For a lighter question...beauty services as “essential”?

[Ginevra]

A friend of mine is an independent hair dresser (a great one!) and I guess there is a petition to sign to request that hair stylists, on a one-on-one basis, should be permitted to do hair during restrictions. Even given the sad state of my locks right now, I disagree, mostly just because of the close, sustained contact with people’s faces as a necessary feature of hair work. And because nobody ever died from grey roots or crooked bangs they trimmed themselves. Even if it were legal, *I personally* wouldn’t go have my hair done right now. (I’m sure there are lots of people meeting in their stylist’s kitchens on the sly right now.) 

One person commenting on the petition is also saying, “...and NAIL SALONS!” To that I just roll my eyes...

 

[JustEm]

Of course beauty services aren't essential.

[Just Kate]

No, they aren’t essential. But I guess to the hair stylists, their income is essential. I have a friend who owns a hair salon. She doesn’t have employees, instead the hair stylists who work there rent their space from her. Of course, since they can’t work, they have stopped paying her rent. So she is having to pay the mortgage and everything else for the building without receiving the money from the stylists. Since she has no employees, she was ineligible to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program when it first came out  ( the PPP is. the small business SBA loan program that was released as part of the CARES Act). She was told she had to wait a week, which she did, but then it looked like all of the funds were already gone. 
 

I’m certainly not advocating that hair and nail salons open up because, like you, I couldn’t go to one now even if they were open (I’m starting to get used to my gray roots!). But I do have sympathy for people in these types of non-essential businesses who have to have super-close contact to do their jobs. When WILL it actually be safe to open up a hair salon??

[regentrude]

Not essential. Especially since you cannot distance yourself in that setting. I feel bad for the business owners, but really, why would anybody get their hair done right now???

OTOH, I also don't think they are ever essential, LOL .It seems to be the most frivolous thing on the bottom of a long list.

[Just Kate]

4 minutes ago, regentrude said:

Not essential. Especially since you cannot distance yourself in that setting. I feel bad for the business owners, but really, why would anybody get their hair done right now???

OTOH, I also don't think they are ever essential, LOL .It seems to be the most frivolous thing on the bottom of a long list.

I agree with you but I know that there are many people out there asking their hair stylist to sneak and do their hair for them at their home right now. My friend has told everyone who asks no, as she doesn’t want to lose her license (and she knows it is unsafe and wrong). I think it is crazy that anyone would be asking right now!

Edited April 18, 2020 by Just Kate

[regentrude]

Just now, Just Kate said:

I agree with you but I know that there are many people out there asking their hair stylist to sneak and do their hair for them at their home right now. My friend has told everyone who asks no, as she doesn’t want to lose her license game she knows it is unsafe and wrong). I think it is crazy that anyone would be asking right now!

who even SEES their hair???

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, Just Kate said:

I agree with you but I know that there are many people out there asking their hair stylist to sneak and do their hair for them at their home right now. My friend has told everyone who asks no, as she doesn’t want to lose her license (and she knows it is unsafe and wrong). I think it is crazy that anyone would be asking right now!

I do too, but I think there are stylists who *wink, nod* want their customers to ask. I think my hairdresser would do it willingly if I wanted her to and paid her in cash. Before our lockdown went into effect, I was already communicating with her about doing my hair and my son’s, but I was self-quarantining at the time bc of my dd coming in from Europe. Non-essential business closure happened before quarantine was up, so I messaged her and said, Sorry, but now I guess I’ll have to wait for the duration. But I definitely get the feeling that if I had said it the other way, she would have complied happily. 

[Pawz4me]

Well, I'd be willing to pay quite a lot for a haircut right now. Not because of looks, but because it's driving me just a bit crazy flopping around where it's not supposed to flop. But nevertheless I'm totally on team non-essential.

OTOH, I am very glad that I can do DS's hair, and groom the dogs myself.

Edited April 18, 2020 by Pawz4me
typo

[teachermom2834]

I have heard it explained that the definition of “essential” is going to slowly change to include more and more workers in stages until everyone is essential. So the definition of essential isn’t exactly going to mean what we understand the dictionary definition of essential to mean. 

I am sure nail salons and dance studios will eventually be deemed essential even though we all know they are not life sustaining.

Hair salons totally not essential for me but I do think that before long some people really will “need” access to a barber. My dad is 72 years old amd lives alone and still works a professional job. He isn’t going to cut his own hair decently or rock a man bun. 

In full disclosure, I am of the opinion that at this point in the situation, in my geographic area,  if my hairdresser and I both were seemingly well and wanted to mask up and take that risk I think that would be reasonable. But I realize I am in the minority on that opinion. There will be something that, to me, feels worth the risk that others would deem unnecessary. 

It won’t be high on my list to return to the salon but we all have a different hierarchy of needs and things we value. 

[marbel]

Sure, these services are not essential but people have come to rely on then, for better or worse.  

People who have acrylic nails are having problems with outgrowth. Taking the acrylics off at home can be problematic. I have family members who have terribly weak nails and use acrylics, so they are having a little trouble figuring out what to do. Of course it's not a serious problem. 

As far as who is seeing anyone's hair - even with people working remotely many people are meeting visibly via online platforms. I can see a professional person wanting to keep a professional appearance. Everyone doesn't have nice hair that can grow out prettily.  And for those who color, grey roots look pretty unkempt - I actually remember those exact words from somewhere on this board. So, yeah, it can feel pretty important to some people.

I am low maintenance with hair and don't get manicure/pedicures so I don't have dog in this fight. But I can understand people who have relied on access for much of their lives to be feeling like they are needed.  Of course the more important people are the ones losing their livelihood. 

ETA: that doesn't mean I think they should open up. I'm leaving that up to the medical people who understand the risks far better than I do.

Edited April 18, 2020 by marbel

[Syllieann]

It's definitely not essential, but I think that if both people take precautions it's a reasonable thing to do in places that are not hard-hit.  A rural person having 30 minutes of masked contact once every 6 weeks seems like a lower overall risk than someone in an urban area walking their dog twice a day on a 2 foot wide sidewalk with people passing them every 5 seconds.

[Hadley]

Absolutely not.  I get it.  I’ve been helping my natural blond hair along for quite a while now.  Cut and highlights, faithfully, every eight weeks.  Until quarantine, I had no idea that I had any gray hair!

However, I do think depression is a very real problem during quarantine for many people.  A trip to the stylist is like a happy pill for me.  

I would not even consider going to a stylist now ( or have one come to me) because I don’t think it essential or anywhere worth the risk, but I am finding it extremely hard to look in the mirror.  Perhaps that exposes me as a shallow person, but we all have our weaknesses.  

[MysteryJen]

Generally, I think they are non-essential. But the hairstylists I know are single mothers who live on a financial edge and I do think that mainly salon services can be done safely with masks.

Also, I used to think that nail salons were super frivolous, but elderly people getting foot care on a regular basis is actually pretty important. Not to mention, I think those services can be done safely as well. 

[Sherry in OH]

Pedicures can be essential.  Many older people are unable to cut their own toenails.  Some of these people have medical conditions requiring that a podiatrist cut their nails.  Others find nail salons a less expensive option.    My mother is one of the later.   She can no longer contort her body enough to trim her own toenails.  Even if she could, her nails are thick and difficult to cut. Not getting nails cut for one month probably isn't going to cause serious issues.   Going several months without trimming nails increases the risk of ingrown nails and infection.   

I can see loosening restrictions to allow manicures and pedicures particularly for senior citizens, people with diabetes, and others who are ill-advised to cut their own nails.  

I have a harder time seeing hair styling as essential. 

[gardenmom5]

the mayor of Chicago thinks they are - for herself.

I don't think they are.

[J-rap]

It's definitely not essential, but I can see it being one of those non-essential businesses that's slowly phased back in (before others) if done very carefully and under very strict conditions, maybe in a second tier of businesses that are allowed to carefully re-open, despite the risk.  It's one of those things that we're accustomed to in our culture, and it helps people feel good and brings a little normalcy into their lives.  

I mean, liquor isn't essential either, but liquor stores mostly remain open and are even being squeezed into the "essential" category even though we all know that alcohol really isn't essential  But I guess they figure there would be too many people up-in-arms if liquor stores were completely closed down.  (In our state, alcohol isn't sold in grocery stores.  It's only sold in liquor stores.)

I think they (state and local governments, etc.) do consider the question of how can we best keep people's spirits up while on lock down, and the answer does involve allowing some risks, if done carefully (like being able to buy a bottle of wine, taking walks outside even when other people are out, etc.).  There's a little give and take in order to get people to keep at this lock down.

So, I do see hair salons/barber shops being able to carefully re-open (one beautician, one customer, masks, etc.) a lot sooner than other businesses like malls, theaters, schools, etc., where you can't realistically control the crowd and it would be even ridiculous to try.  (You can't allow just one person in a theater at a time, for example.)  

ETA:  Just read other replies, and I agree about at least allowing manicures/pedicures for the elderly.  My dad is 92 and is really struggling with his toenails right now!  They're hurting him, and digging into his toes.  The only other person I still get together with regularly  (outside of my dh who lives with me!) is my dad.  I've tried to cut his toenails myself, and I just can't -- I don't have the proper tools to cut the super thick nails that elderly people usually have.)

 

 

 

 

Edited April 18, 2020 by J-rap

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Syllieann said:

It's definitely not essential, but I think that if both people take precautions it's a reasonable thing to do in places that are not hard-hit.  A rural person having 30 minutes of masked contact once every 6 weeks seems like a lower overall risk than someone in an urban area walking their dog twice a day on a 2 foot wide sidewalk with people passing them every 5 seconds.

But that isn’t true for the stylist themselves. The stylist is going to be directly in the face of X number of people per day. And if one of those customers has the virus and doesn’t know it yet, the stylist may contract it and may cut 35 more heads of hair before knowing they are infected. 

[Guest]

I thought people who get pedicures for medically necessary reasons went to podiatrists, not nail salons. I guess I may be wrong about that but that was what I thought. My mother cannot maintain her own feet, but goes to the podiatrist. 

[itsheresomewhere]

In a way, yes they are.  For elderly and disabled, pedicures are essential and cheaper than a podiatrist.  They can’t reach their feet to trim their nails and some will never notice that spot that like it needs medical care.  For the elderly who only goes out once a week for her hair or has someone come to them, that interaction can be a boost to her mental health.  And those tend to establish a relationship and that is another person who will notice something is off.

 In some areas, the beautician will notice a women who needs help to escape domestic violence.  They are trained to provide the information and contact information to the clients.  This training is done by police and domestic violence shelters.  So in a way, it is essential to those.  

[itsheresomewhere]

Just now, Quill said:

I thought people who get pedicures for medically necessary reasons went to podiatrists, not nail salons. I guess I may be wrong about that but that was what I thought. My mother cannot maintain her own feet, but goes to the podiatrist. 

Not all can afford the podiatrist.  

[Guest]

A comment about financial need: financial need is not the reason any business is being deemed essential. Chefs don’t get to operate their restaurants just because they have two kids and a mortgage, for example. We need the money we cannot make at the moment, but that doesn’t mean we get to say it's essential that Jane Homeowner goes forward with her bathroom renovation because we need the income. 

[marbel]

13 minutes ago, Quill said:

A comment about financial need: financial need is not the reason any business is being deemed essential. Chefs don’t get to operate their restaurants just because they have two kids and a mortgage, for example. We need the money we cannot make at the moment, but that doesn’t mean we get to say it's essential that Jane Homeowner goes forward with her bathroom renovation because we need the income. 

Yeah, I don't think anyone is really suggesting it's fine to open hair salons simply because hair stylists in general tend not to be people with lots of money/backup resources. But there are different levels of financial need and it's not wrong to be concerned about people who live paycheck to paycheck and are in dire straits right now.  

I had not thought of pedicures as essential for some folks before, duh, I'm sure I'm headed in that direction myself in not too many years.  

[itsheresomewhere]

19 minutes ago, OKBud said:

Lots and lots of things boost people's mental health and there are many we can not do right now. We simply can not open places up based on any given individual liking it. The argument that it can be done safely (for the clients if not the stylist) is one thing... the argument that people get something out of it is a non-starter. 

On the bolded: Yes, I agree that this country needs expanded ready access to necessary healthcare. Relying on stylists for healthcare is absurd in the extreme. Just because it plays out like that doesn't mean it's good. 

 

We're definitely not going to collectively say that salons should open on the off-chance that a stylist can notice domestic abuse. I have received that training and been involved with abuse victims, one way and the other, for years. That's simply not pragmatic. But, it is another example, as above with the podiatrist vs. the pedicurist of us as a society collectively kicking the can as far down the road from real, actionable help as possible, for as long as possible.

Our lives are built on a foundation of bs 🙂 / 😞 

For some- even if they expand healthcare, they won’t go.  They know their stylist and have built up a trust with them.  I am really liking the nail salons that are partnering with a podiatrist to try and build a relationship with.  

[Loowit]

DH's barber has asked people to sign a petition for our state to open up those services, but we won't.  I do not see them as essential.  I think that there are a lot of things much more essential that should be opening first.  Right now I know personally three people who are in need of pretty significant medical care that cannot get it because it is not an emergency situation.  When my DS was throwing up blood a couple weeks ago it took going through several phone calls to get them to agree to see him in person. 

The problem as I see it is that even if they are meeting with people one on one, the worker will still be in contact with many people and still have the likelihood even with PPE to spread things to others.  Sure some have a legitimate needs, like elderly who need foot care, but that is not the primary purpose of hair and nail salons, so for those that have that need we should come up with an alternative solution rather than just opening up the whole industry to everyone.

I also think that what is considered a professional look during a pandemic is going to have to be different.  It is okay to not look your best, you can still do your work.

[Spryte]

Not essential.

Our hairstylist sold her salon and became a travel stylist 4 years ago.  She comes to our house.  It’s about a 4 hour visit, for highlights and cut for me, cuts for DH and DD, and whatever DS wants.  Now that my mom is staying with us, she gets hers done, too.  We usually have lunch together, and spend some time just chatting.

There’s no way I’d feel comfortable having her over now. We’d have to place all our trust in not just her exposure risk, but everyone with whom she comes in contact.

My hair is a wreck.  Ugh.  But nope.

[SKL]

While my kids and I have no need, I do think some people need this more than we "need" certain things that aren't restricted.

A lot of my fb friends have teen boys and have no idea how to cut their hair.  I don't see anything wrong with them getting a haircut from someone who knows how.  I am sure it could be done safely if everyone was careful.  There are a lot of other things going on that no less up-close-and-personal.

[SKL]

On a slightly related topic, this virus has made me think about a lot of things we should really all know how to do, just in case.

I learned how to cut girl hair in a "mini-course day" at school when I was 11 or 12.  (Could probably manage a boy cut too.)  One of my girls is interested in cosmotology and has been cutting all of our hair since she was about 9yo.  She also does nails for those who need the help.

A while back, I was thinking it would be good for all of us to learn how to do massages and maybe some other things.  Basically any personal service that doesn't require a university degree.  Not that I want to put licensed folks out of business, it would just be good to know.  Like I know how to change tires & oil even though I haven't actually done either in many years.

Edited April 18, 2020 by SKL

[Guest]

6 hours ago, Just Kate said:

No, they aren’t essential. But I guess to the hair stylists, their income is essential. I have a friend who owns a hair salon. She doesn’t have employees, instead the hair stylists who work there rent their space from her. Of course, since they can’t work, they have stopped paying her rent. So she is having to pay the mortgage and everything else for the building without receiving the money from the stylists. Since she has no employees, she was ineligible to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program when it first came out  ( the PPP is. the small business SBA loan program that was released as part of the CARES Act). She was told she had to wait a week, which she did, but then it looked like all of the funds were already gone. 
 

I’m certainly not advocating that hair and nail salons open up because, like you, I couldn’t go to one now even if they were open (I’m starting to get used to my gray roots!). But I do have sympathy for people in these types of non-essential businesses who have to have super-close contact to do their jobs. When WILL it actually be safe to open up a hair salon??

I am expecting to keep my piano studio online for the duration, although right now I have only committed to being online through summer for exactly that reason. Teaching piano would be more difficult to do from across the room than it is online, where at least the CAMERA can be close in.

 

I am hoping that DD's orthodontist is able to reopen to see patients on a non-emergency basis sooner than 1-2 years, because DD is supposed to be done with braces this summer, and I'd really like her to be finished and needing an appointment every 6 months or less before she graduates and presumably goes away to college (assuming colleges are reopening dorms by August 2021).

[Pen]

6 hours ago, hjffkj said:

Of course beauty services aren't essential.

 

Right.

Maybe stylists could switch to paid online advice on how people can do their own hair for awhile.  Especially if it is a family of more than one, maybe guide one person to cut the other’s hair at least somewhat acceptably. 

Maybe temporary new Cv19 styles that don’t take as much stylist abilities, but don’t result in everyone looking like Gandalf. 

[Pen]

12 minutes ago, Seasider too said:

Not essential. And after having to soak off my own first-time-I-ever-got-one powder manicure, I have sworn off those, too. I can polish my toenails at home and my fingernails will be clean, short & natural for the foreseeable future - maybe forever. 

As for hair - I am questioning whether I will ever go back to a salon, for color, anyway. Seems to me like a great time to weather a DIY color fail. I am not afraid of grey, but my hair lacks volume at the roots without some color in it. 

So maybe a spin-off question... what are some of your home color products? That I can get at the grocery store. 

 

You could maybe try henna at first for some body without the usual color issues. (Note, henna does stain! I even had a greenish stain on a lawn chair from “clear” henna.) 

Also can try some things like Argan oil for moisture and body.  

[Guest]

17 minutes ago, Seasider too said:

Not essential. And after having to soak off my own first-time-I-ever-got-one powder manicure, I have sworn off those, too. I can polish my toenails at home and my fingernails will be clean, short & natural for the foreseeable future - maybe forever. 

As for hair - I am questioning whether I will ever go back to a salon, for color, anyway. Seems to me like a great time to weather a DIY color fail. I am not afraid of grey, but my hair lacks volume at the roots without some color in it. 

So maybe a spin-off question... what are some of your home color products? That I can get at the grocery store. 

That is a good idea for a spin-off thread. 

And re: nails, yes, I totally agree. My nails will be short, clean and natural for the indefinite future. 

[SounderChick]

Not essential!!  Our town offers a free senior foot care clinic by nurses.  I believe that should be reopened soon.  

[EmseB]

I keep thinking about this question. I mean, every job is essential to the person who does it to keep food on the table. There are precious few people on the earth who have jobs for fun. When we say something isn't an essential service...well that's probably the majority of the American economy.

No one needs a haircut ever, but saying someone's livelihood isn't essential is kinda privileged. I guess they can all go work at Amazon or Costco because heaven knows those services are still essential to those of us blessed to still have an income.

[Spryte]

1 minute ago, CuriousMomof3 said:

 

My elderly mother is sheltering alone.  She has no family in her area.  He balance is lousy, and she's got issues with her hips that make washing her own hair challenging, or cutting her own toe nails impossible, so having someone she can visit, or who can visit her, to do those things does seem like an essential service, because without it health issues can arise.  

My mother normally has an aide that we pay OOP to come help with personal care.  While we have opted not to have her come now, she is considered essential as care for an elder is essential.  So I think you can hire someone to help your mom without issue.  Since mine is living with me, I’ve just taken over for the time being.

FYI, though, most of the aides we’ve found also work at nursing homes or assisted living centers.  I would be wary of them inadvertently spreading  CV, for now.

Pre-CV we paid any where from $10 to $17 an hour for private aides.  A service is more in the $27 an hour around here.

[Carol in Cal.]

I don't think they are essential right now, but I sure would like to see mine.  

I am buying products from her to financially support her at this time.  Ditto my waxing person.  

OK, ditto my local yarn shop and local indie bookstore, both of which are more expensive than other online options but I want them to be around when this is all over.

In my neighborhood, a hair stylist snuck someone in and cut their hair by request, and then they turned her in and she lost her license.  Nastiest thing ever.

Edited April 18, 2020 by Carol in Cal.

[HSmomof2]

6 hours ago, Quill said:

I thought people who get pedicures for medically necessary reasons went to podiatrists, not nail salons. I guess I may be wrong about that but that was what I thought. My mother cannot maintain her own feet, but goes to the podiatrist. 

My parents also see the podiatrist monthly for their feet, and theirs is covered by Medicare. 

[KeriJ]

Then there's my dh who has to preach on youtube every week and none of us are any good at cutting hair!! 😬 We're getting a little desperate.🤪

[Guest]

22 minutes ago, KeriJ said:

Then there's my dh who has to preach on youtube every week and none of us are any good at cutting hair!! 😬 We're getting a little desperate.🤪

Oh, he can go for that quarantine hair! Gives him the common touch! 

[Guest]

2 hours ago, CuriousMomof3 said:

 

My mother lives too far away for me to provide that kind of care in person.  

 

The bolded is why I'd be much more comfortable with her hairdresser, who she knows and has a relationship with and who isn't seeing many other clients.  

Also, my mother, like many elderly people, pushes back on anything that seems specific to elderly people.  For example, she recently remodeled her bathroom.  Since she plans to keep "aging in place", I suggested that, perhaps, she should have them install a roll in shower.  She was horrified that I would think of such a thing!  Why we she want something associated with wheelchairs?  The contractor who did the remodel told her that "beach entry" showers were trendy now and might increase the resale value of her apartment.  She thought that was a great idea!  When she told me, I wanted to send the guy flowers or something!  

So, selling her on the idea of having a "beautician" visit her would be much easier than a "health aide".  

I wonder if maybe a home health care agency could send out people to provide these services, and maybe provide an outlet for some of the beauticians and nail techs to work, too. That wouldn't have the overlap with retirement communities and would be a way of limiting the population a bit. 

Edited April 18, 2020 by dmmetler

[mom2scouts]

6 hours ago, Dreamergal said:

This whole thing has made me re-examine a lot of "essential services" we take for granted.

I have a hair color person, a mani pedi person, my eye brow threading person, a person who does our lawn and garden, a regular hair cutting place, butcher from an Arabic store, fishmonger from the Asian store, a regular Indian store we go get our pulses, rice and spices. We also go out and eat to a lot of restaurants of different types of cuisine and so we have lots of favorites.

I have always cooked at home and now find myself cooking all the time. I could do that I suppose for a while, there are a lot of recipes on line about every type of cuisine and honestly it is good for us, both money wise and health wise. But I absolutely miss them. I was trying to figure out what I missed and cooking every single day is a part of it. Some people might, not me. But I miss the people more.

We get our groceries delivered by Amazon, we order them from Whole Foods. The produce and the meat look better, but it has showed me something I took so much for granted. We can very well cut our own meat or fish, but there is something about someone who greets you with a smile, wishes you namaste and asks 'The Usual' ? Apparently I am a really boring person who has 'the usual' wherever I go, be it shops or restaurants we frequent often. 

I am big on social distancing for our family even if shutdowns are lifted for a variety of reasons. But I think about what will be acceptable risks. The people that come to mind are my butcher, fishmonger, the proprietor of the sushi place who gives a deep bow to my daughter, smiles and says 'arigato' every time that makes her giggle, the waitress who brings us extra ginger and spicy mayo without asking, the pho place that knows the list of condiments we like, our local breakfast place which makes my favorite poached eggs. I could go on and on.

As for hair, I bought a hair color kit off of amazon and my husband colored it for me. It is back to being jet black. I started going to a hair color person because I wanted highlights. I really do not need highlights and I can always color my hair at home, but what I miss is the head massage or the way she always adjusts the water temperature the way I like it without asking. I don't have a "usual" when it comes to hair color, but what I miss are the unspoken things she knows about me. She reminds me of my grandmother in my native country who used to give me an oil message in my head. It is one of the most pampering experiences of my life. My eye brow threading person who has always done my eyebrows. It is an absolute indulgence, but I will rather wait for her and grow like eye brows like caterpillars when I have threaded them since my teens. Our yard guy comes like clockwork and keeps it tidy even when we are on vacation for we might risk a nasty fine from the HOA. 

I realize all this is an enormous privilege and these are not 'essential services', but they are essential to me. If I will ever risk it and venture out it is for these people. I will mask and glove and find a way. For when the world is safe again I want these people and places to survive and until then I will pay them whatever I can even if I get no service.

 

This is one of those times I'm glad we are very low maintenance and don't have the money for many of the things other people think are ALMOST essential.😂 We go to a cheap hair cutting place and I've never had my hair professionally colored, I've never had waxing (and I don't even know what brow threading is), I've never had a mani/pedi, we get all our groceries from the locally owned grocery store,  and we rarely eat out. We do all our own yardwork, but we don't take vacations or have a HOA to worry about either. In my case, it's easy to answer that beauty services aren't essential because I'm not really missing anything.

[Carol in Cal.]

37 minutes ago, mom2scouts said:

This is one of those times I'm glad we are very low maintenance and don't have the money for many of the things other people think are ALMOST essential.😂 We go to a cheap hair cutting place and I've never had my hair professionally colored, I've never had waxing (and I don't even know what brow threading is), I've never had a mani/pedi, we get all our groceries from the locally owned grocery store,  and we rarely eat out. We do all our own yardwork, but we don't take vacations or have a HOA to worry about either. In my case, it's easy to answer that beauty services aren't essential because I'm not really missing anything.

I'm pretty low maintenance, too.  No facials, no haircuts (the last time I had my hair cut was about 25 years ago), no nail care.  I get my hair colored because my hair is such a big part of my identity, and plus it makes me look younger.  I started getting my legs waxed when shaving made regrowth itch so much that I was scratching my legs bloody in my sleep.  Not trying DIY for that!

[DesertBlossom]

7 hours ago, EmseB said:

I keep thinking about this question. I mean, every job is essential to the person who does it to keep food on the table. There are precious few people on the earth who have jobs for fun. When we say something isn't an essential service...well that's probably the majority of the American economy.

No one needs a haircut ever, but saying someone's livelihood isn't essential is kinda privileged. I guess they can all go work at Amazon or Costco because heaven knows those services are still essential to those of us blessed to still have an income.

Thank you for this. 

I keep thinking and asking myself...  if I knew that COVID would kill me and that shutting down the economy would prevent ME from catching it, how many other people's livelihoods would I be okay with obliterating to save my life? And honestly, I can't say that I would be comfortable asking that of anyone, including family and friends. 

I am okay with social distancing. Some level of precaution is okay. But forcing business to shut their doors because they aren't "essential" is just mind boggling. Those jobs are essential to someone. 

[ktgrok]

20 hours ago, SKL said:

While my kids and I have no need, I do think some people need this more than we "need" certain things that aren't restricted.

A lot of my fb friends have teen boys and have no idea how to cut their hair.  I don't see anything wrong with them getting a haircut from someone who knows how.  I am sure it could be done safely if everyone was careful.  There are a lot of other things going on that no less up-close-and-personal.

What other things are going on legally that are that up close and personal? I'm curious, lol

15 hours ago, KeriJ said:

Then there's my dh who has to preach on youtube every week and none of us are any good at cutting hair!! 😬 We're getting a little desperate.🤪

Honestly, a buzz cut on a guy is easy. I'm TERRIBLE at cutting hair, no hand eye coordination, but I can give my son a buzz cut with clippers. Wont' be fancy, but won't look bad, and an older guy looks fine in a buzz cut. Youtube has the tutorials. Watch once, right down the instructions regarding which guard to put on for which parts, watch a again, then cut with paper in hand. 

10 hours ago, DesertBlossom said:

Thank you for this. 

I keep thinking and asking myself...  if I knew that COVID would kill me and that shutting down the economy would prevent ME from catching it, how many other people's livelihoods would I be okay with obliterating to save my life? And honestly, I can't say that I would be comfortable asking that of anyone, including family and friends. 

I am okay with social distancing. Some level of precaution is okay. But forcing business to shut their doors because they aren't "essential" is just mind boggling. Those jobs are essential to someone. 

But the flipside of that is, if I knew that me getting a haircut or my husband not having his salary cut or his job at risk would kill a certain number of people, would I be okay with that? I can't see asking those people to give up their lives for me to have financial security or a hair cut. 

[ktgrok]

I do think that we will eventually need to have people who are in corporate jobs be able to get haircuts, and old ladies have their hair washed and toe nails cleaned. 

Meanwhile, I ordered thinning shears to have DH cut mine, but they were out of the people version so he's going to cut my hair with dog grooming scissors, lol. 

[marbel]

3 hours ago, Ktgrok said:

<snip>

Honestly, a buzz cut on a guy is easy. I'm TERRIBLE at cutting hair, no hand eye coordination, but I can give my son a buzz cut with clippers. Wont' be fancy, but won't look bad, and an older guy looks fine in a buzz cut. Youtube has the tutorials. Watch once, right down the instructions regarding which guard to put on for which parts, watch a again, then cut with paper in hand. 

<snip>

I've been buzzing my husband's hair for about 12 years.   It's fine, pretty much foolproof. 

He buzzed my son as well. (I have not been allowed near my son's head with cutting implements since he was 4 and I accidentally nicked his ear.)  Did that till the boy left for college in August, and the kid hasn't had his hair cut since. He has beautiful, full, thick, soft hair. Not sure how long he will go on with letting it grow out but now is his time to let it happen. 

Every now and then my husband or daughter hacks off the bottom of my hair, and I selectively snip away the ends of the layers. It's not awesome but no one is seeing me anyway. I just went to Great Clips for my haircuts anyway.  

[SKL]

3 hours ago, Ktgrok said:

But the flipside of that is, if I knew that me getting a haircut or my husband not having his salary cut or his job at risk would kill a certain number of people, would I be okay with that? I can't see asking those people to give up their lives for me to have financial security or a hair cut. 

Both parties washing with soap before & after, wiping down the chair, using a gloves and masks and a new comb (they always do here anyway), and not trying to be too fancy should be sufficient to make this a safe procedure if it's one customer at a time.

Right now most of the people I know are still working, including contact with people - for some, a lot of contact.  Getting one haircut every x weeks is not going to cause a spike in cases, provided people are careful.

[sassenach]

Not essential unless you consider their ability to feed their family as essential. Not now, but at some point in the near future, we are going to have to figure out what measures to take to allow people to get back to work safely.

[sassenach]

19 hours ago, KeriJ said:

Then there's my dh who has to preach on youtube every week and none of us are any good at cutting hair!! 😬 We're getting a little desperate.🤪

LOL same!! Dh is getting desperate enough that I think he's going to let me take the clippers to his head.

[EmseB]

5 minutes ago, SKL said:

Both parties washing with soap before & after, wiping down the chair, using a gloves and masks and a new comb (they always do here anyway), and not trying to be too fancy should be sufficient to make this a safe procedure if it's one customer at a time.

Right now most of the people I know are still working, including contact with people - for some, a lot of contact.  Getting one haircut every x weeks is not going to cause a spike in cases, provided people are careful.

I hate to sound cavalier because I know this makes me pro-death or whatever, and maybe this is a different thread, but until there is a vaccine and maybe even after that, there will be spikes in cases, haircuts or not, especially as long as mass transit is running in any given city. I am starting to worry that any spike in cases going forward is going to be seen as some kind of failure of policy instead of what happens when there's contagious virus endemic in the population.

[TravelingChris]

On 4/18/2020 at 7:41 AM, teachermom2834 said:

I have heard it explained that the definition of “essential” is going to slowly change to include more and more workers in stages until everyone is essential. So the definition of essential isn’t exactly going to mean what we understand the dictionary definition of essential to mean. 

I am sure nail salons and dance studios will eventually be deemed essential even though we all know they are not life sustaining.

Hair salons totally not essential for me but I do think that before long some people really will “need” access to a barber. My dad is 72 years old amd lives alone and still works a professional job. He isn’t going to cut his own hair decently or rock a man bun. 

In full disclosure, I am of the opinion that at this point in the situation, in my geographic area,  if my hairdresser and I both were seemingly well and wanted to mask up and take that risk I think that would be reasonable. But I realize I am in the minority on that opinion. There will be something that, to me, feels worth the risk that others would deem unnecessary. 

It won’t be high on my list to return to the salon but we all have a different hierarchy of needs and things we value. 

Yes if we both had N95 or equivalent N95 masks and were wearing them correctly.