‘It’s a good look’ - Streetside cosmetologists ready to style partygoers

The steady afternoon drizzle could not dampen the spirits of cosmetologists along Barry Street in downtown Kingston yesterday, who are counting down the seconds to Thursday's reopening of the entertainment sector.

Hairdressers, stylists and beauticians have been particularly hard hit by the shutdown of the COVID-19 induced shutdown as they rely heavily on partygoers and funeral attendees for patronage. However, with the daily positivity rate for COVID infections trending down, the Government has lifted some of the tight restrictions. It is music to the ears of the Barry Street traders.

"Right now a mad ting because people a guh start come out in dem numbers now," said Marian 'Blackie' Nugent, who likened Thursday's scheduled reopening of the entertainment sector to the release of an inmate from confinement.

"It come in like when you prison sentence done and you outside. Everybody happy because party a officially start back, so mi a look forward fi di sector open back," Nugent said.

Cerine Palmer, who does hair and eyelash, was equally excited about the scheduled reopening of the entertainment sector. However, she was quick to point out that 'COVID still a keep' and urged persons to follow the protocols outlined by health officials to reduce the spread of the virus.

Wear our masks

"I really want this pandemic to be over, so I don't want everyone to rush out," Palmer said.

"We down a town vendors wear our masks, enuh, so we encourage everybody else to do it. If we all see somebody a walk and nuh have on theirs we sell dem one. We have to all play our part and make sure say a spike nuh come after party start keep back. Mi glad say hair a guh start do back nuff, but let us be careful," she said.

The vendors said that they suffered significant economic setback as a result of the measures that were imposed by the Government. In the early days of the pandemic, barbers, hairdressers and beauticians were among those prohibited from plying their trade. However, when those restrictions were lifted, these practitioners found themselves scrambling to make a dollar as many of their clients either lost jobs, suffered reduced incomes or just had no events to attend.

"Nuff weeks mi deh here and mi nuh see one customer," Palmer said.

She feels that things are about to get better.

"I'm happy because more money a guh start spend, and depression will decrease because people can go out and enjoy themselves. The girl dem ago wa look pretty again," she added.

Nugent is just as ecstatic. She said that not long ago she had to reduce her prices in order to retain customers who could barely afford the service. For her, Thursday is the start of an economic comeback for vendors like her.

"Right now a mad ting because people a guh start come out in dem numbers now," Nugent said.

Ashley, an eyelash extension specialist, who sat perfecting the eyelashes of a customer, is looking forward to the new day.

"When funerals and parties were banned, it was rough, but thankfully I had a few loyal customers who would still come and pretty up dem self same way," said Ashley.

"Mi nah lie, it's an excellent idea to open back the entertainment sector and mi excited bad," she said.