Salon, barber shop owners ready to work again

Becki Hovan remembers March 18 well. It was the day she shuttered her Brunswick salon, where stylists worked until midnight to fit in as many clients as possible before being shut down as part of the state's stay-at-home order. Hovan will likely also remember May 15. It is the day — nearly two months later — she and her stylists will be allowed to return to work at Elysian Salon and Suites. After weeks of uncertainty, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday that barbershops, hair salons, nail salons and day spas may reopen for business one week from today — with certain restrictions in place. Barbers and stylists will wear masks, and customers will be asked to wear masks, said Debbie Penzone, president and CEO of Charles Penzone Salons and the chair of the salon and barbershop working group commissioned by the governor. Hovan, who has been a nail technician for more than 20 years, said licensed cosmologists are trained in health and safety so the outlined measures — she expects more details in the coming days from the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board — should be easy to follow. "As a whole, the salon and barber shop industry, I will throw in tattoo shops as well, are very well trained," she said. "If we do exactly what we are taught from the beginning, we can be safe. We are some of the cleanest places you can have." Elysian Salon and Suites, 819 Pearl Road, is a unique establishment with four traditional salon chairs on one side of the building and four mini suites on the other side. Hovan, who purchased the salon two years ago, is the only nail technician. All of the other chairs or suites are rented by independent hairstylists. The hybrid set up allows for more privacy as some professionals prefer a more enclosed work environment and some clients like the idea of being serviced in one room with their stylist. "Even though the other girls on the traditional side have their spacing, we have stylists that can do their own thing, too," Hovan said. Since DeWine made his announcement, giving an actual date when services can resume, Hovan said she and the rest of the stylists have been inundated with calls from clients. They are ready to be serviced just as the professionals are ready to get back to work. "We are all self-employed and it's kind of ironic of the date because we have been waiting on word on when we can file for unemployment. "We were finally given the date of May 15 that we would be able to get unemployment for those who are self-employed and we are heading back to work. We have just kind of been hanging out. But we all have been keeping up with our clients letting them know what is going on whether by call, text, Facebook or Instagram." Hovan said masks will be required of all her stylists and recommended for clients. In addition, clients will wait in their cars until stylists are ready to bring them into the salon. The waiting area will be for parents and helpers of older and disabled clients. The beverage bar, with self-serve coffee and tea clients normally would find, will be gone along with all books and magazines. "(The state board) hasn't given us any kind of rules on limiting the number of stylists or clients in the salon at one time," Hovan said. "But we will definitely adhere to any rules." Ready to get back to (a new) normal For barbers everywhere, it's crunch time. Just ask owner Jim LaMarca of Siedel's Barbershop, 982 N. Court St., Medina. "I'm extremely excited to get back to work," he said. "It's crunch time." With that excitement are strict guidelines to protect the barbers and their clientele. LaMarca said he has purchased 100 chair cloths so that every customer can have a new one. He said he has safety goggles and masks, all at the ready for what should be a busy few weeks. LaMarca said he won't be surprised if guys walk in that look like Grizzly Adams and they "haven't had a haircut in seven weeks." He wants to get back to normal. "Our employees are ready to get back to work," LaMarca said. "it's time to go. I have my family to feed. At the same time, we understand the risks of going back to work." LaMarca said he had a gut feeling when he closed the barbershop March 18 that it was going to be a while before he reopened. He said there was a mad rush that day with people wanting haircuts. "I had a terrible gut feeling," he said. "I was worried about my business I started two years ago." Now, he worries what the next few months will bring. "I pray the kids will be going back to school in September," he said. "There will be back-to-school haircuts. They are going to want designs in their hair. "This is life right now. This is reality. You've got to have optimism. You can't be scared of -- what does the president call it? -- the invisible enemy. We fight that contagious stuff." Happy and nervous Derek Anderson, owner of Anderson's Family Barber Shop in Brunswick, 1783 Pearl Road, said he has already planned out how he intends to continue following social distancing guidelines and provide as safe service as possible when he reopens. Above all else, he's just glad to be back. "It was kind of a shock at first (when everything closed down)," Anderson said. "Like what do you mean I can't work? You just didn't know what to think. I'm thankful that I get to go back to work. We just have to be prepared and do the best you can to contain spreading the virus. I'm happy and kind of nervous at the same time." Among the steps Anderson plans to implement are switching from exclusively walk-in clients to only appointments, limiting the number of customers in the shop at one time to two – one apiece for him and the shop's other barber – and limiting appointment times to 30 minutes, with customers being required to wait in their cars before appointments. Anderson also made sure to keep stock of hand sanitizer and disinfecting spray at the shop. For the time being, Anderson said the biggest adjustment is going to be the change in the shops atmosphere. "People want to come in and wait and talk because everybody likes coming to the barber shop and talking," he said. "On Saturdays, I'd have 15 people waiting in chairs sitting two feet apart so I can't do that anymore."