Hair salons across the country have temporarily closed in an effort to help slow the spread of coronavirus. As the situation continues to unfold, many clients are asking the same questions, like, "Should I cancel my haircut if the salon is still open?" and "How do I take care of my hair until my next appointment?"

TODAY Style went straight to the source and consulted some industry pros to answer these questions and get some insight into how clients can help.

1. It's OK to cancel your hair appointment right now

If the thought of getting up close and personal with your hairstylist right now makes you nervous, you're not alone. As we all attempt to practice social distancing and stay 6 feet away from each other, medical experts are increasingly suggesting that consumers cancel any nonessential self-care appointments.

"The coronavirus can live on surfaces or travel through the air after a cough or sneeze. The virus is also highly infectious," Dr. Edo Paz, a vice president at medical app K Health said. "Because of this, we would recommend postponing trips to the nail and hair salon."

Many salons across the country have already decided to shut down temporarily. If your local hot spot is still open, rest assured that your stylist will not hold your decision to cancel against you.

"It is absolutely OK if you feel your health may be at risk. We as professionals very much value our clientele and want everyone to be safe and comfortable," Jonathan Colombini, L’Oréal Paris hairstylist and colorist, told TODAY Style.

2. Salons are putting your health first

In recent weeks, many salon owners have agonized over the decision to shut down over coronavirus concerns. Carmen DePasquale, CEO and owner of DePasquale Companies, is one of them.

"It was a very difficult decision because it would affect all our employees financially, however, the health and well-being of our employees and our clients took precedence," he said.

Laura Rugetti, owner of The Beauty Can salon in California, has spent the last several weeks worried about the impact a salon closure would have on her staff.

"I have 18 stylists that rent from my salon and most of them are moms who financially depend on working to support their family. Out of caution, I have closed down the salon to the public, with a select few stylists taking private clients. My stylists are independent contractors so this is a very difficult situation," she said.

Most hairstylists work strictly on commission while others work for base pay plus commission, so extended time away from the salon can often present them with a significant financial burden. But many salon owners believe it's necessary to help "flatten the curve" and slow the spread of the virus.

"When my salon closed, the decision was made to keep everyone safe and healthy. We all know someone who is at risk, wherever it be a grandparent or someone who is sick or has cancer. We don’t want to be carriers for the virus. Especially when we see a bunch of different people every day," Stephanie Brown, master colorist at IGK Soho in New York City, said.

With many salons temporarily closing, some beauty devotees are turning to in-home beauty services to maintain some sense of normalcy. As of right now, on-demand beauty company Priv is still offering services to its customers across the country, but the company's artistry director, William Edward, recognizes that many consumers are hesitant to allow someone they don't know into their home right now.

"All of our providers are trained to maintain a clean, sanitary work environment at all times, which includes the use of state-regulated disinfecting materials and work-practice controls. We have reminded all of our providers that if they do wish to take appointments, to do so at their own discretion and continue to uphold those safety precautions," he said. "We encourage everyone to do what makes them feel comfortable, and our services are available for them when they do."

3. You can maintain great hair at home

Whether you're due for a routine trim or a root touch-up, there are plenty of ways to keep your strands healthy and strong until the next time you make it to the salon.

How to keep your hair color strong at home:

• Give your hair some extra TLC while you're stuck at home. "Now is a great time to not wash your hair and get those natural oils in there. Conditioning treatments are perfect for this time. If you don’t have one at home, you can always make one using coconut oil or olive oil. And it’s great because you can leave it in for the whole day and then rinse it out since you’re not going anywhere," Brown said.
• Celebrity hairstylist Ashley Streicher suggests using this time to grow your hair out so you can experiment with new styles. You can also practice air-drying your hair and avoiding hot tools to keep it healthy.
• Try some fun hair accessories. "If your hair is long overdue for a cut, then it may be time to embrace headbands," said Gina Rivera, CEO of Phenix Salon Suites and hair artist.

4. Send your stylist some love

During tough times like these, it's nice to remind your hairstylist how much you value them. Since it might be a while until the next time you plop down in the salon chair, there are several ways to support your favorite salon or stylist.

• Reach out and say hi: "Right now is a weird time, and more than ever, a check-in text or positive message could really make someone’s day," said Gregory Russel, Kerastase celebrity hairstylist.
• Shop your salon's website: "A great way to support your local salon or hairstylist is to buy a gift card or certificate to use in the future. Also, try to buy all the products you can from them online," Streicher said.
• Consider a video appointment: "Some people have embraced video servicing. In essence, a stylist walks a client through a retouch application so they can get by for a short period of time without visiting the salon. This is not ideal, but it is a way to support each other," Rivera said.
• Send a little tip their way: "If you can afford to do so, sending tips to your stylist could be so appreciated as our income disappears without us being able to service our clients," Russel said.
• Think ahead to your next hair service: "I think prebooking appointments is really helpful. I don’t expect anyone to spend money at this time as I know we are all hurting in one way or another, but knowing that we have appointments in the future sheds some light at the end of the tunnel," Rugetti said.

5. Stylists are eager to get back to work, too

Since many hairstylists work on commission or as freelancers, they don't get paid when they're out of work. So, like many Americans, they're just as eager to get back to their routines.

"For people in fields like mine — massage therapist, restaurant workers etc. — we don’t get paid vacation or paid sick days, and if we don’t have a client, we don’t make money. So for us, it’s trying to get back to normal so we can get that paycheck, so we can pay rent and health insurance (we don’t get that either)," Brown said.

Hairstylists are a creative bunch, and all of this downtime is making many of them antsy (just like the rest of us).

"I feel a natural eagerness to work, of course, especially as a freelance person. It’s how we're wired! The good news is that we're all in this together and you have to remember we're not missing out. It's important to stand united on this front. If we can all be in this together, it will feel a lot less isolating," Streicher said.

Some hairstylists are trying to look on the bright side and take this time to find perspective.

"I think this time has really made people take a step back and realize what is important in life. We often forget that things like being able to go to the store as we please or socializing with friends are a privilege," Rugetti said. "Being that none of us have ever experienced anything like this before, it is scary knowing that there isn't a roadmap for this complex situation. But there's hope in knowing that we're all dealing with this together."

Overall, the professionals we spoke wanted to share the immense pride they take in the work they do. "We are not just in the business of doing hair; we are in the business of making people look good and feel good," DePasquale said.
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This article is from The Today Show

Here's another good article with helpful information for you during these times.

The only section I am in disagreement with is regarding "at-home" color kits.  Doing something like this jeopardizes my license and is a liability issue waiting to happen. AND if you've ever colored your own hair you know it's not easy and can make a huge mess if you don't know what you're doing.  I did make a comment on the Today Shows Facebook post that they should ask those of us working in the field and not rely solely on "celebrity" stylists.

Other than that one section, there is a lot of helpful information in this article.

1. It's OK to cancel your hair appointment right now
2. Salons are putting your health first
3. You can maintain great hair at home
4. Send your stylist some love
5. Stylists are eager to get back to work, too

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"We are not just in the business of doing hair; we are in the business of making people look good and feel good"
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​What your hairstylist wants you to know during coronavirus
​Here's how coronavirus is affecting hairstylists — and what they want you to know.

One of the things I really don't like hearing from my clients is when their guy say's their hair is "Just OK".  They'll cheap out on getting a decent haircut and settle for something that's "Just OK".   Come on guys.  Don't neglect your most important accessory.  

The thing you don't have to settle for when it comes to your hair is it just being "Just OK".  Below is a list of tips to get you through those "Just OK" hair days.

My top tips would be:

• Get a Haircut Every 4-6 Weeks
• Always Condition After You Shampoo (And Even When You Don't)
• Be Gentle When Towel Drying Your Hair
• The Way Your Hair Dries Is The Way It's Going to Stay
• Don't Cheap Out
• And most important: Don't Cut it Yourself 

If there’s one thing that unites humanity, it’s that we all want great hair, but I’ll be the first to admit, achieving it is a struggle. When good hair days feel few and far between, it’s easy to settle for just okay. Well, fellow men, we don’t have to.
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The goal of most men is to spend as little time in the bathroom as possible. That’s why we tend to cut our hair shorter. Less hair means less maintenance, right? But, the pitfalls of this thinking is that the tenants of good hair apply no matter how long your hair is, what texture it is, or how much you have. Attaining great hair doesn’t take a lot of effort, either, as long as you know what to do.

Here are the best tips for all men to achieve their best hair possible, straight from the experts.

Read More >>

​Chinese Tradition says that you should not wash or cut your hair on the first day of the New Year.  The Chinese character for hair is the same first character in the word for prosper. This means washing or cutting it off is seen as washing your fortune away and dramatically reduces chances of prosperity in the year ahead.

That said, I wondered when is a good time to cut your hair.  A stylist I used to work with once said if you are wanting to grow your hair you should cut it when the moon is rising.  Hair grows an average of 1/2 an inch a month.  A little more in the months when you're more active.  When you cut your hair, according to the moon, might have an affect on that, too.

Wonder for the best days for haircut? The answer to this question depends on your goal, the result that you want to get. Cutting the tips you are surely hoping that the hair will grow quickly and become healthier. But creating a new look with the help of a cardinal haircut, you expect that it will retain its shape and length for long. And here the simple lunar rules works – I described them in the post Lunar cycle phases.

Haircuts lunar calendar – best days depending on Moon phases
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​As you know, the waxing moon (1st-15th lunar days), at lunar spring and summer, provokes the growth and development of everything on Earth. The same, of course, applies to our hair. Cutted on the waxing moon hair grow quickly, and this is the best time to cut the sick ends. The waning moon (16th-30th lunar days), gradually disappearing from the night sky, is constantly thinning and decreasing, contributing to slowing the growth and getting rid of everything that is superfluous. Lunar autumn and winter are the best periods for a haircut, which you hope to keep in a pristine condition for a long time.

Worst days for haircut by lunar calendar

However, not all so simple. In addition to the speed of hair growth, there are other factors that influence the choice of the best lunar day for a haircut. Do not forget that every lunar day corresponds to a certain part of the human body, activates certain organs. Astrologers advise to avoid direct exposure to the organ on that lunar day, which activates it. Therefore, the haircuts lunar calendar excludes days corresponding to the organs of the head and skin. So, 5 and 22 days of the lunar cycle are unfavorable for hair cutting.

In addition, there are some days of the Moon phase’s change in the lunar cycle. Generally, such days are considered as unfavorable and even satanic in some esoteric schools. In fact, these days of the lunar cycle – 9, 15, 19, and 29 – are simply characterized by a very powerful flow of lunar energy, which not all people can cope with. Therefore, do not forget that the hairdresser is also a human. It is better not to visit him on unfavorable lunar days.

Best days for haircut by lunar calendar

Moreover, do not forget about the nature of each lunar day and its special influence on all spheres of human life. Of course, this influence extends to the manipulation with the hair. Best days for haircuts are not just days that promote their faster growth, or, on the contrary, slow it down, keeping the neatness of your haircut. A haircut on a certain lunar day can favorably affect your financial status or relations with the opposite sex – and it all depends on the current Moon’s mood.

For example, 3 lunar day, with its active energy and business acumen will contribute to increasing the income of a person who will make a haircut. A haircut on 13 lunar day will help a person dramatically change his life for the better, saturating its with creativity and innovative ideas that correspond to the spirit of the day.

Haircuts lunar calendar – general rules

Be attentive and remember that different manipulations with hair – haircut, coloring, perms, healing – often have a completely different essence in terms of lunar energy. Choosing when to cut hair by the lunar calendar, do not plan other procedures on these days. Remember that for coloring, for example, the waning moon is the bad choice. The color can quickly disappear from your hair (like the waning crescent, rolling to the new moon, from the sky). Well, and most important. When determining when to treat teeth by the lunar calendar, keep in mind that there are a few special days you can use to plan anything, including your visits to the barbershop.

So, 1 lunar day of the cycle is created for planning, defining goals and desires, thinking through strategies in any area of your life. If you determine your new style, future haircut type and the favorable date for it on the first lunar day, you will be probably pleased with the result.

7 lunar day activates the power of the word. Therefore, keep in mind that everything you say on this day will surely come true. Use the power of this day, saying aloud that your trip to the barbershop will be successful – this way you can turn any dates into best lunar days for a haircut 🙂

11 lunar day fills us with energy and confidence. Wishes conceived on this day will necessarily come true, if you really believe in it and clearly know what you want. It’s very good to work with the visualization of your desires on the 11 lunar day. It’s time to grab magazines on hairdressing and make a collage of fashionable images for your wishes map.
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This information is from Moon Organizer