Covering grey growth and tidying up out-of-control hair is the order of the day as hairdressers across Melbourne return to work.
While many businesses in the city have to wait for further easing of lockdown restrictions, hairdressers were among the winners in Sunday's state government announcements.
The phones have been running hot at Annette for Hair in East Doncaster, in Melbourne's North East.
It's the longest break owner Annette Meehan has taken in her almost 25 years since opening the salon.
For her, it's not only a business, but a labour of love.
And at 70, she is in no mood to slow down.
Clients have been calling, begging for an appointment since Premier Daniel Andrews' announcement on Sunday.
She already had clients booked in for when she opened before a date was known.
And the calls kept coming on Monday morning.
"Everyone is desperate to cover the greys and tame their locks," Mrs Meehan said.
"It's been a long time between drinks - it's like Christmas."
She's already working on her day off, late nights every day this week and considering opening on Sunday to keep up with demand.
Many clients expressed their excitement at the news - saying it was what they needed to help them get through the rest of Melbourne's lockdown.
For Annette, returning to work is a welcome distraction after losing her husband of 43 years not long before she was closed down by the COVID-19 response.
"It's been a tough year, but opening up is exactly what we need," she said.
Hairdressers across the state were closed down from midnight on August 5, but those in regional areas reopened on September 16.
Australian Associated Press
