Barbershops & hair salons can reopen in Riverside County
During his news conference on Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that counties that have already been granted regional variances to allow barbershops and hair salons to reopen.
Riverside County is one of the counties that have been granted regional variance after meeting the state's preparedness criteria. County officials confirmed these businesses are allowed to open again.
County officials confirmed that barbershops and hair salons are able to operate in the county shortly after the governor's announcement.
"There is also a great need to help more people safely return to work, including barbers and hairdressers, who have been among the most impacted financially. Moving forward, we will need to ensure that as a county we do everything possible to take care and protect our families from this pandemic while ensuring that people can also work to take care of their families," said said Board Chair V. Manuel Perez, Fourth District Supervisor.
As part of the state's guidelines, hair salons and barbershops must limit operations to services that can be provided with both the worker and customer wearing face coverings for the entirety of the service. This includes, haircuts, weaves and extensions, braiding, lock maintenance, wig maintenance, hair relaxing treatments, and color services.
"Ecstatic! I've been waiting for this moment and I can't wait to get my hairdressers back in here and get them working again," La Quinta Salon & Beauty Supply owner, Gail Kilgore said.
Kilgore learned she could open a short time after the governor's announcement. She said she is willing to reopen, but also willing to implement changes to keep people safe. Kilgore said she plans on only allowing 3 of her 5 salon chairs to be in service. She also said she each area of service would be constantly cleaned and sanitized.
"I also ordered disposable capes so that the clients wear a cape and then have a disposable one on top. And of course they have to have a mask," Kilgore said.
Services that require touching of the customer’s face, such as facials, eyelash adjustments, eyebrow waxing and threading, are still not allowed.
In the past couple of days, houses of worship, malls, dine-in restaurants, and casinos have reopened across the Coachella Valley & Riverside County.
The following businesses/services remain closed:
- Personal services such as nail salons, tattoo parlors, gyms and fitness studios
- Hospitality services, such as bars, wineries, tasting rooms and lounges
- Entertainment venues, such as movie theaters, gaming, gambling, arcade venues, pro sports, indoor museums, gallery spaces, and zoos
- Community centers, public pools, playgrounds, and picnic areas
- Cultural ceremonies
- Nightclubs
- Concert venues
- Live audience sports
- Festivals
- Theme parks
- Hotels/lodging for leisure and tourism
The state is set to release guidelines for businesses such as summer camps and child care facilities on Wednesday.
Guidelines for film and television production had been expected to be released on Monday, but Newsom said the state is still working with industry officials and unions to finalize those plans.
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