Cristophe's Beverly Hills Salon Set To Open With Safety Protocols

BEVERLY HILLS, CA —One Southland hair salon owner and celebrity stylist has made the indoor salon experience one of the safest environments during the coronavirus pandemic, he says.

Cristophe's Beverly Hills have had their reopening plan ready for months, they tell Patch. Since the July 13, the second shutdown of hair salons in California, owner Cristophe has put unprecedented safety measures into place.

At the salon, he's created a "safe and 99.9 percent virus-free environment for his clients when they return to his Beverly Hills and Newport locations," when they reopen in September, he says.

They have prepared for their September 1 reopening with an unrivaled plan for client and stylist safety.

On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that hair salons could reopen to a limited 25 percent capacity in Orange County. All hair salons shut down in mid-March, due to coronavirus. A brief reopening was again shut down, nearly bankrupting or bankrupting many salons, they say.

Founder Cristophe opened his original Beverly Hills salon in 1985. Together with his Newport Beach business partner, Scott Fontana, they started a petition to reopen their salons, as the State Board "merely monitors and is no help to salon owners," Cristophe says. During the coronavirus shutdown, they learned that there is no one to govern their industry.

"We needed a support group to enable people to stay open safely," Fontana said. Then, they needed a voice to speak on their behalf. They circulated an online petition with education on their reopening safety protocols and garnered thousands of signatures within days.

The pair repeatedly barraged Gov. Gavin Newsom's office with requests for reopening procedures and developed a support group for salon owners and workers who want to open their businesses and stay open safely, Fontana told Patch.

At last, Friday, they were given the go-ahead.

"I have implemented a 15-point safety protocol in both of my salons," said Cristophe. "It is imperative to provide the safest environment possible to protect my stylists and our clients. It's also vital to make everyone comfortable and confident when they do come in for services, so they know they are protected."

Now, clients are being contacted for first appointments for the Newport Beach location, reopening September 1. What can you expect when you return? Safety, they say.

The owners shared a detailed video of their reopening tactics with Patch, showing the attention to detail with safety requirements amid coronavirus. At 3,500 square feet, with cleaning and safety measures in place, the owners feel it is "much safer than an outdoor restaurant," they told Patch.

When times are good, 25 stylists will work inside the broad space. For now, they are down in staff.

"Very few people work at a time," Cristophe says. "The entire principle of reopening is minimum interaction."

Inside both salons, an air filtration ventilation system provides 99.9 percent "virus free airflow," he says.

When you arrive—wearing your mask— your stylist will greet you.
Your temperature will be taken to a station and handed a face shield.
Between clients, all stations are sanitized. Capes are cleaned and sealed.
Once you're comfortable, your service will begin.

"This is safer than a trip to the grocery store, or any other sort of retail shopping," Cristophe tells Patch.

He did not believe in operating underground and has fielded many calls for customers who miss interacting with their stylists.

"That's one of the things I missed most," Cristophe says. "We build special relationships with our clients. There are people I haven't seen in months! We want to know about their families about their lives. Everyone has been so anxious to return, both clients and stylists."

Cristophe tells Patch they are asking back all of their stylists.

"I think it's going to be all right once we reopen," Cristophe says. And besides, looking in the mirror each day as salons remain closed is "just unacceptable. We're all starting to look like the Bee Gees or something."

For more information, visit: cristophe.com

The salon is located at 348 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA Ph: 310.274.0851