Solano Co. allows hair salons, barbershops to reopen with modifications
Barber shops and hair salons prepare to open in select counties
Solano County was added to the list of Bay Area counties allowing barbershops and hair salons to reopen with modifications on Wednesday. But people are not supposed to cross county lines to get their hair done. Salons told us that will be difficult to enforce.
FAIRFIELD, Calif. - Health officials in Solano County on Wednesday amended a public health order to allow hair salons and barbershops to reopen immediately with modifications.
Provided the stylist, barber and customers wear face coverings throughout the service, the list of permitted services include; haircuts, hair colorings, blowouts, weaves, extensions, braiding, lock maintenance, wig maintenance and hair relaxing treatments per the order from California Department of Public Health.
Solano County Public Health said certain salon services, including shaving, facial waxing, threading, eyelash services and facials are still prohibited since these activities require employees to have direct contact with a customer's face.
“We are fortunate to reopen these businesses in Solano County,” said Dr. Bela Matyas, Health Officer for Solano County. “However, as more sectors reopen, it is critical that community members adhere to precautions including having good hand hygiene, staying home when ill, and maintaining physical distancing when out in public settings.”
Barbershops and salons will have to make modifications in order to reopen. Those include assuring physical distancing between employees and clients, use of face coverings and proper cleaning and sanitation measures.
Of the 47 California counties to get the okay, Napa, Sonoma and Solano are the only Bay Area counties to meet the California Department of Public Health criteria for opening hair salons and barbershops.
Napa and Solano Counties are the only Bay Area counties that are allowing salons to reopen provide they meet safety guidelines.
In Sonoma County, the county health officer said she wasn't ready to allow haircuts after looking at current coronavirus infection rates. Coronavirus cases there have more than doubled in recent weeks.
Dr. Sundari Mase Mase, interim health officer for Sonoma County, said the process of getting a haircut is dangerous in terms of contagion.
"In order for our county to consider easing some of these additional areas such as churches, retail stores and now hair salons, we would have to see our cases go down in the next few weeks," said Rohish Lal, the Sonoma County Department of Health Services spokesperson.
In Napa, most hair salons still need a few days to get ready before they open, but those that have opened are booked solid.
There will be no waiting areas, no magazines or coffee cups. But at The Parlor beauty salon in Napa, it's as if the whole county needs a hair cut.
"People are calling off the hook. Our phone is going nuts," said co-owner Ashley Tremblay. She said re-opening means almost everything.
"It means I can help my family again. It's emotional. I can participate in my household duties. I have three children at home," she said.
Customers are enjoying something they perhaps may have once taken for granted.
"It's small things like this that really go a long way," said customer Todd Maltbie.
Some residents told us off camera they are still reluctant to enter a salon right now. Others said it's a perfect time to reopen.
Public health officials said people should not cross county lines in order to get their hair done. Salons KTVU spoke with said that will be very difficult to enforce.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Solano County has 498 cases of novel coronavirus, an increase of 43 from the day before, and 20 COVID-19 deaths.
For the latest from Solano County on guidance on easing restrictions and the latest COVID-19 information check http://solanocounty.com/depts/ph/coronavirus.asp