Cross border hair salons have highlighted an alternative for clients who would usually travel between states for appointments.
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After realising the impact stricter border crossing rules would have, Wodonga's Do My Hair manager Rachael Simmons reached out to long time friend and owner of Albury's Soul Hair salon Kelli Mair.
The pair agreed on a client swap, with Mrs Simmons referring her Albury based visitors to the Jones Street salon, while Mrs Mair will offer the High Street business as an alternative for her clients stuck in Wodonga.
Do My Hair are offering to take on anyone who would usually cross the border for an appointment and in turn will refer a client to their usual hairdresser.
"We've essentially swapped clients in the interim to support each other," Mrs Simmons said.
"We want to give people a solution and we feel that this is the most positive way to not only support the client, but also support our cross border salons as well.
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"Hairdressers are a very giving community and I think it's wonderful we can show our true colours like this."
Mrs Mair agreed it was a positive way to navigate the tricky situation border residents are currently facing, with daily life no longer a valid exemption to cross.
"It's just nice to show people that we can work together and it's not a competition," she said.
"I've got no qualms in sending a client here.
"If we get any shout-outs from anyone else we can do the same thing and hopefully we can do this cross border thing without too much hassle."
Do My Hair is also exploring the option of allowing a hairdresser who may not be able to cross the border for work to utilise one of their stations.
Soul is already facing an obstacle with their new apprentice unable to start work due to the changed bubble set out in tightened permit measures this week.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many Border businesses to change the way they operate and offer services, Mrs Simmons said the Wodonga based salon has used the time to build for the future.
"We're remaining positive about the situation and know that there are people out there that if you just ask for help, you'll be given it, because people do really care," she said.
"I think if we can offer people any advice it's to try and see the solution."
The salon manager also offered a warning to any Border residents thinking about taking their next cut or colour into their own hands, a trend that emerged during the COVID-19 lockdown.
"We're still dealing with what we've affectionately termed covid hair," she said.
"We've been doing a lot of colour corrections."