Local hair salons are being impacted by Coronavirus

As businesses modify working arrangements or close down temporarily, how are those in the salon and hair business coping?

For Salon Bella co-owners Misty McKenna and Janice Owens making the decision to close indefinitely was a tough, but appropriate decision, especially following Ocean Springs Mayor Shea Dobson’s proclamation implementing social distancing of six feet or more in all facilities in the city. Owens said, “In a salon situation, it’s absolutely impossible to main a six-foot social distancing from our clients. We work on their hair, on their faces, on their lashes, on their hands, on their feet. There’s no way to maintain that and be safe.”

While customers have been very supportive of the salon’s closure, the economic impact from not having revenue and income during this time affects all employees. “The salon’s bills continue no matter what. Misty and I have to pay our rent. We have to pay our power bill. We have to pay our water bill. We’ve got to keep the salon going during this downtime so that when we get back up, our co-workers can come back to work.”

People also worry about maintaining and caring for their hair as salon closures continue to progress. “We’re going to have gray hair. We’re going to have no eyelashes. Our nails are going to be growing out. We’re going to have chipped polish and chipped toes, but you know, I tell everybody just rock that messy bun and go on with life. Know that you’re doing what’s best.”

In the meantime, the Salon Bella staff is focusing on continuing education for employees and making sure the salon emerges from this setback stronger than ever. “We love what we do. We love each other. We love our clients. We, this is not going to be the end of us, not at all.”