They Opened A Fairfield Salon — 2 Weeks Later Coronavirus Came

FAIRFIELD, CT — On March 3, Stephanie McDermott and Bried Veteri opened their first business, a hair salon in Fairfield.

Seventeen days later, they were forced to close due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“It almost didn’t feel real,” McDermott said. “… It was devastating.”

After more than two months, Tease Hair Salon will reopen Tuesday, one day after salons across Connecticut are cleared to reopen following the lengthy state-ordered business closures intended to prevent virus transmission. Gov. Ned Lamont originally announced salons would open May 20, before pushing the reopening to June 1 just two days before the original opening day.

McDermott said she found out about the delay minutes after she had reassured a customer that Tease would open May 20.

“We had hundreds of appointments that we then had to reschedule,” she said.

McDermott and Veteri, coworkers for more than a decade, wanted to create a salon that specialized in vegan and ammonia-free products and current hair trends in a fun atmosphere. During the months of closures, they’ve continued to sell color kits and other products.

“Our clients have supported us,” McDermott said.

Now, Tease is ready to reopen to a new normal, after reorganizing the salon and ordering protective equipment, she said. In response to the coronavirus, which, despite decreasing virus hospitalizations, is connected to nearly 4,000 Connecticut deaths, salons must operate at 50 percent capacity and by appointment only, with waiting rooms closed and services restricted to the hair and eyebrows to avoid face mask removal.

“It’s going to be hard to work in a mask all day long doing a physical activity,” McDermott said. “… It’s going to take some adapting.”

But failure is not an option. Tease ownership has construction loans to pay off after building out their salon space at 1 Sasco Hill Road. The business is ineligible for most assistance programs because it opened after Feb. 15, McDermott said.

“We are going to make it work somehow,” she said.

For more information on Tease Hair Salon, visit www.teasehairct.com.