told FEMAIL many of the styles would be near ‘impossible’ for an amateur hairdresser to perfect (pictured, Sadio Mane)
The stylist said ‘getting the right blend’ and maintaining the style was ‘a mission’ even for professional hairdressers (pictured, Said Benrahma of West Ham)
Meanwhile Paul Pogba of Manchester United showcased a blonde dye job across his locks during the team’s match at the weekend – despite barbers being closed across the country
Ben Godfrey of Everton showcased a perfect fade on his locks as he stepped onto the field for a match against West Ham earlier this month
Other players, including Serge Aurier of Tottenham, have also displayed a near-perfect fade on the field
Professional hairstylist James said a fade was a difficult style even for an experienced hairdresser, and said perfecting the cut at home would be ‘near impossible’ for players like Gabriel Martinelli and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal (left, and right)
‘It’s important these players look the part as well as playing the part, so it’s nice to see them still look trim and polished in these hard times.’
It comes as the umbrella body for German hairdressing industry warned that the players haircuts was leading to customers to demand their own illicit trims.
The Central Association for the Hairdressing Trade said salons were under pressure to break the rules by football fans because of the fresh trims showcased by footballers at matches.
In an open letter to the German football association, it wrote: ‘There is a growing resentment against footballers with top-level haircuts, and against the resulting calls from customers trying to convince hairdressers to carry out illicit work or violations of the rules such as house visits.’
Pogba has sported the blonde hairstyle since October, but appears to have maintained the cut and colour despite the Covid-19 lockdown
Many football fans have taken to social media to question the fresh haircuts from many of the players (pictured left, Everton’s Ben Godfrey, right Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang)
Rodriguez of Everton showcased a short cut with blonde highlights during the team’s match against Wolverhampton last weekend
Players including Pogba have been showcasing seemingly fresh cuts at recent matches, much to the surprise of some football fans.
The Manchester United player boasted a blonde dye job across the top and back of his head during the team’s match against Burnley on Saturday.
Meanwhile Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United and Mason Holgate of Everton unveiled seemingly well maintained and tidy fades during recent games.
Sadio Mane of Liverpool showed off a singular blonde stripe through his hair in their match against Aston Villa at the weekend, while James Rodriguez’s dark locks appeared to have been highlighted with light streaks.
Earlier this year, Holgate showcased a perfectly faded haircut with two stripes on the left hand side of his head
During a recent match against Sheffield United, Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace displayed a closely cut neat hairstyle
Football fans have been left perplexed by the perfectly quaffed locks on display at the matches.
Many have taken to social media to question how strictly players are following the lockdown rules, with one commenting: ‘Are the barbers open in England or has every footballer got their own live in one?’
Another wrote: ‘Footballer haircuts…how does this happen?’
Football fans have been flooding social media with questions about the surprisingly professional looking haircuts
‘How have some of these footballers managed to get a haircut when all the barbers are apparently shut?’ a third added.
What are the restrictions on hairdressers?
Salons were initially been able to operate in a Covid-secure manner in Tiers 1-3 after the second lockdown.
In Tier 4 all businesses in the ‘personal care’ sector were required to close. This includes beauty salons, hairdressers and barbershops.
When PM Boris Johnson announced the third Covid-19 lockdown, all hairdressers, barbers and salons across the country were ordered to close.
A fourth commented on players travelling to Dubai, adding; ‘No one even mentions how every footballer has a fresh haircut at every game?’
The lockdown hairstyles of football players has barely left the headlines since the pandemic began last year.
In May, Serge Aurier faced a hefty fine as Tottenham investigated whether he broke lockdown rules for the third time by meeting his barber.
The defender posted pictures of himself having a haircut at home less than 24 hours before Spurs stars were due back for small group training. A Tottenham spokesperson said: ‘We are investigating the circumstances and will deal with the incident appropriately.’
The 27-year-old posted the images on Instagram with the hashtag ‘Le Coiffeur Est Bon’ (The hairdresser is good).
In another post on the social media platform, he wrote ‘Bla-bla-bla’ with a series of snoozing emojis and added: ‘My hairdresser is negative and me too so stop talking in a vacuum and put on masks and gloves when you come to take pictures at the training center (sic) it’s part of the rules too.’
Bournemouth also launched an internal investigation after pictures of winger Jordon Ibe having a haircut surfaced on social media. Ibe, like Aurier, faced a club fine.
Ibe posted a picture of himself being given a trim by a man wearing a barber’s coat with the slogan ‘breaking the rules’ emblazoned on it.
Meanwhile, in Aurier’s incident – he had tagged @justcuts in his post, which is the account of barber Justin Carr.
Carr has over 31,000 followers on Instagram and cuts the hair of other Premier League stars including Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kyle Walker.
Meanwhile in July, it emerged one Premier League club was coming under intense pressure from their players to use one of their precious 60 coronavirus testing kits on the barber many of them use. Much to the amusement of some of their rivals, the unnamed side are said to be seriously considering the request.
Last year, Tottenham defender Serge Aurier found himself in hot water after posting three images of his new haircut to Instagram
