Facing uncertainty, salons and spas struggle during coronavirus pandemic

“We did our best while we were operating at least 6 feet away from each other in our chairs,” said Meghan Holland, manager of Alter EGO Hair Salon in downtown Raleigh. “You can't stay that far away from your client.”

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The salon shut down after a scare with one of their clients prompted them to take a closer look at the whole situation.

“They had been in contact with someone, and they were being asked to quarantine. The client was not tested positive,” Holland said. “I think we did everything we could in that situation to keep everybody safe.”

So far, there hasn’t been guidance from government officials about how to safely work in salons or spas during the pandemic.

There are 15,000 salons in North Carolina licensed by the N.C. Cosmetics Board and 100,000 individual providers. The cosmetics board said it cannot shut salons or providers down and recommended business owners look to state and local government officials for guidance.

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Kim Nquyen, manager of Paradise Nail Bar in Cary, said workers ask clients to wash their hands before starting any services.

The salon is staying open for now, Nquyen said, until officials say it should close.

The salon Blo in Brier Creek sent an email to customers saying it closed every other hairdressing station so there would be 11 feet between chairs, blocked off every other shampoo bowl, extended business hours and spaced chairs in the waiting area to more than 7 feet, among other measures.

“I don't know what the answer is,” said Shawn Turnbull, co-owner of Alter EGO. “I will say, with the situation as it is, many salons are going to go out of business, and many stylists and service providers are going to be left with no health care and no income.”

Dana Rosa, co-owner of Alter EGO and a stylist there, said “there is no right answer.”