Coronavirus Melbourne: Locals queue for more than an hour at Ringwood’s Eastland for haircuts

Shoppers have lined up in droves and waited for more than 90 minutes to get a haircut at a major Ringwood shopping centres after the easing of coronavirus restrictions.

Shoppers at Ringwood's Eastland waited for up to two hours for a haircut after salons reopened on October 19. Picture: Kiel Egging.

Shabby shoppers have expressed relief and queued for nearly two hours to get a haircut at one of Melbourne’s biggest shopping centres.

Lines stretched more than 30 people deep at Ringwood’s Eastland on Monday morning after the State Government gave salon operators the green light to reopen following the coronavirus outbreak.

The centre was prepared for the onslaught and had security, signage and helpers in fluoro vests on hand to monitor the queues.

Ringwood’s Thomas Oakley, 19, arrived around 9am and waited 90 minutes to get a much-needed trim at Bob’s Barber Shop.

Thomas Oakley, 19, was feeling fresh after getting his haircut at Bob's Barber Shop at Eastland. Picture: Kiel Egging.

“I was an absolute mop beforehand, it’s like a weight is off my shoulders, literally,” he said.

North Warrandyte’s David Anerson, 80, said he’d been a loyal customer for 20 years and was happy to wait for nearly two hours for his haircut.

Bob’s Barber Shop owner Gary, who didn’t give his surname, said it was “a big relief” to re-open and noticed queue forming “8.30am or earlier”.

He said the store was restricted to five staff and working at a reduced capacity to ensure it kept with distancing guidelines.

“We knew there’d be a rush on, it’s a bit overwhelming but we’ll get there,” he said.

“It’s been a long downtime for us and hopefully we can keep it running as long as we can keep the COVID numbers down.”

BEFORE: Heidelberg West's Damian D'Sousa sits down for a haircut at Eastland, five months since his last one. Picture: Kiel Egging.

The lines were even longer at two “express” salons offering $10 cuts in the centre.

Heidelberg West’s Damian D’Sousa, a regular at Express Cutting Zone, said he waited for an hour and 20 minutes for his haircut.

AFTER: Heidelberg West's Damian D'Sousa with Express Cutting Zone's Alice Yeak after his much-needed haircut at Eastland. Picture: Kiel Egging.

Mr D’Sousa said he got a hearing check from a nearby business while he made his way up the queue.

“It’s been five months (since my last haircut) and it was getting really annoying,” he said.

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