Hair Care, Other Services Can Resume May 25: MA Reopening

MASSACHUSETTS — Personal service businesses, including barbershops and hair salons, will be allowed to reopen Monday, May 25, Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday.

The reopening will come more than two months after the state's closure of nonessential businesses, which went into effect March 24. The personal services reopening is part of the first phase of the state's reopening plan, which begins with houses of worship, manufacturing and construction Monday.

The state put in place new mandatory safety standards May 11, which businesses will have to meet before they can reopen.

Personal service businesses that will be allowed to reopen are: hair care, pet grooming and car washes. Nail salons and day spas will not be allowed to reopen until phase two.

The state issued industry-specific safety standards for every reopening sector.

In hair care, workers will be required to wear gloves; gowns or smocks; and glasses or goggles. Both workers and customers will be required to wear face coverings, with medical exceptions, and businesses are expected to arrange chairs to ensure 6 feet physical distancing. The rules also require frequent cleaning and changing of gowns, gloves and other equipment.

Services are limited to hair only — businesses will not be permitted to groom eyebrows, beards, lips or nails.

Customers will not be allowed to enter pet grooming businesses; pets must be dropped off curbside.

Only exterior washes will be permitted for car wash businesses.

All reopening businesses are required to stagger break times and reconfigure spaces to limit the number of workers in one place.

Other businesses that can reopen May 25 include laboratories, offices outside of Boston and retail with curbside pickup.

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Other reopening coverage

• MA Reopening: Roadmap Detailed, Businesses Given Dates
• MA Houses Of Worship To Reopen: See The New Rules