Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday executive orders to expand the reopenings of certain businesses, including hair salons, barber shops, tanning salons, nail salons and pools. They may reopen this Friday.
They may only reopen at 25% capacity. Gyms and fitness centers are allowed to open on May 18. Bars do not yet have a reopening date.
This Friday, you can visit a salon or a pool, but here is what you should know before you go.
Hair Salons
A simple haircut? Yes. A complete makeover? Maybe not.
Abbott’s task force guidelines and checklist for hair salons reopening state to “start by first offering less complex and time-consuming services such as haircutting services.”
The guidelines state that hairstylists work with one customer at a time and maintain at least six feet of social distancing between operating workstations.
The guidelines require all clients to wash their hands upon entering the salon and before each treatment, and for face masks to be worn.
“Clients receiving services for which a mask may not be worn should wear a mask or face covering before and after they receive the service,” the order states.
For walk-in clients, the guidelines state you should wait either in your own car or outside with at least six feet of separation between individuals.
There are hygiene protocols such as dispensing gloves.
“If gloves are worn, they must be removed and properly disposed of immediately upon completion of the service.”
“If at any time an employee or contractor touches their face, nose, eyes, cellphone, door, credit card machine or any surface they have not sanitized, they must immediately change their gloves or rewash hands with soap and water.”
“If gloves cannot be worn for a service, then hands must be washed with soap and water prior to providing services. Hands must be washed for a minimum of 20 seconds.”
The guidelines also tell salons “to use disposable supplies to keep from having to handle and disinfect multi-use supplies.”
You can’t bring other people to the appointment such as children. You may notice magazines will not be in the lobby area as the guidelines ask for them to be removed. You can read more guidelines here.
Barbershops
The guidelines for barbershops are similar to those for hair salons and require all clients to wash their hands upon entering the shop and before each treatment. Face masks should be worn at all times, although the guidelines state, “clients receiving services for which a mask may not be worn (shaving) should wear a mask or face covering before and after they receive the service.”
You can’t bring extra people to the appointment with you, such as children.
Nail Salons
Only schedule the number of clients that will allow for social distancing of at least six feet from others, and appointments should be scheduled to limit the number of people in the salon.
Here are highlights from the checklist for nail salons:
- Do not let clients touch or handle retail supplies, such as nail polish when selecting colors.
- Ask clients to wash their hands before services or treatments.
- The guidelines state that “face masks should be worn by employers, employees, contractors and clients while inside the salon/shop, even if individuals are practicing social distancing.”
- “Use disposable supplies to keep from having to handle and disinfect multi-use supplies. Use disposable towels when possible and dispose of them after use.”
Sanitization guidelines include providing a place to wash hands with both hot and cold water with hand soap, disposable towels, and a no-touch trash can.
For cleaning surfaces, there is a list of where disinfectants must come from here.
You can not bring extra people, such as children.
Tanning Salons
According to the executive orders, all salons must ensure at least six feet of social distance between operating workstations.
The guidelines for tanning salons state that “a sign should be posted at the entrance to the salon with a phone number that clients should call to schedule an appointment when they arrive outside the salon.”
“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 guidelines also state to provide tissues, hand soap, alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol, disinfectants and disposable towels for licensees to clean their work surfaces.
You can not bring children or other guests with you who don’t have an appointment.
Swimming Pools
After Abbott’s announcement Tuesday he announced shortly afterward in a news release that pools would open at 25% occupancy based on normal operating limits for indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
“Local public swimming pools may so operate only if permitted by the local government,” he said.
But Wait
Just because a salon can open, that doesn’t mean it is reopening yet.
Today on Instagram, Bella Salon in Austin posted a notice that it won’t be opening this Friday.
“We will be reopening on Tuesday, May 12th with only a few service providers working and then slowly ramping up with each passing week,” the post read.
Another salon not quite ready to reopen with all its services is milk + honey, which has locations in Austin, Houston and Fort Worth. The spa also posted an update on Instagram.
“While Governor Abbott announced that hair and nail salons may re-open this Friday, May 8th, we will not be offering any ap or salon services this week. Please know we have been working tirelessly behind the scenes on our reopening plans, ensuring that when we do open, it’s with every consideration taken for the health, safety and long-term well-being for our employees, clients and community at large.”
