Hair salon owners reopen indoor services with mixed thoughts during coronavirus pandemic

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Rudy Pompa hasn’t had a haircut for months until now. "I’m so happy. My hair was bugging me!"

The shutdown of indoor services has also been bugging owners with Pink Blossom Salon so much that they are reopening her business with mixed emotions.

"It’s been bittersweet. I’m super excited to be back to work to be with my clients but we always have that deep-seated fear now that within a days notice we could be told to shut down again. So we’re kind of all living in fear a little bit," said owner Kristi Nickason with Pink Blossom Salon.

Hair stylists at Superstars Beauty Salon shared similar thoughts.

"This has been what we’ve been fighting for you know- it’s been a ride you know. I was done with like five months with no job, I was just like sad you know. I’m excited," said hairstylist Jason Garcia with Superstars Beauty Salon.

While owners with Pink Blossom Salon are glad to be opening, their main concern is whether they’ll be allowed to stay open.

"I worry when flu season comes the numbers are obviously going to change- it’s just a given and I’m concerned that they’re going to make us close our doors again to the public. So as excited as I am to reopen there’s a deep-seated fear that they’re going to shut our doors again," said Nickason.

Customers too, hope barbershops and hair salons can stay open after going without a haircut for so long. "It was terrible! With the heat and everything, it was terrible!"

Customers and employees are required by State order to wear a face mask inside the salon.