BOLTON beauty salons have reacted with joy at being able to open again ­— after restrictions were lifted.

The government announced on Saturday that remaining restrictions on close contact services including face treatments, eyebrow threading and make-up applications at beauty salons have now been lifted.

It comes after months of confusion and struggle for many of these businesses in Bolton.

Dina Varsani, who runs Devine Hair & Beauty beauty salon in Church Road, Horwich, said that it was great to hear the announcement that salons could operate again.

She said: “It’s been so up and down for the last couple of months.

“There hasn’t been the same amount of hype this time to this news as it’s already happened a few times with us then being let down.

“The problem we have this time with the rise in cases is that people don’t feel confident enough to have these treatments yet.

“It honestly came as quite a surprise that we were allowed to have close treatments again with the cases as they are, we should have been allowed months ago, we’ve had all the safety measures in place for ages.

“It was great news but it’s still a difficult time.

“It’s great to have people who are confident enough back and booking who are happy to get their brows done after months off but it’s not as busy as it could have been if we opened when cases were lower.

“Treatments take a lot longer too with all the cleaning and forms to do, we are not taking walk-ins anymore, and there’s no parties going on so it will be difficult going into the future.

“We just have to try and make the best of it and keep going doing the best we can.

“As long as customers are here and happy I am happy too.”

Sayna Narbandh, who runs Sayna’s Brow Bar, also said she was 'thankful' for the news that they were allowed to operate again, however, business is still quieter than she hoped.

She said: “I am so happy and excited to get started again.

“I didn’t expect the announcement at all but we know we have been safe enough to be open.

“A few people have got in touch already to book but town is very quiet at the moment, hopefully it will pick up again soon, but I am very happy that we have opened.”

Bolton Council leader, Cllr David Greenhalgh, said announcing the changes: “I know the announcement regarding beauty treatments will come as a great relief to all those who work in the sector.

“They have been disproportionately affected and I am delighted they can now get back to offering those services in a safe environment.”