This is a petition to request that all licensed UPSTATE NEW YORK salons be considered essential and allowed to have a soft reopening April 30, 2020.

Allowing salons to open with restrictions on April 30 will allow us to serve our communities. Our services are essential in such a way that we are able to provide services to our front line workers –– those in law enforcement, EMS/ fire service, government, health and food service fields –– which not only help to keep them sanitary, but build self-esteem and help them de-stress from their time spent sacrificing their safety amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

Allowing salons to have soft reopenings at this time will allow licensed professionals to provide safe environments for our customers to purchase personal care products and services. 

We are suggesting to reopen with the following guidelines, restrictions, and recommendations.

For providers:

▪Use Barbicide, or other NYS Dept. of Health approved disinfectant, to wipe down every touchable service in between every client visit.

▪Wash hands in between every client.

▪No reading material or self-serve food/ beverage.

▪For clients & providers:

▪Must not have anyone in the household who has traveled outside of their city and surrounding areas for 14 days.

▪Must be fever-free and symptom-free for a complete 72 hours before appointments.

▪Must be willing to take temperatures at entrance.

▪One client per provider in the building at a time.

▪Clients need to wait in their car until the previous client has left, to provide the safest environment possible.

▪All clients and providers must wear masks at all times.

As licensed professionals we understand that we have skin-to-skin contact with our clients, but we are accustomed to following NYS’ strict laws for sanitization of instruments and the workplace. By law we are required to understand the enormity of maintaining ours and our clients’ safety and health, and we know the necessary precautions to do so. 

This request is on behalf of our industry and our clients. During such a historic time, I can't think of a better opportunity to show our support as a nation and as small communities to serve each other with kindness and compassion while social distancing.

Allow us to safely get back to work, as soon as possible, to boost morale of our clients and our first responders through our services and the power of community. We want to make a difference, let us open our doors, continue our passion, and help rebuild our state on April 30, 2020.

Thank you!