TWO hairdressers are taking on one of the world’s biggest brands to launch a new city centre salon that will offer dedicated appointments for clients who are shielding from Covid-19.

Jo Ferguson and her husband Tony, who run Essensuals, are taking on Toni & Guy, which will close at 96 St Vincent Street ­after operating there for more than 24 years.

The two salons will merge, with all staff relocated at the existing Essensuals salon further along the street, which is being completely remodelled and refurbished to take into account strict new Covid-19 regulations for the hairdressing industry.

READ MORE: Glasgow hair salon sets provisional opening date 

The couple, who have two young children, have been planning the venture for two years and were due to open when the pandemic struck. They have had to invest significant additional funds to completely alter the ­layout of the salon.

Glasgow Times:

Jo said: “About three years ago we were approached and asked if we wanted to take on Toni & Guy with the intention of mergingit into one building at 103 St Vincent Street.

“Essensuals is the sister company of Toni & Guy. It was meant to be launching now but obviously none of us saw the pandemic happening.

“It has made us think differently about how we refit the salon.

“We had to make a lot of changes to the original plan so that we can safely social distance. Everything has been taken out, walls have been knocked down.

“We aren’t just following government guidelines, we are going above and beyond that.

“We will be doing video consultations with each client before they come to their appointment to cut the amount of time in the salon.

READ MORE: Hairdressers could re-open to sell retail products and give socially distanced advice 

“Each client will be given a bag of PPE equipment which will include disposable masks, gown, towels and cups.

“We are also going to offer appointments for people who are shielding, who are in the more vulnerable groups or are caring for people. We have figured out a hack that will allow most ­clients to wear a mask while we are ­cutting hair.”

Glasgow Times:

Like many other salons, it will also operate with staggered ­appointments and longer opening hours with all equipment sanitised between clients.

While most businesses are ­under significant financial pressure due to the pandemic, the couple say they are confident about the launch due to the ­demand for hair appointments.

Jo said: “We are feeling quite positive.

"We are buying a business where the hairdressers already have clients and since we opened our waiting list we have been inundated.

"We were due a refit anyway and we are hoping that the new salon will give ­people confidence about coming in to get their hair done because we will be brand new.”