Hair Salons Among Those That Can Resume Monday – CBS Boston

BOSTON (CBS) – After more than two months closed down, more businesses are allowed to reopen Monday under the state’s phased coronavirus reopening plan.

Read: Here’s What Can Reopen In Massachusetts On Monday

“Come on home honey, we are back,” hair designer James Harris said. Harris was all waves and smiles as he re-opened and prepped his salon in Jamaica Plain. “We have to figure out how we are going to accommodate clients, maintain safety. Not only for them but for yourself.”

The next wave of businesses that can reopen Monday as part of Phase 1 includes hair salons and barbershops.

“It’s been hard for us, it’s been really hard, but we’re getting through it we’re strong we’re resilient,” Gusto Romi, owner of Waltham’s Finest owner recently told WBZ-TV.

Barbers and hairdressers can finally get back behind the chair after two months of wondering when they will be able to reopen and what that will look like.

Many will be operating under an appointment-only policy and cutting those appointments short by leaving out some of the finishing touches – like a blow-dry. But if it means seeing clients again, many plan on doing whatever it takes to obey these reopening guidelines.

“It’s going to be a challenge. It’s going to be tough for us,” said Mel Berkachi, owner of a Watertown barbershop. “Gotta adjust to the new system, you know? Usually it’s a walk-in business.”

‪Customers have to come in, sanitize their hands, wear a mask that goes around their ears, and sit at stations that are six feet apart.

“Once I saw they were being as thorough as I thought needed to be, then I felt safe,” said one barbershop customer.

‪Some of the other services reopening on Memorial Day include beaches, parks, pet grooming, retail with pick-up, recreational marijuana shops with curbside pickup, lab and office space under reduced capacity, and car washes.

Read: Massachusetts Pot Shops Reopen; Customers Line Up For Curbside Marijuana Pickup

“We are very excited and can’t wait,” Clip and Dip Dog Grooming owner Rosemary Wright said. In Natick, Wright moved part of her operation outside while final renovations were being done inside. “Just nail trimming today because we don’t have a place to bathe the dogs,” she said.

In Brighton, ScrubaDub was busy and generous providing complimentary washes for all first responders until the end of June as a way to say thank you. “Safe clean and fun experience. All of our employees have received safety training to maintain social distancing guidelines and complimentary wipes is a major perk,” owner Matthew Paisner said.

All of this is a positive sign that things are going in the right direction. “Business is picking up,” Paisner said.

Gov. Charlie Baker announced the phased reopening plan on May 18. There are no dates yet for the other phases, but Baker said each phase will last at least three weeks, but could last longer, based on public health data on coronavirus cases.