Massachusetts hair salons can reopen for appointments only as early as Memorial Day, according to the Baker administration’s reopening plan during the coronavirus pandemic.
Hair salons and barbershops are among the list of businesses that are allowed to reopen for limited services during the first phase, along with pet groomers, car washes and places of worship.
Like other businesses, hair salons and barbershops will be expected to abide by the state’s requirements for social distancing, face covering, personal protective equipment and other safety standards to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Each industry will receive a COVID-19 control plan, but businesses will not need to submit their plan to the state for approval before opening. Instead, they will have to keep the plan on hand and provide it to local officials if they face an inspection, according to the plan released Monday.
The coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 5,000 people in Massachusetts, according to the state Department of Public Health. As of Sunday, the state recorded 86,010 confirmed cases.
During that time, tens of thousands of businesses have struggled to remain afloat, awaiting assistance from the federal government’s disaster loan or the Paycheck Protection Program.
Some hair salons across Massachusetts spent weeks waiting for a response from the federal government. Hairstylists at La Ruche salon in Northborough told MassLive they did not hear back on their disaster loan applications but eventually were able to apply for unemployment benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, as many of them were self-employed.
Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia, chairwoman of the Small Business and Workforce Development Committee, said black and brown hair salon owners have struggled to obtain PPP funding, falling behind on bills as they wait for assistance. Some were approved for PPP funding but did not get enough money to cover their costs because their employees have 1099s or are undocumented.
Other small business owners Mejia has spoken with have no formal business management training and survived on their talent before the pandemic, but now they struggle to figure out their next steps.
In Boston, these businesses will receive a lifeline as they prepare to reopen. Mejia’s office is partnering with Tessi Consulting to launch a pilot program that provides free training and certification to minority- and immigrant-owned hair salon owners recovering from the non-essential business closures.
The program, which is funded by the Family Relief Fund, will select up to 60 immigrant and minority-owned beauty shops and barbershops for a 12-hour training in June. Applications are due May 26.
The training will be available between June 1 and June 12 with guidelines on business management and health guidelines from the state and the cosmetology licensing board. The participants will get technical assistance between June 12 and June 30 with the goal of all of them getting certified by the end of the month.
“My goal is to amplify concerns and provide support to the minority business community in one of the most vulnerable industries economically devastated by COVID," Mejia said. "We look forward to being able to provide sustainable relief by providing them the business knowledge while finding ways to provide financial support.”
Mejia, who was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Dorchester, ran on the platform to make sure all residents in Boston have equal access to the city’s resources and political process, including racial minorities, immigrants and young people. She said she hopes this pilot program empowers business owners to feel confident to safely and smoothly resume operations.
“I just don’t know how they’ve managed to survive this long without the basic business essentials,” Mejia said. “For us, we’re trying to get ahead of the game in making sure that we’re providing them with the training and technical assistance they’re going to need to be successful beyond COVID-19.”
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