Salons and barbershops reopen, make sacrifices in the name of safety

Hair washing, fresh cuts, color and perms – hair salons and barbershops are back open.

Southwest Floridians like Joan Herity of Placida are very eager to get back in the chair, saying, “I had so much hair that if you grab me on the hair on my head then you could swing me around.”

Marie Bronson, is the owner of Head Hunters Salon and Spa in Englewood. She says they’re “really grateful to be back and I have some sort of resemblance of normalcy again.”

• As normal as you can get during a pandemic and the news rules:
• Stylists must wear masks
• Set aside 15 minutes between guests for cleaning
• Customers are required to have appointments.
• No groups allowed.

“People are afraid,” Bronson explained. “They want to know that you’re doing the right thing.

You’ll notice new safety practices at Head Hunters before you even enter the door as customers wait for appointments in their cars.

They also take temperature checks for all stylists and clients.

These practices put Herity at ease. “I know what their objective is. They’re trying to make sure that we don’t get the virus.”

Inside the salon, dividers sit between each station; there are bottles of hand sanitizer; chairs and vanities are cleaned between every client.

And despite guests wearing masks, Bronson says the salon isn’t using blow dryers, “If there are germs we’re going to be blowing them around and we don’t wanna take that chance.”

All of these are just some of the sacrifices Florida salons are making to keep you safe while meeting the demand from grooming.

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation inspects barbershops and salons throughout the year and will incorporate the new restrictions while the executive order is in effect.