The wait is over for people who want to get their hair or nails done, but the process doesn’t look anything like it did just two months ago.
Hair and nail salons across the state, with the exception of Indianapolis, reopened last week after being closed for almost two months due to the COVID-19 health crisis. Salons were allowed to reopen as part of the second stage of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s Back on Track Indiana plan, a five-step plan to reopen the economy by July 4.
Some local salons are booked full the rest of the month, and they’ve had to adjust to a new normal, following several social distancing guidelines in an effort to keep their doors open during the ongoing pandemic.
At Emerald Collective Salon in Franklin, stylists are checking customers’ temperatures at the door, and everyone inside is required to wear a mask. Owner Erica Dildine did had to turn someone away last week when they came in with a 100-degree temperature, she said.
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"I had to follow the guidelines, and she understood. It’s just our new normal," Dildine said.
To properly socially distance, only four stylists can work at a time. The salon is busier than ever, but with less stylists and no double-bookings, she has had to turn a lot of people away, she said.
"We’re working less, and we’re making less money, and we’ve been shut down for two months," Dildine said. "It’s been really hard."
As part of the state’s guidelines, if a customer is inside, they have to be in a chair with a stylist. That means all clients must have an appointment. The salon is not allowing walk-ins, customers can’t bring guests with them and no mingling is allowed in the waiting area.
For Heidi Black, a stylist at Classique Hair Styling Salon in Franklin, not having more than one person in her area of the shop is different.
"I’m used to double-booking clients, and sometimes even having the kiddos come in with their moms, or a mother and daughter come in (together)," Black said.
When salons closed in March, Black was worried about making ends meet. After the first few days, she stopped worrying and enjoyed the time off with her kids. She’s glad to be back and booked up until June 1, she said.
"I’m sure I will probably be making decent money from here on out," Black said.
Classique customers and employees are also required to wear a mask. A sign on the door tells customers they cannot enter without a mask. All the stylists work at the same time since they have separate rooms, she said.
After each customer, the stylists switch out capes and take 10 to 15 minutes to disinfect their stations before a new client can come in, Black said.Â
Black’s customers are still happy to come in, even if they have to wear a mask.
"They were so ready to have their hair done that they didn’t care what the guidelines were," she said.
Nail salons are also faced with a new normal. Like hair salons, Kim’s Nails in Greenwood is accepting customers by appointment-only, and all the nail technicians have to wear masks, owner Kim Thatch said.Â
The nail salon installed plastic barriers between each station, as well as between the nail tech and customer, Thatch said.
"It kind of looks like a BMV in here," she said. "I put the barriers up because I want the clients to feel comfortable."
Kim’s Nails previously accepted walk-ins. Now, the salon is having problems with walk-ins and having to turn customers away. And with the barriers up around the tables, it is hard for Thatch and other techs to see if anyone walks in the front door, she said.
The nail salon has stayed busy since it reopened its doors last week, and handling the influx of customers who book appointments online is more difficult now because only Thatch and one other employee work at the same time. The salon would typically have about eight employees working at once, Thatch said.
A fear among most salon and business owners is having to close again if there is another surge of COVID-19 cases.
Dildine hopes she can continue working.
"It’s scary, but it’s also out of our control," she said. "I get so much out of my job … I’m so grateful to be back to work in such a fulfilling industry."
