Celebrity hairdresser Joey Scandizzo launches campaign to reopen up hair and beauty
A Melbourne celebrity hairdresser has launched a campaign in a bid to reopen up hair and beauty under the next stage out of restrictions saying the industry has suffered extreme financial woes.
Wyndham Leader
Don't miss out on the headlines from Wyndham Leader. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Melbourne hairdressers have backed a social media campaign in a bid to reopen up hair and beauty under the next stage out of restrictions.
Celebrity hairdresser Joey Scandizzo said he launched the campaign on social media with the hashtags #openuphairandbeauty #recolourmelbourne #cuttherestrictions to give a voice to the industry, which had “suffered immensely” due to restrictions.
“We’ve been in lockdown for 11 weeks and the beauty industry has been closed for 25 weeks now, so they’ve been hit pretty hard as well,” Mr Scandizzo said.
“It has really taken a toll on our staff and their mental health, they just need to get back to work.”
Mr Scandizzo said the industry had a strict covid-safe plan in place.
“We’ve had a covid plan since the first lockdown and we’re ready to go. We’re on the edge waiting for this road map out, we’ve got the numbers down and we think we can create a safe environment.”
He said he started the movement on social media to have a bit of fun and to engage the public.
“We used an Instagram filter called cabelo colorado, where you can use the filter to change your hair colour and use the hashtags.
“We had an overwhelming response with our clients sharing it and other hair and beauty businesses getting on-board and it’s getting a lot of momentum now with influencers joining the movement.”
Mr Scandizzo said hairdressers were desperate to get back to work, with some suffering huge financial losses.
“Hairdressers are desperate to get back into the workforce. They’re on JobKeeper but they still have expenses such as loans.
“There’s also business owners that are facing serious financial losses and the longer they stay closed the worse it gets.”
He said there had been a surge in grey market hairdressing.
“Hairdressers are going to people’s houses and there’s no covid-safe plan in that, so what we’re saying is – let us open our business, let us put a covid-safe plan in place so everyone can follow.
“People are still getting their hair done, I’ve seen ladies with fresh foils on the streets of Melbourne and let me tell you – it’s not their builder husbands doing a full head of foils.”
Mr Scandizzo said he urged the State Government to support the industry.
“We need to open up on Sunday, everyday that we’re closed it’s like we’re in quick sand and we’re not getting out.
“If we don’t open this Sunday it’s just going to put us back further. We need to open up before Christmas because it’s dire straits for the industry at the moment.”
MORE NEWS
RETAILER STANDS DEFIANT AND REOPENS DESPITE FINE THREAT
LANCE WHITNALL RE-SIGNS AT EDFL CLUB CRAIGIEBURN FOR 2021