Salon asks customers to ‘pay what they can’

A SALON in Henley has held a “pay what you can” haircut day.

Elements in Bell Street held the initiative on Tuesday last week.

About 15 clients booked an appointment where they were able to have their hair cut by a stylist and choose their price.

Owner Nicola Chapman, who lives in Twyford, said: “Today is about giving back to our community and our clients.

“We sent out an email and texts notifying clients that we were doing this and most of the people who have booked are clients that haven’t been with us for a while.

“Everything is changing, people are losing their jobs, prices for everything are going up.

“We had one regular client who used to come here, but she lost her job about a year ago and hasn’t been able to afford a haircut. So, we just wanted to give something back to people that can’t afford to get their hair cut at the moment.

“It’s so nice that today, we’re getting clients back through the door that haven’t come to us in a long time due to their circumstances.”

Ms Chapman said she would consider holding the event more regularly.

She added: “Today, we’ve only let our client base know so we can see how many that brings in. If it does work, we would spread the word a little bit further out.”

Ms Chapman added that the stylists at the salon thought of the idea together and that having 15 clients booked in was “more” than what she was expecting. Stylist Ella Wheeler, 19, of Mount View, said: “It has been quiet. January is a quiet month for all salons but people want to give themselves a bit of a pick-me-up.

“People still want to be able to have a treat for themselves and do something nice. We want our clients to feel good.

“I think people forget that even in Henley, despite the royal regatta and all these events we have going on, the town isn’t all glitz, glamour and money. There are people who live here and who struggle.”