Member Article

Hair salons prove popular in retirement living communities

December is always a busy time of year for hair stylists but this year has been exceptionally busy for hairdressers at three retirement communities in the North West.

Since the end of the second lockdown, there has been unprecedented demand for the hairdressers who visit The Sailings in Southport, The Bridges in Macclesfield and The Cottons in Ramsbottom.

Alexandra Johnson, Sales and Marketing Director for Adlington Retirement Living, said: “Our on-site hairdressing salons provide a safe and convenient space where our Homeowners can enjoy a bit of pampering, without having to venture out. Having a beautiful salon within our developments has always been popular, especially during the winter months. It provides a welcoming retreat for a little bit of TLC without the need to battle the elements. This year, it has been even more important.”

Nicola, hair stylist at The Sailings in Southport, explains: “Somebody once told me that we’re not just hairdressers, we’re also friends and good listeners. One lady, who I see every week, lost her husband and had a stroke last year and her family live quite a distance away so she says that our weekly appointments are a real tonic.”

In recent years, a number of studies have linked raising self-esteem with staving off some of the negative effects of aging.

Alexandra Johnson continues: “What better way to boost self-esteem than a trip to the salon. We often see people leave with a real spring in their step after they’ve had their hair done. I definitely think the benefits go beyond the aesthetic.”

In Macclesfield, Lorraine has become a regular visitor again since the end of the UK lockdown, always following guidance and implementing safety measures to protect Homeowners.

Lorraine said: “I love to provide a service which is so convenient to Homeowners. I’m a familiar face here now and a member of the community. It’s so rewarding. One customer even rings me every week after her hair do, to tell me how pleased she is and how it picks her up!”

In Ramsbottom, Katie is a former cruise ship hairdresser who now provides retired residents with all their hairdressing needs from relaxing shampoos and blow-dries to cuts and colours.

Katie said: “I feel really lucky to be a regular visitor to The Cottons. I have met some lovely new clients over the last six months and really enjoy seeing them. The team at The Cottons are wonderful and I think their support has made a real difference to the Homeowners, especially during the lockdowns.”

During both lockdowns, although the elegant restaurants at Adlington Retirement Living developments had to temporarily close, the catering teams offered the same high standard of freshly-prepared, delicious lunchtime meals and delivered them directly to Homeowners’ front doors, always maintaining social distancing and sanitising trays between deliveries. The on-site teams also went shopping and collected prescriptions for Homeowners and created ‘pop-up shops’ at each development to provide a safe and easy way to pick up everyday essentials.

John and Marcia Braithwaite, who moved to The Cottons in March, appreciated having a strong sense of community and the friendly management team to provide advice, assistance and moral support during that time: “It’s much better here than it would have been in our previous home in lockdown. We have these beautiful gardens to walk around and to admire. We’re very happy here.” They are now regular customers at the on-site hairdressing salon with Katie too: “The hair salon’s really good. It’s much better than having to go out to the barbers.”

Four Adlington Retirement Living communities have won Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards for the Best Retirement Development in the UK at the WhatHouse? Awards, the UK housebuilding’s most prestigious event. The Folds in Romiley won the Silver Award in 2020, as did The Bridges in Macclesfield in 2019, Adlington House in Otley won the Gold Award in 2017 and Adlington House in Portishead won the Bronze Award in 2015.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Thomas .