Alert level 2: Hair and beauty industry overwhelmed with bookings in preparation for Thursday

Beauty and hair salons are struggling to keep up with bookings and get the required PPE before alert level 2 begins at 11:59pm on Wednesday.

More than 60,000 bookings have been made in less than 24 hours for appointments in the industry since the Government announced they could reopen their doors.

For over seven weeks Kiwis had to go without manicures, facials and massages, professional haircuts, waxing and more and those wanting an appointment in the first two weeks of level 2 will have to get in fast.

App Timely, which is used by half the hair and beauty industry, has been getting hundreds of bookings every minute.

CEO and co-founder Ryan Baker says it has exploded since the announcement.

"We saw 800 bookings come in straight away within a couple of minutes and then about 800 bookings coming in every five minutes," he says.

They have now had 126,000 bookings since Monday when normally there's just 100 per day.

Christchurch's Total Body Concept has also seen record appointments with managing director Debbie McGregor estimating 700 so far.

But they've also had to spend a lot of money on high-end PPE gear to protect staff from COVID-19. 

They've been buying masks, gloves and face shields but they still aren't sure what the prerequisites are.

"The Government hasn't actually outlined the exact requirements," she says.

"We've been waiting for more guidance but we haven't really been given any clarity."

Other businesses are struggling to get their PPE in store on time including Christchurch's All About You.

"We've had to order in gloves and masks, that has been quite an expense," owner Tracy Cox says. 

"We've got enough to get by to open but we need it to arrive pretty soon."