Local hair salons and barbershops welcome back customers once again

California hair salons and barbershops can resume indoor operations Monday, Aug. 31 under a new four-tier system unveiled Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Customers and business owners said they are happy to be back in business.

Hair salons like Salon 119 in Palm Springs are back to the swing of things. 

“I feel crazy, I cried on Friday," said Michele Gerber, owner of Salon 119. "I broke down and cried because it has been such an unknown thing.” 

Michele Gerber said there was no hesitation reopening once again during the pandemic.  

“I was very nervous about returning to work the first time, not the second time," said Gerber. "I was really just over it and we know how to do it now."

Phone calls ringing off the hook with customers booking appointments. 

“You just keep looking at yourself and really my hair was getting to the point where I started looking like my mother and thought no I can’t go there," said Judy Baggott, customer. "I need help so I was so thankful that she opened up.” 

Customers said it was worth the wait. 

“Oh this is like the epiphany of comfort you imagine being outside right now," said Baggott. "I’d be melting.” 

“How excited am I? I could jump off this chair and kiss you," said Ellen Sorensen, a customer.

The salon was restocked, re-santized and safety measures are in place. 

“Masks, temperature checks, sanitation at the desk when you walk in," said Gerber. "We have capes that go right in the wash, we have our own washer and dryer, there’s no more magazines, we have shields around the shampoo bowls, we are all distance."

At Sunny Dunes Barbershop in Palm Springs, they were also ready to reopen. 

“This is my shop, we don’t need to be shutdown again, I would like to stay open," said Ricky Strauss, owner of Sunny Dunes Barbershop.

Barbershop owner, Ricky Strauss said he’s made all the modifications to operate indoor. 

“so you just come in and if we have more than one person waiting we ask them to wait in their car until the next barber," said Strauss. "We are not using the middle chair, we only use the two end chairs that are six feet apart.” 

Customers couldn’t wait to be back in his chair. 

“The last time I got a haircut was in LA so I have been waiting for a place to open up i was thinking about friends doing it but I don’t trust them," said Steve Horstman.

CAL/OSHA’s general checklist for hair salons and barber shops includes suspending walk-ins, requiring facial coverings for staff and clients and screening anyone who walks through their doors for COVID-19 symptoms.