Beauty and personal care services were among the many businesses that were allowed to reopen from 11.59pm on May 31.

Wax Gallery owner Rachel Mahon said all of her staff and clients were thrilled at the return.

"It has been really exciting," she said. "We have been preparing really well and we were very ready to reopen again."

KIN Skin Makeup Body owner Amy Drummond said the reopening was earlier than expected.

Read more: Bendigo cafes, pubs, restaurants re-open as COVID-19 restrictions ease

"It definitely caught me by surprise," she said. "The government only gave us a week to reopen and they only sent out the guidelines on the night before opening.

"The situation has been so fluid from the beginning. I can understand things are changing so quickly and that's why the regulations were last minute. But it doesn't make it easy."

The two Bendigo salons have introduced a range of additional measures on top of their already stringent hygiene protocols.

"Considering the service and treatments we provide, obviously social distancing can be challenging," Mrs Mahon said.

"But we are making sure there are no clients waiting in the reception area. Everyone either needs to be on time or wait in their cars.

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"We have also be sanitising the salon and wearing face masks and gloves. We're doing everything we can and taking every precaution."

Mrs Drummond said her salon was also doing temperature checks as an added measure.

"For us, it's business as usual but with the regulations in place," she said. "We're trying to do most of the things behind the scenes because obviously we want it to feel normal for clients."

Mrs Mahon said the past few months have been challenging as a small business owner.

"It was hard," she said. "But I'm so grateful and blessed to have a wonderful community around us and to have a team that is so supportive. The business is still going because of them."

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