Beauty industry feels the pinch

The Pilbara beauty community is among those feeling the sting of COVID-19 as the Federal Government forced the mass closure of non-essential businesses. Creative Beauty Karratha owner Chelsey Briggs said this was the first time she had been forced to close her doors in 10 years. “It’s very odd. It’s probably more just the unknown,” Ms Briggs, pictured, said. “This whole thing has left me stuck. “It has been really challenging. “I’ve got three small children and I am going to take the time out to be a mum and enjoy having this time at home with my kids.” Ms Briggs said her clients were understanding of the situation. “The way people are up here and the way we are so community-orientated; it makes it a lot easier to survive something like this,” she said. Beauty by Bella Wickham owner Tara Riddle has also been forced to shut. Ms Riddle said while having to close temporarily was tough, she understood the reason. “It is disheartening obviously because we do want to work. But it is understandable that we do need to do it,” she said. “It’s such an unknown which I think is definitely hard for everybody. It’s just a crazy, crazy time to be in this world. “My clients are definitely understandable and they have been fantastic.” Ms Riddle said she would be affected financially by the closure but would use the spare time to upskill. Imbibe Body Therapy Exmouth owner Naomi Eggins said she too had temporarily closed her therapeutic massage business. She said she had begun to offer online healing sessions.