Hairstylists pre-booking appointments while future regulations on operations remain unclear

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The salon industry is one of the many industries shut down by the COVID-19 outbreak, and many stylists are preparing for clients to return.

While regulations on when or if salons will be able to open their doors remain unclear in Missouri, some stylists and salon owners have started booking appoints as early as May 4, the day Goveroner Parson's "Stay Home Missouri" order is set to lift.

Stephanie Childress, an independent stylist, has a booth at Hair Connections in Jefferson City. She said she spent over two hours on the phone with clients Wednesday scheduling appointments, as there is a pent up demand for hair salons.

"I'm hoping things go as planned," Childress said. "We are going to take extra precautions between clients... wear masks, wear gloves, sanitize between clients."

But those freshly booked appointments may have to be pushed back even further once more guidance is released from health officials and the governor.

The communicable disease coordinator for Cole County Public Health Chezney Schulte said there has been no specific guidance on reopening hair salons yet. She said the governor has made mention of salons opening back up soon, but did not give any details.

"We'll just kind of have to see what the governor's order allows for," Schulte said.

Cole County announced Tuesday it does not plan to extend its countywide stay-at-home order, but will continue to monitor the situation.

"If we start to see too many cases or a spike or outbreak situation, we might reevaluate and Cole County might have to implement different stay-at-home orders than what the governor's stages are," Schulte said.

Childress said if the order to stay six feet away from each other is still in effect, they may have to push back clients even more. She is hopeful wearing masks and limiting the number of people in the building will allow salons to start opening up.

"I'm just going to have to go from what (Gov. Parson) says," Childress said. "I know it's not going to be a free for all just go at it."

Things are going to look a lot different for salons in the after-math of COVID-19. Some salons ABC17 News spoke with said they may even cut hair outdoors to limit the number of people inside.

"We're going to have to take extra precautions. It's not going to be the luxurious thing it used to be," Childress said. "It's going to be a little weird, but we'll get through it."

For her, it means more than just seeing her clients and co-workers. Financial strain has been put on many independent stylists. While some salons and stylists were able to receive loans and unemployment, Childress said a lot has been left out during this crisis.

"We'll be fine, because when this thing lifts, everyone will need a haircut," Childress said. "I just don't want people to forget about us."