As many shelter-at-home and lock-down orders approach their expiration dates, personal service businesses like hair and nail salons are starting to reopen in some states, amidst controversy and safety guidelines.
Both time and the Covid-19 pandemic are marching on, while many states of the union are seeing their lock-down and shelter-at-home orders wind down, leaving open the option for many salons to resume business as usual, sometimes bending or completely disregarding Federal government and Center for Disease Control Guidelines to help prevent further contagion.
For example, the Arizona hair salons and barbershops are reopening, but only after having implemented many adaptations in this new age of social-distancing. Services are offered by appointment only, clients are often asked to wait in their cars curbside to prevent excessive in-salon traffic, masks, and often gloves, are worn by stylists and clients alike.
Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott presented a plan to reopen hair salons, barber shops and nail parlors on May 18, but all would be subject to occupancy restrictions and workplace social-distancing. Abbot also recommended that 65+ people and those with chronic health conditions continue to remain at home.
On May 11, the New York Times reported that barbers in Georgia are giving haircuts armed with face masks and latex gloves, in spite of failing to meet statistical criteria recommended by the Federal government to help flatten the curve.
At the end of April, hairdresser Lauren Reyes shared her concerns with Stephanie Griffith (www.americanprogress.org), “If we choose to stay closed for the sake of our health and our families’ health, we risk losing our clientele. If we reopen for our clients, we put ourselves at risk,” she said, explaining the dilemma she and other Georgia small-business owners face. At that time, she was seeking PPE for both customers and staff in preparation for a May 1st reopening.
Silvia Ascarelli on www.marketwatch.com noted, for example, that Pennsylvania hair and nail salons must remain closed, while Florida gave the OK on May 4th, in spite of the Tampa Bay Time reporting on May 8th that the Sunshine State was in the midst of its deadliest week yet, with an average of 57 fatalities daily.
Amelia Pak-Harvey Indianapolis Star reported for www.usatoday.com that nail salon owners are setting up plastic shields on each station.
In summing up, most personal care businesses are adopting the following rules, either in compliance with government mandates or voluntarily:
- They will be open by appointment only.
- Employees must wear face coverings.
- Work stations must be restricted or spaced six feet apart for social distancing.
- Workstations must be cleaned/sanitized after each customer or client.
- Customers will be urged to wear face coverings “to the extent practicable.”
Salons in some intensely Covid-infected areas may put off reopening, in spite of technically having gotten a green light from the government. After all, the official lifting of the lock-down doesn’t mean that businesses are required to open, only if they can. And although governors may lift orders, stricter local orders may still remain in place by city or county.
Once again, salon professionals will be called upon to use their creativity and pro-active nature to overcome this crisis. And the focus must not be on how they can open their businesses quickly to pay their bills, but on how business can pay their bills while working in safety, although this might once again require government intervention. Time will tell. When we will be able to analyze the contagion statistics in 15 to twenty days after reopenings, then we will be able to decide if it is truly safe to go back into the water.
