KANSAS CITY, Mo. — While salon owners are among those businesses that will be allowed to reopen in Kansas come May 4, some in that industry still have reservations.
"My main concern first and foremost is the safety and sanitation aspects of the job," said Clifton Reyes, a salon professional who owns his own studio.
Beauty industry professionals were waiting for clear guidelines on Tuesday as the Johnson County Recovery Task Force discussedreopening phases.
At the end of the task force's meeting, those questions seemed to remain unanswered.
"We are literally face-to-face with our clients, so it makes it a lot more difficult to have that social distancing required, the six feet," said Martika Cross, an aesthetician and lash-extension artist.
The task force discussed opening nail and hair salons in phase one, "with guidelines." Those specific guidelines have not been set, but generally would mean limiting the number of people inside the business and implementing masks.
During the task force meeting, Stan Holm, of Olathe Health, said salons should look to the health department or Board of Cosmetology for that type of guidance. Another task force member responded that the task force should still come up with additional guidelines.
Reyes said he hadn't heard anything from the Kansas Board of Cosmetology.
Questions remain about how much personal protective equipment, or PPE, the county will provide to salon owners and whether or not clients should be urged to wear masks.
"We're literally going out there with no safety measures,” Reyes said, “and we need wipes, hand sanitizer, and we can't get those things right now.”
Many owners, like Cross, know they'll ultimately hold themselves to higher cleanliness standards.
"Our days may be longer. I know mine will because I'm making sure I have a 30-minute gap between clients so that I have time to really sanitize and disinfect so I am comfortable and they are too," Cross said.
These concerns might mean some salons will wait to reopen, regardless of if they are allowed to.
Cross and Reyes said all stylists, aestheticians and techs want to get back to the work they love, but overall, many think salons should open in Phase 2.
"I just refuse to trade my safety for money," Cross said.
