A Co Louth hairdresser has created an innovative chair which will allow frustrated clients to get their roots covered while being protected against Covid-19 - and she is dyeing to try it out.
Jean McDonnell from Drogheda has now 'highlighted' the Covid-19 chair to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in a bid to seek approval to open earlier than the
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The popular hairdresser teamed up with skillful carpenter husband Alan to produce the perspex- covered seat after she was inundated with customer queries about how they were going to maintain their wayward tresses until July.
The chair has perspex to protect the client at the front and protect the hairdresser at the back, with a hole where the stylist can insert gloved hands to coif the locks.
"Customers were ringing me regularly really anxious on how they were going to manage their hair or keep their grey covered but the calls increased after the exit plan was announced and they discovered they may not get to a hairdressers before July 20," she said.
"I know the thinking behind it is that hairdressers and clients are not socially distanced but I thought there must be something I could do, so I talked to my husband Alan who is a carpenter and we came up with this chair.
"It is custom made for my height so the perspex at the back ends at my chin and I can reach in, wearing gloves to style the customers hair. The customer themselves are surrounded by perspex which leaves them protected.
"I will also be wearing a mask and protective personal equipment and the basins to wash hair are also being screened off.
"We have sent the images to the office of An Taoiseach and are hoping both he and Tony Holohan gives us the thumbs up."
Jean, who runs JeanieMac VIP Hair also warned of using care packages during lockdown
"I've heard of many women getting hairdressers to make-up their colour and send it to them so they apply it themselves. I'd urge huge caution on this as if not careful, the peroxide could damage the eye."