A trip to the hairdressers topped Echo readers’ to-do-list following the latest easing of Covid restrictions.
42 per cent of people who took part in our online poll said they were prioritising a haircut ahead of a return to shops, beer gardens and gyms.
Shopping came in second place with 21 per cent of respondents keen to spend their cash on new items.
A first post-lockdown pint at a pub garden came joint third in the vote with 16 per cent.
Read more:
- Recap: How the first day of shops, pubs and hairdresser's reopening unfolded in south Essex
- 'It's been amazing': Shoppers brave long queues as hundreds flock to Southend
- In pictures: Long queues outside Primark as town centre welcomes visitors again
Only five per cent said they were heading to the gym for a workout first, with the remaining 16 per cent choosing other destinations as their priority.
Many hairdressers across south Essex were flat out yesterday, with a host of customers keen to shed their lockdown hair.
Among those reopening was Grateful Heads in Southend.
Owner Craig Smith said: "It's wonderful to get back to some normality.
"Walking to work everyone was shouting good luck.
"It's lovely seeing people. It's been wonderful, absolutely brilliant."
Simon Foxen, who reopened his barbers in Thundersley, added: “It’s like reaching a light at the end of the tunnel.
"We were closed for the first and second lockdown periods and then we were made to shut again when the third lockdown kicked in on December 19.
“My clients are like friends and it will be nice to see them again. I have been missing them all and, judging from those I have seen in the streets, they cannot wait to get their hair cut again.”
Pictures across the country showed large numbers of people waiting outside a number of shops, with Primark a popular destination for many.
Photos taken at stores in Southend and at Lakeside showed long queues throughout the day, with some customers waiting up to an hour to get in.
Readers had different reactions to the hordes of people waiting to get in, with some insisting the long wait wasn’t worth it.
Candice Cannon said on Facebook: “Couldn’t think of anything worse I’d rather wait a few more weeks and walk in and be able to look properly.
Vanessa Cooper added: “Omg what the hell is wrong with people? Seeing this its so pathetic and that’s putting it mildly.”
But others were pleased to see large numbers of people back in the town centre and queueing outside shops.
Amy Spiers said: “Don’t see a problem. Shops been closed for ages.
“Retail need people back buying rather than online.”
Fuhad Faruq added: “Everyone is looking for some normality in their life after lockdown.
"If Primark does that for you, then good luck.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here