After staying up until almost midnight to help clients who wanted more than 30 minutes for their hairdressing visit Jessica Barry was breathing a sigh of relief on Thursday.
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Like all hairdressers and their clients across the region Ms Barry, of Anaston Hair & Beauty in Warilla, had been wondering how she was going to proceed.
But the backflip announced on Thursday morning means all hairstylists can still provide the same service they always have so long as they follow the 4sqm COVID-19 rule.
"The last 24 hours have just been so emotional. I burst into tears this morning," Ms Barry said.
Then she started getting messages from her clients telling her the good news and the rollercoaster of emotions continued. But with this time a sense of great relief..
"When they said 30 minutes on Tuesday I thought we could do one thing or the other. We could either cut or colour. But not both," she said.
"With colour you can't do a full head of foils because it takes an hour to go in. So what we did was a half head of foil or a regrowth colour. Then our clients went home and washed it off. Which is what Majella did. Now she is back in today getting her hair cut.".
Majella Thickett said she is delighted that the next time she comes she will be able to get everything done in one visit.
"I had an appointment made for the end of next week and decided to bring it forward just because I didn't know if Jess would still be able to keep working," she said.
"She did the colour and I went home and washed it out. Then I came back today to get it cut. I thought there was nothing I could do about this new rule but make more than one visit," she said..
"I feel very much for Jess having the stress and the worry and being in limbo not knowing what is going to happen next with things changing so often".
Mrs Thickett said she was amazed at how quick the turnaround on the 30 minute rule was.
But if NSW does need to go into lockdown she is prepared to do her own colour at home.
She said she can't control the virus or what is going to need to happen to try and stop it from spreading.
She will just take each day as it comes.
Ms Barry said her attitude will be to keep doing the best she can for her clients and three staff.
She is still a little tired after Wednesday when everyone wanted their hair done before the new 30 minute rule came in at midnight.
"We were booked solid. My last client and I walked out of here at 11.30 on Wednesday night. It was hard because there was just this sense of panic."
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