Snipping Hair Again

Friday marked the first day hair salons and barbershops could reopen in Texas after being shut down amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

For Rudy Soliz, who owns San Marcos Barber Shop, Friday appeared to be a return to normalcy. Soliz saw customers return to his shop at 114 N. LBJ St. Friday morning.

“I had a couple people reach out to me wanting haircuts,” Soliz said. “I told them it’s going to be like H-E-B, I can only have so many people in at a time.”

Hair salons and barbershops must follow recommended guidelines outlined by the state. All salons and shops must ensure at least 6 feet of social distancing between operating workstations. The state recommends that hair-cutting establishments require all clients to wash their hands upon entering and before each treatment. Face masks or fabric face coverings should always be worn by employers, employees, contractors and clients while inside the salon/ shop, even if individuals are practicing social distancing, the state recommends.

Brian Olson, owner of Premier Cuts, cleans the front desk at his San Marcos location. Daily Record photo by Lance Winter

Brian Olson, owner of Premier Cuts, said he’s been working to ensure that the proper measures are taken to keep his employees and clients safe.

“It's been long days preparing to get open and make sure everybody's feeling safe and it will be safe from the customer down to the employees,” Olson said. “We’re making sure we sanitize and spray with alcohol the stations and counters between each visit. Premier Cuts, I'm fortunate that we have dividers between each station. Most salons don't have dividers. But we still, at the same time, got to make sure everyone's 6 feet apart when they're cutting. The waiting areas got to be 6 feet apart for people waiting in the waiting area.”

Olson, like many business owners who saw their business shuttered after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered in late March that all “non-essential” businesses close to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through April, said this time has been challenging as income has ceased but expenses have continued accumulating. “We’re still having to pay rent while we’re forced to be closed,” Olson said. “I guess one of the biggest concerns that I hope the federal government will get on and correct is the (Payment Protection Program) loans. I was lucky and fortunate to get my stuff in and was funded on the first round. But, I can’t use those funds, and I’m on a time clock of 8 weeks yet I’m not open. So, it makes it pretty difficult to fall within their guidelines to make sure that we take advantage of forgivable (loans) up to 75%. So, that’s kind of frustrating.”

Velma Villalongin, manager and hair stylist at Premier Cuts in San Marcos, cleans her station on Thursday before the shop's reopening on Friday. Daily Record photo by Lance Winter

With business opening up, however, Olson expects to see clients consistently come in to get their hair cut.

“I’m not going to have enough staff to keep up with the demand,” Olson said, adding that he prepared ahead of time and stocked up on sanitation supplies to keep his stores clean. “I think we’re going to be very busy. I think most people want to get out of the house. They need a haircut. They want a haircut. Our phones have been ringing off the hook.”

Soliz said reopening his shop may be challenging at first but he’s glad to get back to work.

“I’m going to be working by myself, so it’s going to be a little tough,” Soliz said.