Reopening a Salon, Barbershop Friday, April 24? Here’s What You Need To Know

Georgia Board of Cosmetology and Barbers issues safety guidelines for reopening as state prepares to come back online amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to our normal news coverage, What Now Atlanta is tracking ways Atlanta’s businesses are adapting to the novel coronavirus and the challenges it brings to brick-and-mortars.

Sign up now to get our Daily Breaking News Alerts

Opt out at anytime

As Georgia’s businesses prepare to start opening as early as Friday, the Governor’s office this week in stages is rolling out guidelines for doing so.

Late-Tuesday the Georgia Board of Cosmetology and Barbers issued the first round of reopening safety guidelines.

Salons, barbershops, and other beauty-related businesses are among the first brick-and-mortars able to start reservicing customers on April 24.

“I am very happy that Governor Kemp decided that we can reopen our salons and spas,” Kay Kendrick, chair of the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers, said in a prepared statement Tuesday.

“We have 95,000 licensees under our board, most of whom are independent contractors that have no other source of income.”

Salon/shop owners and managers are advised to use the OSHA “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19” as a guide for reopening, and below are some of the top-level guidelines for salon and spa operators to follow.

The complete list of guidelines can be found here.

Temperature Checks: Salons should consider the use of a touchless infrared thermometer to check the temperature of employees each day and of each client who enters the salon/shop.

Screening Questions: Ask each client entering the shop the following questions – Have you had a cough? Have you had a fever? Have you been around anyone exhibiting these symptoms within the past 14 days? Are you living with anyone who is sick or quarantined?

Limit People In Shops/Salons: Salons/shops should consider seeing clients by appointment only. Salons/shops should consider telephonic or online scheduling. Limit the number of persons in the waiting area of the salon/shop. It is recommended that clients wait outside the salon/shop in their vehicle until the cosmetologist or barber is ready to serve them. It is recommended that persons not being serviced in the salon/shop wait outside the salon/shop.

Maintain Social Distancing: Spacing between persons in the salon should be at least six feet at all times. Salons/shops should consider additional spacing between booths, divider shields, and/or alternate work schedules.

Use of Personal Protective Equipment and Best Practices: Salon/shop employees will be required to wear masks at all times. Salons may want to consider providing masks to clients. Clients should wear face masks to the extent possible while receiving services. Salons/shops should also make use of face shields, gloves, disposable or re-washable capes, smocks, neck strips, etc. These items should be disinfected or disposed of between each client. Employees should arrive at the salon/shop showered and wearing clean clothing and change clothes before leaving the salon/shop each day. Hand washing with soap and warm water, for a minimum of 20 seconds will be required by employees between every client service.

Disinfection: All salons/shops should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to reopening. Disinfect all surfaces, tools, and linens, even if they were cleaned before the salon/shop was closed. Salons/shops should maintain regular disinfection of all tools, shampoo bowls, pedicure bowls, workstations, treatment rooms, and restrooms. Additionally, salons/shops should remove all unnecessary items (magazines, newspapers, service menus, and any other unnecessary paper products/decor) from reception areas and ensure that these areas and regularly touched surfaces are consistently wiped down, disinfected, and that hand sanitizer is readily available to clients and staff. Avoiding the exchange of cash can help in preventing the spread of the virus, but if this is unavoidable, be sure to wash and sanitize hands well after each transaction. The use of credit/debit transactions is preferred, using touch/swipe/no signature technology.

Administration: Employees who are sick will be expected to stay home. Salon/shop owners/managers should provide training, educational materials, and reinforcement on proper sanitation, hand washing, cough and sneeze etiquette, use of PPE, and other protective behaviors. Ensure break rooms are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized and not used for congregating by employees. Be flexible with work schedules/salon hours to reduce the number of people (employees and clients) in salons/shops at all times in order to maintain social distancing.

[Featured photo: Loop Salon // Curls Understood]


[Editor’s note: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is rapidly evolving as is its effect on Atlanta, and the City’s businesses and its residents. Click here for What Now Atlanta’s ongoing coverage of the crisis. For guidance and updates on the pandemic, please visit the C.D.C. website.]

8 Responses

  1. Can’t imagine how they’re going to successfully control that.
    I also wonder how many customers are gonna want to dive right in to a place like that at this point.
    Good luck PCM!

  2. I am ready to shop, be in parks…wherever at my own risk.
    I wear a mask, wash my hands and do not touch anything.
    I am glad business that can reopen with CDC guidelines can reopen.
    I believe common sense will keep a person safe.
    Happy Thursday

    1. Amen. Staying safe in public is very simple, the trick is that keeping your hands clean and not touching your face is easier said than done. That’s the real benefit of wearing a mask — it reminds you not to touch your mouth/nose/eyes.

      Similarly, the data is overwhelmingly clear that younger/healthier people have virtually no risk to themselves, the trick is protecting the vulnerable people they interact with.

      A little (Swedish) common sense will go a long way towards healing our society.

      1. Wait I thought Sweden has the most deaths per capita in Europe.?.?
        Whatever the case may be, I’m guessing the Swedes have more compassion and common sense than some random bubba from the USA.

        1. I think Sweden only has the highest deaths per capita at this time, not overall. That article was based on a 7-day moving average. There is also an argument – and I have no ability to gauge how valid it is or is not – that a certain amount of deaths is inevitable from this virus, countries only have the ability to affect the timeline on which they occur. Sweden chose to front-load the impact in order to minimize the impact to the economy. And given the emerging information about how damaging a bad economy can be to people’s health (increased mental disorders and suicides, for example), that may actually be the scenario with less overall suffering.

    2. I completely agree. We know enough about this virus now to stay safe while engaging in MOST activities that we normally do. Now it’s completely up to people to actually do those things.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search