Minnesota salon professionals are being deeply affected by the COVID-19 crisis.  We are independent contractors, hourly employees and also small business owners.

A conversation needs to start about how we can safely interact with our clients when we can open up our much needed businesses. The communication between the government and our industry is lacking and needs to improve. Also, more than half of us are self employed, and we do not qualify for UI benefits and have had no income for at least 7 weeks during this shut down (more if the stay at home order is longer than May 4). 

We are asking that when you do allow salons to open up, there be guidelines in place like the following: Continue social distancing with allowing only a certain number of stylists and clients in the salon at a time. Also screening every staff member and client each time they come in and ask them a couple a simple questions 1. Have you been exposed to anybody who has been diagnosed with COVID-19? 2. Have you been experiencing any symptoms of shortness of breath, fever or chills? Also, temperature checks for all working stylists before their shift and for clients before they can receive a service. Masks and gloves to be worn by stylists and clients during their time in the salon. Also, stylists taking extra time between appointments to disinfect their stations/chairs. 

Please consider our requests, as we are eager to open our businesses.  We understand we cannot resume as "normal" but feel confident that in following these guidelines we can start to get to a new normal. 

Thank you, 

Ashley Halland, owner of Lavish Salon Wayzata