SLO County hair salons and barber shops welcome back customers
NIPOMO, Calif. -- After spending the past two months closed, a handful of hair salons and barber shops reopened for business Wednesday morning.
"I'm happy," said René Salazar, a stylist at Trendy Sisters Salon and Boutique in Nipomo. "We have a lot of happy people calling."
Salons and barber shops in qualifying counties statewide were given the green light to reopen on Tuesday by Governor Gavin Newsom.
San Luis Obispo County was one of 47 counties in California to move further ahead into Stage 2, and allow the reopening of hair cutting businesses.
After hearing the news yesterday, Salazar was excited to return to work.
She said time away from the salon since mid-March has been difficult for her and her family.
"I wasn't making any money," said Salazar. "I haven't received anything from unemployment, so it was hard. Financially, it was a struggle."
In order to reopen, shops are having to follow several modifications and protocol established by the state.
"It's going to be a little different," said Salazar. "We're doing customers one at a time. We want them to wait in their car. If we have another client, that's what is going to be hard. Usually you could do a roller set, and somebody in between, but that has to stop now."
Other requirements include face coverings for workers and customers, enhanced cleaning and sanitation practices, strict physical distancing, removal of customer amenities, such as magazines, books, coffee and water.
At Trendy Sisters, the shop is now requiring appointments for all customers.
Walk-in haircuts will no longer be available.
While Trendy Sisters reopened its doors Wednesday morning, many other shops will reopen in the near future.
Some workers at other businesses countywide spent their day cleaning shops after the long break.
For more information on the official state guidance on hair salons and barber shops required by the State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health, click here.
