By Dyanna Garcia Rochester, New York - All around the world hair stylists are forced to go back to work because they need to pay their bills. Even though the number of deaths due to COVID-19 have decreased, we’re still in a pandemic. If we have to still walk outside with masks because it's not safe then why are we putting our hairstylists in danger? They’re being put at risk everyday being less than 6 feet apart serving the customer’s needs. In the industry, is the company’s fear of going bankrupt and/or self-vanity more important than these hairstylists' lives? In the last week of May, Governor Cuomo stated that hair salons/hair stylists were considered to be under “Phase 2” and to be prepared for reopening. Within a couple days to a week hair stylists were returning back to work when half of the world still wasn’t open. Hair salon manager Nichole Haywood offered her opinion on the reopening that would be happening soon. “It's impossible to have social distancing in this career,” Nichole states, “but people still need haircuts in order to be sanitary/presentable.” On opening day Nichole was introduced to new cleaning protocols and safety gear. She was told to wear her mask at all times along with a transparent shield that hangs over her face. This shield caused her vision of the haircut to be blurry on top of her wearing glasses. She was also introduced to a new cleaning chemical that she has to use between every customer. When this chemical is sprayed and reaches the floor it causes the floor to be slippery. People from outside of Nichole’s salon are also voicing their opinion on the reopening topic. An article from our local news states known as “2 On Your Side WGRZ” voices Jessica Semrau opinion who has been working as hair stylists for 15 years: "I want to work but I feel that we can't properly social distance in this field of work and opening too soon could possibly give us a worse setback if we do start spreading the virus more by not socially distancing," Semrau said. "Then what happens? We get shut down again." Businesses like hair salons aren’t running efficiently and are running into obstacles on a daily basis. My mother, Nichole Haywood, deals with rude, careless customers who don’t wear masks, come from different states, and complain about the new protocols they have to follow. She isn’t allowed to turn down any customers no matter the situation. I have observed my mother’s hair salon and have seen how much these hairstylists have had to adjust in such little time. Hair stylists from all over the world are complaining about the reopening and creating petitions to delay opening. Honestly, can you blame them?
4 Comments
Mr. Keenan
10/27/2020 12:48:48 pm
Thank you, Dyanna for presenting the difficult situation that hairstylists are in. I'm particularly disappointed to read about the rude, careless customers. We should all try to be patient and cooperative with each other so we can get through this difficult time.
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Adelisa Badzic
11/11/2020 10:57:18 am
It's interesting to see how this pandemic is affecting hair salons and many more. I never thought that people who jobs were closed would dread going back to work, but in a way I was one to dread going back. Customers have always been rude and have been even ruder with the pandemic. You have people who don't want to follow the safety protocols and way more. Thank you for your article. Was very interesting to see a different perspective on this.
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Lynn Girven
11/30/2020 09:20:15 am
My niece works at a salon in Victor, and she never feels safe from her customers. (She mostly does facials) Excellent evidence supporting your point of view
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Susan Meier
11/30/2020 03:15:09 pm
This article was the best of the whole issue for me relative to the many specific details that showed authentic reporting and directly tied to the topic at hand. I would have liked at the end a plea to the federal government to provide an additional aide package because it is bad for EVERYBODY is businesses stay open that shouldnt be or if those same businesses go bankrupt.
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