Zoom drinks and socially distanced walks were great when we had no other option to stay in touch, but undoubtedly left a huge hole our lives when it came to actual physical contact.

Throughout the pandemic, so many of us have missed touch interactions such as workplace greetings, hugging friends, massages and beauty treatments – and we’ve seen an increase in depression and anxiety because of it.

So whilst people have assumed that vanity was the main reason so many people flocked to salons as soon as restrictions eased on 12 April, what if it was down to more than just sorting our roots out?

“We all leave those experiences feeling a little lighter and more relaxed don’t we? That’s about the power of touch and human connection,” says Emmy.

Touch starvation – or “skin hunger” as it’s often termed – occurs when a person experiences little to no touch from other living things. Multiple studies have found that missing out on regular human touch can have some serious and long-lasting effects, including depression, stress, mood and anxiety disorders, and secondary immune disorders.

Lockdown easing: the science behind why hugs are so good for us