BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – As salons, restaurants, and boutiques slowly open across Georgia, those in the beauty industry are taking special care to protect their customers.

These businesses can’t maintain the recommended six feet of separation and conduct businesses; stylists often come within inches of clients’ faces to accurately judge the length, cut, or color. It’s physically impossible for individuals who work in this industry to follow all the CDC guidelines. However, one of the biggest complaints from the public during this shutdown was the inability to “keep up with appearances.” Take away hair cuts, acrylics, and tanning beds, some people’s self-esteem starts to decline. The same can be said about social interaction which salons also offer communities.

“They’re desperate for some kind of normalcy, and I’ll [help] to provide it,” stated Amour Beauty Salon and Studio Owner Shannon Hogsed. “In a small salon and small town like we have, our clients are like family to us.”

The spacing of chairs in Amour Salon. Image courtesy of Amour.

Many people have weekly standing appointments with cosmetologists, and several are senior citizens.

Hogsed recounted how one of her customers no longer has a full range of motion in their arms. As a result, they can’t wash or fix their hair without assistance. The client’s been relying on their significant other since the shut down began.

From a sanitation standpoint, local salons are taking multiple steps to promote their clients’ safety.  Amour Beauty Salon isn’t allowing walk-ins for at least two weeks, no guests, cleaning after every appointment, clients wait in their cars, staff will have masks, clients will wear masks and gloves into the shop, and staff will take customers temperature. The owner Hogsed added that the stylists’ chairs were already spaced far enough apart to protect clients from anyone else in the shop. She also wants her customers to have spent some of the shutdown in self-imposed quarantine to ensure they don’t have the virus.

In the nail care world, Relax Nail Salon and Spa contractor Dee Dee Dyer uses her previous experience in healthcare to run the business.

“We always practice universal precautions because you never know what’s out there. We have stepped up more on our policies to ensure our clients and personnel are as safe as they can be in the shop,” she said.

Those working in the spa are wearing new gloves for each client and service, face masks, and are eliminating unnecessary points of contact for clients – such as nail polish bottles. The 1,300 square foot facility has separate rooms, so depending on the service, only the client and the beautician will be in a room.  A hospital-grade disinfectant is used on every surface and essential oils are diffused to purify the air.

Additionally, the business only books a set number of appointments per day and factoring in 15 to 30 minutes of extra time, so no one overlaps in the waiting area. Clients are also instructed to not show up early for an appointment. Extra people aren’t allowed in.

Inside Sunsations Tanning, multiple rooms are available to customers. Image courtesy of Sunsations.

As for Sunsations Tanning Salon, Brandy Walters has placed six feet markers inside and outside her store. She wears gloves for each appointment and changes them after every appointment. The salon has a stockpile of germicidal as well as Microban sanitizing surface spray for her doorknobs and desk.

“The state already requires me to have a salon-grade bed sanitizer in bottles in each room, plus a goggle sanitation station. Lastly, I will have hand sanitizer in the lobby restroom and each tanning room. Mainly [I’m continuing] what I do on a regular basis with a little more caution for my family, my customers, and their families. I will also be wearing a mask,” explained Walters.

All the businesses urge anyone who might be feeling sick to reschedule or reconsider visiting their salons on that day.

“My only concern is that some clients will become frustrated with a new way of doing things. Walters acknowledged. “With guidelines implemented, I do have faith in my customers that they will be patient and bear with the process until it becomes our new normal from now on possibly.”

Reopening Assistance

The reopening of Georgia also allows all the cosmetologists and technicians contracted at these salons to return to work. Since the predominant business structure in beauty is to “rent a chair” or work as an independent contractor, once the doors close no one receives income. Owners can’t pay rent, and beauticians could lose their license if they break shutdown protocols.

The federal and state government set up plans to assist small businesses and independent contractors in making ends meet during COVID-19. However, only one business Fetch Your News spoke with said they had received any government assistance.

Walters stated, “I did apply a month ago for PPP, Eidl, and unemployment. [I] have not received ANY money or assistance as of yet, nor have I been approved for unemployment. US small business owners were supposed to be ‘first in line’ for assistance. But, we were made wait an extra week before being allowed to apply once it went live. So, we [had to wait] two weeks, and monies ran out.”

Hogsed relayed that she was lucky enough to “put enough by to cover this last month’s expenses,” but she couldn’t get a phone call through to Georgia Department of Labor for small business assistance. She added that the federal loan application was over 50 pages and not easy to understand for most individuals.

Additionally, Hogsed said the money contained a quid pro quo as that it could only be used to keep the business running. It would cover rent, but not hair care products.

Customers won’t be allowed to touch nail polish bottles at Relax Nail Salon. Image courtesy of Relax.

Salons need to purchase new hair color, toner, and various products to efficiently reopen, and Gov. Kemp’s swift decision resulted in limited availability. Hogsed added that even the warehouses currently have reduced stock and are unsure when it will be available. Also, shipments have slowed, so it’s impossible to predict accurate delivery dates.

Dyer of Relax Nail Salon and Spa did receive small business assistance, but it took a month for the funds to arrive. It also wasn’t enough to cover the cost of all her expenses.

“In my opinion, the beauty industry has had a hard time keeping their doors closed. No financial help out there.  When we are closed, we are closed, no income.” She acknowledged. “So, to save what we have, we do not have a choice but to reopen. In our community, I feel much safer to start back, and I know the policies I have initiated are the very best I can do. If I were in a large city, I think I would wait longer.”

All three businesses expressed an eagerness from clients to support them once reopen. Some are anticipating a business boom with constant phone calls and promises of new business.

The shutdown has taught Hogsed, Walters, and Dyer to be appreciative of their customers, family, and ability to do what they enjoy.

Hogsed added, “prepare for anything.” She cited her faith that “God is good and merciful” and that He helped her make it through this time.

“This shut down has definitely taught me to never underestimate the power of the unknown and to never be content in knowing your business is doing great – overnight, [it] can change forever. And it’s out of your hands,” closed Walters.

“Being a business owner is actually an act of faith, we never know when something will come along, and we are no more,” Dyer said.

Each one of these women makes a difference in their clients’ lives. It might not always be noticeable, but it leaves an impact. By reopening, their businesses help everyone regain some sense of normalcy as the nation hopefully moves out of the COVID-19 crisis.