ROCKINGHAM — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper called for several types of businesses to shut down — including hair salons — during a press conference Monday, and locally that has many local hair stylists facing mixed emotions.
It also had their salons trying to cram in as many clients as possible before the official closing time of 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
“We’ve been doing the ones we had scheduled for this week and next week, but we’ve had to take the ones that we had down already — people that already had appointments,” said Head 2 Toe Beauty Salon owner Leslie Simmons. “We’ve also had a lot of walk-ins, and we’ve had to turn away a lot.”
With basically only two days between Cooper’s announcement and the Wednesday deadline, Simmons said what other stylists were saying: it was short notice.
“We didn’t have as much time to try and get in as many people as we could. We’re sad about leaving, but we know we’ve got to do it,” she said. “Today (Wednesday), it’s been so hectic we haven’t really had time to sit down and think about it, but I’m sure when we leave here tonight we might start crying.”
In downtown Rockingham, Creative Hair Design on East Washington Street saw similar waves of people trying to get haircuts, perms, colorings and any other services they might have to be without for the foreseeable future.
“Everybody’s trying to get in. We’re sad, hectic, spraying a lot of Lysol,” said stylist Jessica White.
One booth down from White, Charlene Grant said the situation was “pitiful,” and with not much of a notice, it was hard for them to get a month’s worth of people in in just three days.
“Our clients have been very supportive of us,” she added.
Creative Hair Design owner Wendy Fulp simply said, “Everybody’s panicking.”
For most hair stylists, this is their only source of income. This is their only means of getting money and with an unknown future of when they’ll be back to work, many are indeed nervous and scared because they can’t provide their services anywhere else.
The North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Arts Examiners prevents hair stylists and barbers from cutting hair anywhere but a licensed shop. Cutting hair at home would be against the statute and the new executive order from Cooper.
Georgie Adkins, a stylist at Halo Salon in Rockingham, said she stayed a lot of late nights until 8 p.m. trying to accommodate everyone and not leave anyone out.
“This past week until now reminded me kind of like the holidays. Everyone trying to get in before Christmas,” Adkins said. “Last night (Tuesday) we all decorated the windows of hearts for hope. Today (Wednesday) everyone packed in as many people as possible, cleaned the shop well and said our goodbyes until all this mess is over. It’s devastating not knowing when we will be able to go back to work. I am going to miss my clients.”
Still, others are trying to look on the bright side.
“We know this is only temporary, and it too shall pass,” said Head 2 Toe stylist Toni Caulder. “We have faith, and we have some of the best clients around. They will come back, and we’ll be busier than ever.”
