Beauty is big business, just ask Soul Brow Studio owners Ashleigh Bell and Aimee Wren.
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The Shellharbour Village studio took in almost 300 online bookings within the first four hours of announcing it was reopening on Monday, June 1.
Many other "devout regulars" also "frantically" messaged the owners to try and make an appointment.
After 10 weeks out of the game, Mrs Bell and Mrs Wren were "more than ready" to open for business.
Beauty salons in NSW will be allowed to begin treatments from June 1 but strict new rules will apply.
Before reopening, businesses will require a COVID-19 safe plan which includes removing books and magazines from waiting areas, stepping up hygiene protocols and keeping a record of attendance.
No more than 10 clients will be allowed inside salons at any one time and four square metres of space must be allowed per person.
Read more: Beauty back in business in NSW from June 1
"We will be ready. We've been given a week to purchase the supplies we need, including hospital-grade disinfectant and masks," Mrs Bell said.
"We have always prided ourselves on being very hygienic anyway but we are going to go above and beyond now. This includes using hospital-grade disinfectant on the beds after every client
"We will also disinfect all our equipment including tweezers and scissors, as well as the waiting area and hard surfaces including the door handles."
The duo are also encouraging clients to come alone to appointments.
"We know our clients sometimes have to bring their kids and loved ones in but we are encouraging them to come alone if possible," Mrs Bell said.
"We want to do everything in our power to ensure no one gets sick. I'm pregnant. I definitely don't want to get sick.
"Aimee is very close to her grandparents and visits them regularly. I know she doesn't want to get sick and pass COVID-19 on to them.
"I'm sure our clients are the same. We just have to work together to keep as safe as possible, which I'm sure we will be able to do."
Mrs Bell said the duo were very keen to get back to work.
"These last 10 weeks have been perhaps the most boring of my life," she said.
"I know Aimee is also excited to get back working and see all our clients and have a good old gasbag again with them. We've missed that and can't wait to catch up with them again."
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Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
