14 MAY 2020 My name is Mark Francome Painter—I have such a long name because of my Huguenot heritage! I’m originally from the East coast of England where I grew up in a small seaside village.

I now live in London where I work as a session hairdresser. Much like a session musician, I travel all over the world styling hair for photographic shoots, advertising commercials and celebrities.

I’ve been hairdressing for 20 years all in, but I began my career as a session hairdresser in my early twenties after working with a guy who was working on shoots for a living; I thought it sounded much more exciting than being in a salon 24/7, and it is!

Covid-19 has, and will continue to have, a huge impact on my work situation. For the time being, it means that no shoots are happening and no one is getting their hair cut, so it really is a waiting game. The UK government hasn't yet given the go-ahead for hairdressers to start working again, and my sympathies are with the salons that will have to close because of it. I just hope that there is enough support for independent businesses, so that they can afford to keep going. PPE costs and running client lists at half mast will have an enormous impact on a lot of my friends.

I’ve spent the last few weeks getting systems in place ready for when we return to some kind of normality. I’m investing in disposable gowns and towels for my clients, making sure I have the correct PPE and sterilisation tools and liaising with my clients and peers to get a sense of what to expect once we’re back to work. My main priority is to keep my models and clients safe.

I’m exercising a lot in the mornings. I find it helps a great deal with managing any anxieties that may arise during the day. I’m certainly not used to working from my laptop all day, so I need to make sure that I get moving first thing, then I can focus on my work. Most people don’t think a hairdresser has much to do if they’re not cutting or styling, but there are always things to be getting on with—portfolio updates, invoicing, contacting new and existing clients, and making sure the kit is well stocked. These are jobs that remain a constant all the time.

I’ve also made a concerted effort to call people instead of emailing. We’re all working from home at the moment, so it makes more sense and it's a good way to connect. I think everyone appreciates a chat at the moment because everyone feels isolated by the virus to some extent and humility plays a huge part in our collective wellbeing.

Nature has inspired me. The way it carries on as normal—the park near my house is in full bloom and it’s beautiful! And because of less city noise, you can hear bird songs wherever you go. It's a reminder that this won’t be forever and that nature always finds a way.

I’m looking forward to getting back to work and seeing my friends and peers and feeling the buzz of collaboration again. It’s something I think we all take for granted when we’re at it everyday, but the simple meeting of minds has a powerful effect both in terms of what you can achieve and to one’s state of mind. I don't think we can underestimate the power of collaboration. It gives one purpose and identity, two things that are enormously important to our wellbeing.

Aside from that, I’m a surfer, so I can’t wait to get in the sea again and catch some waves. Nothing compares to the feeling I get in the water and there’s nothing I enjoy more.

I think it's very important for clients on every level to communicate with their hairdressers and stylists to let them know what they expect when we get back to business. This is a global crisis and I think everyone has a responsibility to keep one another safe, so tell your hairdresser what you expect when you next go to get your hair cut or coloured—it may be something that they have overlooked. I think that is the best way to help.