CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio — If you’re feeling scruffy amid the pandemic, you don’t have to wait much longer for a haircut.
That’s because Ohio's hair salons and barber shops, along with nail salons, day spas and tanning facilities can re-open on Friday.
3News talked with some businesses preparing to reopen, while meeting specific health guidelines.
Things will look different:
Next time you pull up to your salon or barber shop, things will look different. First of all, you won’t just walk in. You’ll call when you arrive and you’ll wait for your appointment in your car or outside the business.
That’s because only one customer will be allowed in for every one stylist. Of course if you have a child with you, they can come in too.
You won’t see salon staples like magazines or candy bowls either because as you might’ve guessed, they spread germs.
What Northeast Ohio businesses are saying:
After two months of being closed, Francesca DiBlasi was excited to turn the lights on, at Chessie’s Salon in Chagrin Falls.
No, they’re not open yet! DiBlasi is just preparing the salon to meet the state’s new guidelines.
She has plenty of hand sanitizer, wipes, and masks.
Employees will be required to do symptoms checks daily, including checking temperatures.
Staff will be cleaning salon chairs and tanning beds before and after every appointment.
“After they’re gone, we’ll wipe down the chair, we’ll wipe down whatever they touch and we have hand sanitizer so on the way out, they can sanitize their hands, and on the way in they can sanitize their hands,” said Francesca DiBlasi, owner at Chessie’s Salon.
Social distancing rules will still apply at all salons and barbershops with the exception that the customer and their stylist can be less than six feet from each other.
While employees will be required to wear masks -- customers will be encouraged to wear them.
3News talked with the owner of Urban Kutz in Cleveland right after the governor announced they could re-open up on Friday, May 15th.
"It was like watching the NFL draft and I just got picked first round,” said Waverly Willis, owner at Urban Kutz. "It's just a blessing. I mean, outside of the money, we miss our people. It's going to be a new normal inside the shop."
Both Chessie’s and Urban Kutz owners plan to do in-person walk-through’s with their employees this week.
As far as capacity, the state isn’t giving businesses a specific number they can or cannot reach – telling owners it’s up to them to establish a maximum capacity based on their physical space.
The state is also recommending, though not requiring, these businesses to close down weekly for a deep clean.
Read more of the state’s guidelines and recommendations for salons, barber shops, and spas here.