VTDigger posts regular coronavirus updates on this page. You can also subscribe here for daily coronavirus news. Please send your Covid-19 questions to coronavirus@vtdigger.org
Iva Ford, a hair stylist who owns a home-based salon in New Haven, was pleasantly surprised to read the state’s health and safety guidance for salons and barbers, which came out May 22.
Ford had been hearing rumors that the use of hair dryers would be prohibited, and that the state would require masks for customers. Neither is true — though Ford herself plans to require masks.
Gov. Phil Scott on Friday announced that salons and barber shops can open May 29, part of an array of openings as the governor slowly eases Vermont back into business after shutting down in March to suppress the spread of Covid-19. Health and beauty businesses were ordered to close in a March 21 executive order.
The state guidelines issued May 22 require salon owners to limit their operations to 25% of approved occupancy, or to one customer per 200 square feet, or to 10 customers and staff combined, whichever is greater.
Salons and barbers must use appointments “to the greatest extent possible,” and no walk-in visitors or home visits are allowed. The beauty businesses may only serve Vermont residents or out-of-staters who have self-quarantined for 14 days, and the state is encouraging cash-free transactions.
Like restaurant and lodging operators, salon operators must maintain a customer log, with contact information, for 30 days so that in the event of a Covid-19 outbreak, the state can carry out contract tracing to contain the spread of the virus. Nail treatments have still not been approved, according to the guidelines.
“I was actually expecting them to be a little more,” said Ford, whose business has a separate entrance and separate phone line in the basement of her home. She was surprised that nail services weren’t allowed.
“They are going to allow me to do a beard trim, where I am right up in someone’s face, but I can’t do nails with a protective face shield? That is ridiculous,” said Ford.
That detail also surprised Todd Wheeler, who runs his one-person shop Todd the Barber in Montpelier. Like Ford, he plans to require customers to wear a mask. Wheeler had already prepared for opening by doubling his planned haircut times from 15 minutes to 30 minutes to allow for sterilizing the shop, and he has installed two air filtration systems, one for each of the salon’s two rooms.
Salon and barber services have been badly missed during the Covid-19 crisis, not only in Vermont but everywhere. Stories abound of people trying to cut their own hair at home, including public figures like CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, sometimes with disastrous results. Many Zoom calls have revealed new beards and styles. Many stylists, including Wheeler, gave instruction over Zoom during the pandemic to help people at home.
I used to teach barbering with my father’s barber school in Hollywood, California,” said Wheeler. “So it kind of revisited that time for me.”
Wheeler was listening to the governor’s news conference on May 22 when Scott announced the opening date for salons and barbers, and he immediately went onto his website to open up scheduling. Within an hour, he had booked 40 people, he said.
Ford said that people have offered to double her price if she would go to their home to give them a haircut.
“People are desperate,” she said. “I said, ‘sorry, that is not worth losing my license.’” She’s now telling all her clients that she will rebook them in the order that they had appointments when she had to close down.
Some salon owners have said they are nervous about the health risks of reopening, and Ford said she can understand why. Gyms and fitness centers haven’t received any information yet about opening, she noted. Scott hinted May 22 those businesses might hear an opening date next week.
“If gyms can’t go back, why can we go back? We are much more in contact with people,” said Ford. “But our cases are really low in Vermont. After a few weeks of letting things open up, they haven’t gone up.”
Get the latest statistics and live updates on our coronavirus page.
Sign up for our coronavirus email list.
Tell us your story or give feedback at coronavirus@vtdigger.org.
Support our nonprofit journalism with a donation.
