South Suburban Hair Salons To Reopen Under New Coronavirus Plan

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — Scissors, clippers and forehead thermometers at the ready, south suburbans salons are raring to reopen. If you’ve been waiting ten weeks to fix that bad quarantine haircut fixed or get your hair highlighted, you may need to wait another month. Many salons are already booked through the end of June.

Illinois enters phase 3 to begin reopening the state economy this Friday, May 29, when COVID-19 restrictions are partially lifted for hair salons, hair braiders, barber shops, nail salons, spas, massage parlors, waxing centers, tattoo parlors, tanning salons, cosmetology schools, hair club service and other providers of personal care services.

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Under Illinois Department of Commerce guidelines, personal care services can be performed as long as the employee and customer are wearing a face covering over their nose and mouth.

“I’m basically ready to start,” salon owner Cathy O’Hara said. “We’ve had a team meeting and my people are in place. This virus is invisible, and we can only do what guidelines the state gives us.”

Be prepared for a brave new post-pandemic hair salon when you reunite with your favorite stylist. Personal care businesses, which includes barbers and stylists, have been issued a six-page checklist with dozens of new requirements they must follow to ensure that proper social distancing is being followed.

Waiting in your vehicle until you are summoned, temperature readings, cleaning and disinfecting work stations after each client, hand sanitizer and face masks are part of the new salon experience. Massages and body treatments (e.g. body wraps, scrubs) of 30 minutes or less are also permitted under the new guidelines.

O’Hara is taking additional steps to protect her employees and clients at O’Hara and Friends Salon, 7008 W 127th St., Palos Heights. She’s eliminatged the reception area, installed virus-killing diffusers, and scheduled split shifts with five stylists on duty at a time with an empty chair between them. Manicurists and aestheticians will wear face shields in addition to facial coverings.

For the time being, facials and color projects, such as balayage, a highlighting technique that takes up to three hours, will not be offered until phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan.

Since the governor announced that personal service businesses could reopen with restrictions, O’Hara’s phone hasn’t stopped ringing. She’s booked through June 15, giving priority to her regular clients with standing appointments before the pandemic.

“I’m nervous and excited,” she said. “I want to be around my team and clients again and hear their stories about what they’ve been through.”

To schedule an appointment at O’Hara and Friends, call 708-239-1111.