Hairdresser Della Brown is helping to bring lots of cheer to people who have been stuck in their homes since the coronavirus crisis erupted.

Mrs Brown, aged 43, said that some of her older customers have stepped through their front doors for the first time to go and get their hair done.

She said stylists in the island were going out of their way to continue to make it a pleasurable experience for customers, despite having to carry out new procedures.

’A few of our customers have been nervous, especially some of the older people and those who have not been out at all,’ she said.

’We have reassured them and told them what to expect.

’In fact people have been thanking us for looking after them and they say it has been nice and relaxing and fine.

’And because they have had their hair done they are now feeling like a million pounds.

’It’s a self-esteem thing. It helps make people feel confident again and less anxious.’

Mrs Brown, who is married to welder Gavin, has been cutting hair for more than 20 years and is originally from Clitheroe in Lancashire.

The self-employed stylist has been at Port Hair Inn in Station Road in Port Erin for the last three years. She told how since the start of last week she and fellow stylist Lorna Stringer have been adapting to a ’new normal’ in the hairdressing world.

Speaking about the first week back in the salon, she said: ’We were a bit nervous ourselves to start with but everything seems to have gone well.

’Everybody has been lovely even though we have had to allocate extra time between appointments.’

To keep customers and staff safe, a number of changes have been made. Customers have their temperature checked when they arrive and they must wear a face covering during the appointment.

Customers should either bring one themselves or there is a stock of face masks in the salon.

A traditional cuppa cannot now be offered and clients cannot sit in the reception area waiting any more.

The stylists have to clean and tidy up after each appointment.

And customers have to leave their contact details so they can be traced if necessary.

But one thing has not changed and that’s the traditional Manx sense of humour and skeet.

Mrs Brown said: ’People are enjoying having a conversation that’s a bit different.

They talk about all sorts of things including the holidays they may have missed.’