I hope this finds everyone in good health and not too restless. 

It has been a jam packed month in the hair world and a lot of confusion to boot.   While San Francisco was still under lock down, the State authorized personal services to be performed outdoors.  SAY WHAT?  Not only were the operational “Rules” ridiculous, this is impractical for just about every hair salon, barbershop, and nail salon throughout the state.  It’s also very unsanitary, unhealthy, and cheapens our industry.

There have been protests throughout California for weeks from hair salons and stylists about the ridiculous "outdoor" policy.  Again, opening outdoors is not a viable option for nearly every salon in California, especially here in San Francisco.   These protests, I believe, are what encouraged the changes the Governor made on Friday by allowing personal services to be done indoors (with limitations), no matter what tier each county was under.

The Governor’s and the Mayor’s press conferences on Friday have caused a lot of confusion on where hair salons stand on being open indoors or outdoors.  Marin and Santa Clara Counties (both Purple, I think) are allowing indoor services beginning Aug 31st. San Francisco (a Red tier) is stubbornly only allowing outdoors services beginning September 1st. Alameda (a Purple tier) is also only allowing outdoor services, but say they are "evaluating next steps and options for alignment with the state".  The  announcement by our Mayor was made before the Governor's press conference on Friday.  It should have been reviewed immediately once the Governor announced the new tiered system.  Because it wasn't, we now have this confusion.  Our Mayor said she would review everything this coming week.  San Francisco needs to get on board with the rest of the State, if you ask me.

There are salons, barbershops, and hair stylists in every county throughout California struggling with this same confusion. I've been asked by other barbers and stylists in SF on what to do.  I could only share my reasoning with them.  Everyone has to find their own comfort with this situation and make their own decision on moving forward.

I made the bold decision to go along with the Governor's announcement of allowing personal services indoors beginning August 31st.  I'm a little nervous about doing this, but feel it is the right decision.  I understand some of you may not be comfortable with my decision to reopen.  I do know that as soon as my email went out on Friday many of you were happy and excited to finally be able to schedule a hair appointment.

I also sent this message to the Governor over the weekend imploring him to "encourage" Mayors throughout the State to get on board with the State.

I hope this helped with any questions.

I’ve updated the “New Normal” with what you should expect and need to know for your upcoming appointments.   Please take the time to read this over.   It’s important.

I’ve been a little long winded here so I will just let you look over “What’s Inside This Month” below for the articles I’ve put together for you.

5 1/2 months has been a really long time.  I cannot wait to see each and every one of you in the coming weeks.

I am available by email, text or phone if you have any questions or concerns.  Or just want to chat.
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Be well. Take Hair! AND #MaskUp 

​Hi. Hi.
 
I hope this finds you and yours in a good state of mind, healthy, still washing your hands AND wearing your face masks.  There are still individuals out there who are not taking this pandemic seriously and continue putting the rest of us at risk. The one thing we can do is take the proper safety precautions to protect ourselves and the loved ones in our family groups.

Last week was very confusing.  First we were allowed to reopen earlier than originally targeted then, just days later, the Mayor suspended the next phase reopening AGAIN!   As of this mailing I unfortunately don’t have any updated information on whether or not the tentative July 6th date I gave you last week will allowed either.  We're just going to have to take this one day at a time and I will continue to keep you updated as I learn more.

Since I haven’t seen you for a few months now, it’s been a little bit of a challenge coming up with articles I hope you find interesting or relevant.  It’s our time together and the conversions we have that help me come up with what I share with you each month.  What I do know is that you’re looking a little shaggy and some of you are seeing more “natural” haircolor than you want.  So, until we’re able to be together in person I’m going to continue passing along information I hope you find helpful during these unprecedented times.

Summer’s here and it’s a perfect time to be a little care free with your hairstyling.  Yes, that means you guys, too.   I have a nice guide with helpful tips on Air-Drying you hair.   I also have a ‘messy” tutorial for you guys whose hair has grown out the last few months.  And for those of you who’ve really embraced that shaggy hair, I have a some surfer tips on how to make that hair look cool.

As I mentioned above, these really are unprecedented times.  I hope you are are making time with family members and friends to have some tough, uncomfortable conversations.  I have a YouTube series for you by Emmanuel Acho about race that many white people have never been able to have.  This is just one of many great podcasts and web series now available to help us grow, learn, and challenge our thinking.

That’s just some of what I have for you this month in “As the Chair Turns”.

I’ve said this before.  I want you to know how fortunate I am to have each and every one of you sitting in my chair.  You challenge my thinking and encourage me to grow as a person.  I have missed that, and you, these last few months.  I look forward to the day when we get to be together again.

I am available by email, text or phone if you have any questions or concerns.  Or just want to chat.

Until we meet again…

What day is it?
​
How are you doing?  You doing alright?  As days have turned in to weeks and weeks in to months I hope you are staying healthy, not just physically but mentally well, too.

This month, again, I’ve tried to focus on stories and articles that are relevant to the current times we’re living through.

You should have received a couple emails from me last month in addition to my monthly newsletter.  In one I let you know that Bay Area salons and barbershops would be reopening in Phase 2c with a target date of July 13th.  The other one outlined what to expect once the salon is back open and that we would be working with limited schedules.  I’ll be working Sunday thru Wednesday when we reopen.  I have opened my schedule if you want to start scheduling appointments after July 13th. There are links throughout this newsletter to help you with that. 

Hair is getting out of control and not everyone has been able to get a “covid-cut” or color their hair at home.  While baseball caps might work for some, I thought I would recommend another option, head scarfs and bandanas.  I found a few sites for you with tutorials and “how to’s” if you’re wanting to try a different look for that Zoom meeting.

I’ve talked about stress and hair loss quite a bit.  Almost 3 months into this pandemic you might be noticing a few more hairs on your pillow or in your hair brush. This is normal under the circumstances.  Being mindful of your activities and mental state will help offset some of the stress and fatigue you may be feeling.  Yoga with Andriene has received some national attention so I have links for you. Meditation is another great way to feel centered.  Check out the link with podcast recommendations.

On a more serious note and please do not take the following personally.  It’s just something I need to say.

I have been asked if I would make house calls. The requests have come from clients and friends alike.  As much as I would love to see each and every one of you, this is asking quite a lot from me.  From the very beginning of this lock-down I made it very clear I would take every precautions necessary to ensure my own safety and well-being, as well as those around me.  I have no control over the behavior of others, but I can at least be mindful of my own environment and surroundings.

COVID-19 is a secret predator. The nature of my work is very intimate and breaches the 6-foot distancing recommendation, now 30 feet in some situations. This means even stricter protocols are necessary.  By asking me to come in to your home you are asking me to break the Stay-at-Home order and put a few things at risk.  First would be both your and my heath, safety, and well-being.  We are not of the same households nor have we been self-quarantining together.  Next would be my license and career, basically my livelihood.  I have invested too much to foolishly risk having that taken away.

Someone put it this way: “Asking a hairstylist to do your hair right now, when it’s clearly prohibited to break stay-at-home orders, is like asking a doctor friend to write you a random prescription for narcotics.”

I have been very vocal about other hairstylists and salons that have disobeyed stay-at-home orders and are “secretly” (some not so secretly) doing hair.  I understand the need to support yourself and your family, I do, but at what cost?  At the cost of spreading a very highly contagious virus?  Reopening the salon, even with the highest cleaning, sanitation, and disinfection protocols in place, has its own risks.  I get it.  But at least in the salon, we are doing our best to protect you (and ourselves) in somewhat of a controlled and hopefully safe environment.

I know this may seem harsh, but I’m not going to lose my license, jeopardize my career or my health for you.  Please, respect my profession and my career and know I’d never ask the same of you.

Whew...

I am available by email, text or phone if you have any questions or concerns.  Or just want to chat.

I think that's all for now.