This has been a crazy week and information changes daily, sometimes hourly, but I want to acknowledge my industry right now. No judgement on what you, or your salon has decided over the past week but I am now reading by 8 pm tonight Gov Murphy has ordered the closure of all personal care businesses that cannot comply with social distancing including barbershops, hair salons, spas, nail salons, tattoo parlors, and social clubs.
All I have to say is THANK GOODNESS.
As a salon owner I am not only responsible for the financial and physical health of my business but of the 12 individual lives who work inside it. On Saturday we took a vote after work, it had to be our choice together. With growing concern over the rapid spread of the virus and the nature of our business we felt our duty to close and take the personal and financial sacrifice to do the right thing by social distancing. Everyone has to choose what is right for them, this is what was right for us. We shared our concerns, we cried, we came up with some ideas to stay connected and we walked out of LJ not knowing when we’d return.
Its impossible to effectively stop the spread of COVID-19 by just “continuing our high standard of sanitation” as I see posted everywhere. We breathe the same air as our clients, we touch them and others all day.
Some facts :
Sneeze particles travel up to 20 ft
People with flu symptoms can spread to people up to 6 ft away
You can be carrying the virus for up to 14 days before symptoms appear
Cold viruses can survive on hard surfaces for up to 7 days
Flu viruses can survive on hard surfaces for 24 hours
How is it even possible to sanitize everyone and everything in between each new client or person who walks into the salon. The answer is : its not. We could already be exposed and spreading it and wouldn’t even know, and none of the sanitizing would matter.
I’m watching other salons make the brave decision to close and embrace the unknown for the greater good. Individual stylists going against their salon’s decision to stay open, taking the hit and staying home knowing their clients are going into other’s books. We can’t work remotely we are in a unique industry of service, touch, and artistry.
I applaud you all, its not easy.👏🏻👏🏻
I have received so much support and information from our distributor Art of Business, our Eufora contacts, the small business association and CBAC who we are clients of. Quick responses, helpful ideas, and open communication, it has been amazing to watch the people we do business with jump into action to help each us.
This also includes you – our LJ FAM. Leaving reviews, buying gift cards, participating in our giveaways THANK YOU. We will see you all soon.
Do the right thing and stay home, send help and support to those who need you, and stay positive – there are some really beautiful ways people are helping and connecting to each other in this crazy time.