Welp. Here we are again. A second round of salon closures has swept pretty much every major county in Southern California. I feel oddly numb to it this time around, I’m sure in part because I’ve been watching the variance numbers in California steadily increase since the beginning of June and it’s been quite alarming. Everything has become politicized and Orange County (I’m looking at you Huntington) has become a hotbed for defiance of COVID spread prevention. When the bars and indoor dining opened up weeks ahead of nail salons, I had a feeling we’d draw the short straw. Ironically, these people that claim to be obsessed with the survival of small businesses, are behaving in ways that explicitly damage small businesses like mine. The TLDR is that as a sole prop and business owner it’s all immensely frustrating- like watching two cars speed toward each other, head on and in slow motion.

I’m not going to lie, the few weeks I was open- it was really different. Before the shutdown, I was booking out two months in advance (give or take a few mid-day appointments). Upon reopening I was limiting my appointments between 6-12 per week, justttt enough to keep the lights on. In addition to a smaller client load, I was getting cancellations left and right due to confirmed or potential COVID exposure. Many of my OG regulars were waiting until late summer to come back. It was pretty scary, but the reality of the virus was impossible to ignore. Maybe we’re just all operating at max tragedy, information overload and stress capacity. It seems that many in my field are convinced that they are invincible, due to what I can only assume is a splash of Barbicide, a touch of American exceptionalism and a prayer. This is all topped with the reality that unemployment resources are finite.

I’m a rule follower. It’s just my nature. I’ll rebel against misogyny and racism, but like, the speed limit- I feel guilty if I’m going 65 in a 60. My responsibility to uphold the laws and regulations as a state licensed manicurist-that’s not even up for debate. If I’m being honest, I feel torn. The first round of shutdowns, I was definitely on a high horse about saving money and preparing for the unexpected, but after 3+ months of a mandatory shutdown, people are nervous. We don’t know if this second round is going top last three weeks or three months. This time around, we’re a week in and I know very FEW salon professionals that have actually shut down and I’m pretty scared about it. I’m worried that the in the eyes of the legislature, it will continue to make us look unsafe and reckless. I’m worried that, even though I’m following the rules, that my business is going to be punished by those not following the rules.

As per usual there was loophole-friendly language in the new mandate and now salon pros are rushing to try to do services outdoors. Literally suggesting setting up tents in parking lots and alleyways like that’s going to save the industry. At what point do we acknowledge that pushing the limits and ignoring common-sense is what got us here and will inevitably keep bringing us back to this again and again and again. At what point do we acknowledge that active compliance is what will save our industry and non-compliance will be its demise?

I won’t be opening my studio in defiance of the state mandate. I’m sure as hell not going to do nails on the sidewalk. I don’t know. I don’t have a solution. We all need to do better to understand the who, what, why, where and how of our industry and legislature. We need to be better communicators and choose our words wisely when we communicate to said legislators.

But anyways, here we are. Will it be 3 weeks or 3 months? I don’t know. But I do know if I’m having these feelings, I can’t be the only one. If you want to show you care about small businesses, please wear a mask, get a test, stay home and be responsible.