CINCINNATI, Ohio — It’s been a challenging couple of weeks for haircare professionals, as many have struggled to pay rent and other utilities while unemployed.

And now that Governor Mike DeWine has allowed hair salons to reopen on Friday, that has presented some challenges of its own.

    What You Need To Know


    • Hair salons and barbershops reopen on Friday

    • New procedures and guidelines will be in place for clients

    • Some hair salons are requiring clients to wear masks

For Desinerae Studio owner Desirae Futel, getting the PPE and other items she needs for the big day has been a challenge. 

“With getting started again, I need to have adequate face masks, cleaning supplies, Lysol, thermometers, contactless thermometers, just things like that and the shipping for a lot of things has been slow,” said Futel.

And getting items on time has also been a challenge for Cecilia Silva, owner of Hair by Cecilia Silva.

“It’s been quite the challenge in having to spend more money than we have to get these items sooner,” said Silva. “Because we want to be able to service our people the sooner, the better.”

As many hair salons look to reopen on Friday, hair care professionals have had to change their safety guidelines and procedures to protect themselves and their clients. 

“Face masks must be worn at all times,” said Futel. “For our industry and what we do it’s important that the face masks go around the ears and not tied around the back like a lot of the ones people have gotten made so they can get their hair done.”

Many hair salon owners like Futel say they’re excited to open back up on Friday, but there’s still that sense of fear. 

“I’ve had anxiety this whole entire time,” she said. “Some nights I can’t sleep, some nights it’s more like depression where all I do is sleep because I want it to end. It’s been a road, for sure."

Owner of Studio 914 Hair Salon Rhea Pettway says she too can attest to those feelings of nervousness. 

“It feels like that first day out of hair school when you finish and you have your license and your first day on the shop floor,” said Pettway. “That’s the nervousness that I’m having coming back. I’ve been waiting to come back. I just didn’t think I would have this kind of anxiety coming back.”

Playing it safe is right now is what many hairstylists say they’re looking to do. And for many, that means fewer appointments each day and putting certain clients first.  

“I’m prioritizing my elderly clients,” said Futel. “I’m prioritizing the people that I know absolutely need to see me soon —people with scalp conditions, people who just started their loc journeys need to soon. Then I’m going to have to sort out the rest later.”