Coronavirus: Kiwis swarm hairdressers as New Zealand enters alert level 2

Hairdressers and barbers across the country opened their doors to customers for the first time in almost two months on Thursday as New Zealand entered alert level 2.

With queues from midnight, customers desperate to get into the cutting chair weren't necessarily those with the longest hair - but ones who'd received DIY haircuts during lockdown.

"At about 11:30pm there were six people outside waiting," said Cathedral Junction Barbers owner Conrad Fitzgerald. "It was crazy, yeah it's just been mad."

Lines didn't stop on Thursday with a few "fix-ups" needed after DIY haircut trends took over during lockdown. 

"[I] had a few mates who were dying it blonde and doing all sorts but I managed to not do that," said Mr Barber customer Nepia Fox-Matamua.

Inside salons, personal protective gear like gloves and masks have been added to the essential hairdressing toolkit and extended hours have been put in place - to get through as many customers as possible.