A POPULAR Hexham hair salon has been given a new lease of life in a current makeover.

Hairy Rory's salon is a popular venue in the heart of Hexham which opened in the midst of the covid pandemic back in 2020.

Rory Moore used to be the lead barber at the Imperial Gent before setting up his own shop in the town.

Recently Rory has redecorated his salon and made it more his style. Rory said: "I had always intended for it (the salon) to look like this, I just didn't get the opportunity with opening up last year and covid locking us down continuously.

"So I never got the chance to make it look like the Broadway show, backstage stage look. We are going to get some flight boxes, maybe large speakers and put cushions on them as seats and more guitars.

"Just so people feel like they are backstage and about to go on stage, make the customer feel that way, feel that they're not just getting a haircut but they are part of an event."

Rory has been working in the hairdressing industry for 26 years, starting his career in Ireland.

On what has changed in the industry Rory has seen. He said: "Even the colour companies have changed they couldn't afford to send technicians to the salons back after 9/11 they reduced the size of the boxes so the whole industry suffered.

"The whole industry was completely destroyed by the end of the naughties right up until recent times when the industry has been able to recover again."

Hexham Courant: Picture: New look Hairy Rory, Hexham Picture: New look Hairy Rory, Hexham

At the age of 22, Rory had his own salon in Galway, Ireland. The shockwave of 9/11 was something nobody could imagine. Rory was unable to keep up with the effects of the recession and had to sell his shop in 2006 and rented a chair in a nearby salon.

Rory has said that this was a perfect time to set up his own business again: "In the first lockdown, I decided to open up my own shop because I know how damaging a recession can be and I really felt like I could steer myself through it best.

"And if I didn't open my own shop now I would have never done it, it was kinda like my last chance to do something."

During his life, Rory has lived all over the country, on why he loves Hexham and chosen to move here, Rory said: "Everyone knows how I got here eventually, I came back. I had a choice through the last lockdown to shut down the shop.

"I thought about it, I was going to do it but I just can't. I love Hexham, I just love the place, I said I feel like my soul is here and I belong here. The people are just amazing."