Once again on Long Island, you can get your hair cut and colored! Salons and barbershops are able to reopen in phase two, but prepare for a much different experience than you are used to. Guidelines from New York State are some of the strictest yet.

Here are some of the guidelines all salons and barbershops must follow in order to reopen their doors:

-6 feet must be kept between individuals in salons & barbershops unless necessary (cutting hair)

-Waiting areas must be closed and no magazine areas

-No product samples

-Employees must wear a face covering, face shield/goggles, gown & gloves

-Customers must wear face coverings

Some salons and barbershops like JD Thomas in Commack are going even further to lower the risk for their customers and employees. At their register they've created what they are calling a "fish bowl" for their receptionists to sit in — a desk that is encased by a plexiglass shield.

Walk-ins are no longer allowed. Appointments can only be made by phone, and it will not be a quick call. You'll need to go over what you'd like done and then possibly be asked to eliminate parts of a typical visit like getting your hair washed or blown out.

Co-owner of JD Thomas Dawn Longin added, "Instead of just walking in, you have to call us from the car to let us know you are here, and then one of the hairdressers or assistants will either call you or come out to your car to let you know you can come in."

Once you are inside their salon they've set up a table where you'll get your temperature taken, be given a mask if you don't have one and sanitizer for your hands. The salon is leaving about 15 minutes between each appointment to sanitize and providing clients proof of their most recent COVID-19 test results.

Hair stylists are not allowed to ask clients about their most recent coronavirus test results though. Longin said they are hoping that if a client feels sick, they'll stay home.

"On a daily business we are very busy, and it's hard to get an appointment with some of our hairdressers and they don't want to lose that spot they had because it might be a few weeks before they can get back in. So we are a little bit nervous about that — that people might do the same thing and not be able to tell us if they have the virus or have not been feeling well," she added.

The State of New York recommended salons relax their cancellation policies and reduce any associated fees so clients would not feel pressured to keep appointments if they don't feel well.

 

Long Island restaurants, stores gearing up for Phase 2 reopening Wednesday