Some of those rules include limiting one customer per stylist unless the individual is waiting for service, using an appointment-only system, maintaining 6 feet of separation between stations, and ensuring both the stylist and customer wear face masks. For a comprehensive list of new requirements for each of these types of businesses and their clients, click here.
"One of the apprehensions and concerns about opening up barber shops and hair salons and similar types of businesses was the fact that people operating the business as well as the customer—they're very close to each other as that service is provided," Abbott said during the May 5 press conference. "The only safe way that you can go about providing this service, while ensuring that we're doing everything possible to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, would be for both the person providing the service and and the customer to wear face masks."
In response, several businesses in Spring and Klein are now scrambling to reopen as quickly and safely as possible. One of those businesses is Impulse Blu, a neighborhood hair salon owned by Rebekah Reed at 8611 Louetta Road, Ste. 208, Spring. Reed and her team of stylists offer extensions, color correction and treatments, and haircuts and plans to reopen May 8.
Also reopening on Friday is Texas Hair Team, which has nine locations in the Greater Houston area, including three in Spring. Likewise, Uptown Salons, a beauty mall with more than 225 associates across its three locations in The Woodlands, Spring and Royal Oaks, also posted via Facebook that it plans to reopen May 8.
However, not every salon is planning to reopen this Friday. For instance, shortly after Abbott's announcement Venetian Nail Spa Vintage Park posted via Facebook that while they would be unable to reopen as early as this Friday, in the interim the salon is installing table shields, sanitizers and face shields for the staff in preparation. The nail spa, located at 138 Vintage Park Blvd., Ste. F, Houston, offers pedicures, manicures, solar nails, dipping nails, gel manicures and waxing services.
Likewise, Blonderellas, a hair salon located in the French Quarter Salons & Spa at 7111 FM 2920, Ste. 120, Spring, posted via Facebook May 5 that it would be implementing several new protocols upon reopening, including having clients wait in their cars until their appointment and using invoices for payment to eliminate contact. Owned by Stephanie Harms Barton, the salon specializes in blondes and corrective color. Barton added she plans to announce a reopening date for the salon sometime over the next few days.
As the days progress and business owners are able to adapt to the newly adopted protocols, more salons, barbershops and other beauty service businesses are expected to reopen in the coming weeks. Following salons will be gyms, nonessential manufacturers and businesses housed in office buildings, which are permitted to reopen beginning May 18 as part of the next phase of Texas' economy reopening.
