As Many Salons, Barber Shops Reopen, Some Can't Given Regulations

CONNECTICUT — Many, but far from all, hair salons and barbershops across the state are reopening today after being shuttered for more than two months as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Two battling drums have been banged: business owners demanding they be allowed to reopen and state concerns about the health and safety of employees and patrons.

Given the close-contact nature of salons and barbershops, stringent rules were put in place to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission. And those not able to strictly adhere to the protocols, or not yet ready to, cannot and will not open.

That said, for clients who will sit in these salon and barber chairs, the risk, the state says, cannot be fully mitigated: "Customers who choose to visit hair salons and barbershops during this time should be aware of potential risks."

And for those people over 65, or with health conditions who might wish to have bangs trimmed or grays covered, "should not visit hair salons and barbershops, but instead continue to stay home and stay safe," the state says.

The rules are just a baseline.

"Businesses shall take these rules as the minimum baseline of precautions needed to protect public health in Connecticut," the state’s reopening guide reads. "Individual businesses should take additional measures as recommended by industry guidelines or by common sense applied to their particular situation. We urge customers to stay vigilant and pay attention as to whether establishments they frequent are faithfully implementing these rules."

The rules

Hair cuts and styling are by appointment only. No waiting rooms, no lines. All workstations must be 6 feet apart or have barriers between them. Masks and face shields must be used. Originally blow dryers were forbidden but that rule was scrapped. All tools must be soaked in disinfectant between clients. Employees must wear hair protection, every customer must have a clean smock and, this might be among the hardest thing to do in a salon or barber shop, "limit conversation."

A Bethel salon is ready to go

Debra Smith/Brushworks Salon

In Bethel, Brushworks Salon will be open for business Tuesday. Owner Debra Smith has her own rules incorporating the state’s guidelines but taking it up a notch.

"This is our new normal," Smith told Patch, adding emphatically, "We got this!"

No walk-ins are allowed and customers must make appointments. There's no waiting room; clients are to wait in their cars to be called in for their appointment.

"Tap on the window or call the salon to let us know you are here," Smith said.

Debra Smith/Brushworks Salon

Clients must wear a face mask, sanitize their hands and will have their temperatures taken when they arrive. They'll also be asked five questions about their health. They must be alone and leave their personal belongings in their cars. They must remain in the chair, save to use the bathroom. And the salon will enforce a 6-foot social distance rule "as much as possible."

Oh, and "no talking during the blow dry," Smith added.

It sounds like a lot, Smith concedes, but she said, "If you think that’s a lot, you should see what we must do just to keep everything disinfected, and adhere to all of these new regulations."

Smith has gone beyond what is required, though. She's "using UVC lights at night to disinfect, and we also have the UV wands, along with all of our other disinfectants."

She's even added partitions.

Debra Smith/Brushworks

"Our clients have been so supportive, and we can’t wait to see each and every one of them," she said Friday. "We have our salon clean and disinfected, and are taking every precaution to keep us all safe."

This Branford salon won't be reopening anytime soon

Bellissima Capelli Organic Salon owner Paul Rapisarda says his salon will not reopen Monday. In fact, the salon in Branford won’t be able to open at all, he said, until the hundreds of dollars worth of face shields, masks, digital thermometers and UV sanitizer are delivered from China, "which according to Amazon will be in mid-July, early August due to back orders, and COVID-19."

Rapisarda says he understands the need for stringent requirements to keep him and fellow stylist Terry Minotti, and clients, safe. But he questions the intentions of "too many who think it’s a joke" as he described seeing many in his town ignoring social distancing rules and not wearing masks.

Struggling to survive the closure of the salon, Rapisarda said that as he works to comply with state requirements for reopening, he’s both dismayed by some resident’s cavalier attitudes toward coronavirus transmission mitigation rules and worried, too.

"More than likely, we’re going to have another outbreak. I’m tying to do my part," he said, with his business likely to remain shuttered for a total of four months, "at least."

And Minotti said she’s most concerned that they’ll have to turn away clients who are over 65 — half of their client base, she said — and that she won't be allowed to do makeup at the salon, a service she said is popular with customers. She’s had to come up with new ideas — like hand-painted t-shirts — and new products.