It is a real assault that hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons have been experiencing in the last few hours, which from next week will again have to close their activities in the regions declared 'red'.
Hot phones to make appointments but also to ask for information and understand how long the stop will "really" last.
Dyeing, cutting, styling, nails, especially reconstructions, and waxing are the most popular services.
"The lockdown of a year ago caught everyone off guard - recalls a hairdresser who has many men among his clients - we were all astonished, afraid, we did not know what to expect. Then the main concern was getting food and medicines. This time it's different. : Customers know what awaits them and many have been really uncomfortable during those long weeks. Ladies especially for regrowths, being with white hair is never pleasant. But men have also suffered from it, especially those who wear a lot of cuts. short".
The exhibitors agree that the phrase heard as a mantra in the last few hours during the phone calls is: "I don't want to be screwed like last lockdown".
In reality, many will not be able to "get in order" before the lockout, especially in the suburbs of large cities, the agenda of appointments are overflowing.
Among the beauticians there is also decided to anticipate the opening in order to satisfy regular customers.
"It had been months - says a hairdresser - that I did not have such a full house with the covid, the work has decreased by 30%, especially the older customers have come much less for fear of getting infected. And on Saturday I think I will surely finish late because I want to look for to please as many people as possible ".
Someone will also take advantage of the opportunity to open on Sundays.
There was also an increase in requests in the historic centers of the main cities, albeit more contained.
"Here in the center of Rome - explains an employee - they are all smart working, since yesterday the appointments have increased. But we are far from the golden weekends of the precovid era".
According to Confartigiano Roma in the capital, the increase in bookings was quantified at 30%.
But we look above all at the cost that this closure will entail: for the Rome Capital alone, the loss, according to estimates by the Association of Artisans, the loss will be over 29 and a half million euros: 23 million and 400 thousand euros for hairdressing activities and 6 million and 500 thousand euros for Aesthetics activities.
In Rome there are 4,819 hairdressing businesses and 2,417 beauty businesses.
"Despite masks, disinfectants, temperature measurement, protected paths and a thousand other measures that involved investments - the hairdressers interviewed bitterly observe - who knows how long we will have to remain closed. Another economic blow, when we still have to recover from the previous one".