Hair Salons, Barber Shops Can Reopen In Most California Counties

Updated 6:11 p.m.

Californians can at long last get a haircut, if they live in a county that has received state approval — and they should wear a mask before getting in the chair. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that haircuts can resume “with the appropriate protective gear, particularly face coverings ... sanitation requirements and the like,” but only in counties that have already been OK’d to allow shopping centers and restaurants to reopen.

So far, 47 of the state’s 58 counties have moved into what’s being called “expanded Stage 2,” a status that requires the county to meet benchmarks around testing, deaths and infection rates, among other factors. Sacramento County announced it would be modifying its stay-at-home ordinance to allow businesses to reopen Wednesday.

An attorney for the beauty industry says the timing wasn’t a coincidence. The Professional Beauty Federation of California filed a federal lawsuit challenging Newsom’s closure of salons on May 12, and written closing arguments were due at the end of Tuesday, according to Fred Jones, the industry group’s legal counsel. 

“We think it is absolutely clear that today’s announcement was a direct result of our lawsuit and of our very public campaign,” Jones said. 

But Jones is still pursuing legal action, since the announcement does not apply to barbers in counties such as Los Angeles, skin and nail services or cosmetology schools.

The new state guidelines for barbers encourage, but do not require,  face coverings in salons. The guidelines also say shops should stagger appointments to avoid contact with multiple customers at once and wash capes and other linens after every use. 

Hair salons have been ordered closed for more than two months, since the statewide stay-at-home order came down March 19.