NEW RULES TAKEN AT FACE VALUE
Pa. says you can now get facial, shave or beard trim
It’s been more than four months since salons, day spas and barbers across Pennsylvania were permitted to go back to work following Gov. Tom Wolf’s mandated shutdown.
But it’s been far from business as usual. Facials, shaves, beard trims and other face- related services that would involve a client removing a face mask were off the table until this month, when the State Board of Cosmetology updated its COVID- 19 guidelines.
Now, these procedures can be performed as long as the service provider has a negative COVID- 19 test and clients’ temperatures are not above 100.4 degrees. The employee performing the service must wear a face covering with goggles or a shield in addition to any other required face coverings. Clients must wear a face covering at all times except when necessary for the service.
“The Department of State, the Department of Health and the Governor’s Office have been aware of concerns from estheticians regarding facials and from barbers regarding shaving for several months,” a spokesperson with the Pennsylvania Department of State told the Post- Gazette in an emailed statement. “The three agencies have been working together to monitor COVID- 19 and factors related to virus spread, as well as listening to the concerns and ideas from the cosmetology and barber communities on how they can safely practice while mitigating the spread of COVID- 19.”
Salon and spa professionals said they’re thrilled to be able to offer facials again, particularly estheticians who haven’t been working since March. However, questions linger.
“I’m so excited for estheticians that this is happening,”
“We’re going to show this industry that we can do this safely, and we do deserve to be open.” Ava Kerschbaumer
said Ava Kerschbaumer, founder, CEO and spa director at ESSpa Kozmetika in Aspinwall, which she operates with her husband, Scott. “All the thousands of estheticians who haven’t been working, I’m heartbroken for them. We’re going to show this industry that we can do this safely, and we do deserve to be open.”
Some say the change in guidelines may keep them in business. Elaine Gustafson, owner of Emilaine Skincare Studio in McCandless, said she was planning to close at
the end of October until the restrictions on facials were lifted.
“Facials are 75% of my business. I can’t make up seven months worth of business. There’s no way,” she said. “But I’m going to give it a go. I really couldn’t see closing that door behind me for the last time.”
For barbers, being able to offer beard trims and shaves again means welcoming back some clients they haven’t seen since early March.
“It’s good to see them,” said Michael Beckadic, who owns House of Handsome Barbershop and Boutique in Dormont.
His business was not affected as much as some, he noted. The demand for haircuts after a nearly threemonth shutdown has kept him busy over the summer. But others were not so lucky. David Peters graduated from barber school in April when barbershops and salons were closed.
“It’s difficult to build a clientele when you’re not able to do beards. It limits the amount of money you can bring in on a service,” he said.
He’s gotten creative with scalp treatments to try to fill in these gaps at The House of Kutz in Dormont.
Some salons and barbershops questioned the State Board of Cosmetology’s timeline on changing guidelines. When many counties in Pennsylvania were cleared June 5 to move into the green phase — the least restrictive level in Gov. Wolf’s tiered COVID- 19 reopening plan — salons, day spas and barbershops were able to reopen. But nearly two weeks later, these businesses were informed that they could not provide any services that involved a client removing a face mask at any point. That was still allowed in dentist’s, dermatologist’s and plastic surgeon’s offices.
“Of course, we were stunned. I had to cancel thousands of dollars in services coming up and had bought hundreds of dollars” of personal protective equipment, Ms. Gustafson said. “In the meantime in Pennsylvania, if you’re in a doctor’s office and you want to get lip injections or Botox, feel free to take your mask off.”
Michele Garris, a licensed esthetician who owns Pure Skin Care Center in Robinson, agreed.
“If it’s safe to go see a dentist for a cleaning, it’s as safe to get a facial since we use the exact COVID precaution protocol.”
Although they’re unclear about why these restrictions were lifted now, business owners are grateful that they were.
“It’s kind of crazy to me because nothing has actually changed to be like, ‘ Oh, now [ you] can do it,’” said Christie Ford, owner and an esthetician at Pittsburgh Beauty Bar on the South Side. “It’s just like one day they decided to open us back up.”
She and others said they didn’t hear directly from the State Board of Cosmetology about the changes.
“I found out from a group of salon owners in an Instagram [ direct message] I was in,” Ms. Ford said. “Typically, I would expect that if the state board has means of communicating with us through email when they let us know our license is expiring and needs to be renewed, they should be informing us about this.”
Ms. Kerschbaumer said she has been doing research for months on how to do facials safely again, checking best practices in other states and countries. Many owners interviewed for this story said they are eliminating steam from facials for now to prevent the spread of airborne particles. They’ll also ask clients to not talk while their masks are briefly removed. They continue to operate by appointment and at limited capacity with lots and lots of cleaning. Snacks and beverages are out, too.
Barbers said they’re taking similar precautions.
“I think it makes my clients feel safe, and it also definitely makes my staff feel safe,” Mr. Beckadic said.
Some are taking their time easing back into things. Adam Castleforte said straight- razor shaves are still on hold at his business, Alder Street Barber in Shadyside. He’s figured out how to do beard touchups by having clients undo ear straps on masks while still keeping their mouths covered.
“Even with the lighter regulations, I’m going to continue being cautious,” he said, noting that some members of his family are elderly and immunocompromised. “This is not only for my comfort, but I think a lot of people are still kind of concerned.”
Despite the challenges their industry has faced, many salon and spa professionals are trying to find a silver lining in it all. Ms. Kerschbaumer said some of the extra safety precautions have actually enhanced her business, and she plans to keep some of them even after the threat of COVID- 19 diminishes.
“As I learn so much about viruses and cleaning solutions, I am actually more educated,” she said. “Our industry will be better at this and stronger.”