California Protests To #OpenSalonsNow: Find One Near You
California Stylists Protest To Get Back To Work
California hairdressers are fed up. Some stylists have been unable to legally work for half a year, and even when salons were permitted to briefly reopen after the state’s initial lockdown, they were forced to shut down again or move operations outside.
At this point, California stylists are having to make tough decisions and with no end in sight to the current shutdown, they are demanding to be heard. Protests have sprung up around the state, with more planned in the coming days. If you have details on a protest that isn’t listed below, please send info to press@behindthechair.com.
Danville
Monday, Aug. 10 at 10 am
Intersection of Diablo Road & Hartz Avenue
Costa Mesa
Monday, Aug. 10 at 5 pm
Corner of Bristol & Sunflower across from South Coast Plaza
Escondido
Tuesday, Aug. 11 at noon
201 N. Broadway – City Hall
Sacramento
Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 1 pm
California State Capitol Building
“Bring signs, dollhead, tripod, clippers or shears.”
Los Angeles
Wednesday, Aug. 12 at noon
Wilshire Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Boulevard
Upland
Sunday, Aug. 16 at 2 pm
80 E Foothill Blvd
San Diego
Monday, Aug. 17 at 1 pm
2308 Kettner Blvd
“Wear all white and bring signs asking for state funding.”
Beverly Hills
Monday, Aug. 24 at 12 pm
Beverly Gardens Park
9439 Santa Monica Blvd
“Bring signs, water and please wear a mask.”
Bakersfield
Friday, Aug. 28 at 7 am
5701 Truxtun Ave. Suite 150
“Signs are encouraged, peace and professionalism is required.”
Get Up To Speed On The Issues In California
Aug. 24 Update:
On August 24, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that five more counties have been removed from the state’s COVID-19 “monitoring watchlist,” including Orange County, leaving 35 counties remaining. Although counties have been removed, businesses forced to reclose will not be permitted to reopen indoor operations until receiving further guidance from the State Health Department. During his Monday press conference, Gov. Newsom announced specific industry guidance will be announced later this week. To watch this press briefing, click here.
Here’s what’s happening in California: Salons were closed for months during the state’s first lockdown, then some counties were permitted to reopen for a few weeks before Calif. Gov. Newsom said salons in certain counties would need to re-close. Days later, Gov. Newsom gave the OK for salons to work outside, but the California State Board of Cosmetology & Barbering said working outside was illegal. Then, the State Board said it WOULD permit outdoor services, but would prohibit any service that requires chemicals or shampooing.
Now, in the 38 California counties on the state “watch list” for coronavirus concerns, stylists must choose between taking clients outside for very limited services, or not working and waiting it out—again. Others are choosing to take clients in secret and risk their licenses, while others are reopening in defiance of government orders.
These prohibitions came after salons and barbershops invested significant money into ensuring their spaces met and exceeded state COVID-19 protocols. For example, Robert Cromeans estimated that he spent close to $20,000 preparing his salon for socially distant and safe services before having to close again and figure out how to invest more money into a compliant outdoor space.
“Our licensed professionals feel like they had been singled out yet again for unfair restraint. Our salons have invested tens of thousands of dollars in upgrading their establishments…And we’ve made those investments following three months of no income during the initial lockdown. To be told now to close those safe shops and bring our shears and buffers outside under a tent…is a slap in our face. Our licensed population of mostly female owned and operated businesses, many of whom are persons of color and first generation immigrants, feel that we have literally been ‘kicked to the curb’ to make financial ends meet,” the Professional Beauty Federation of California said in a statement.
And at almost the same time Gov. Newsom announced salons would need to shut down again, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention released a study demonstrating how two coronavirus-positive hairdressers worked while wearing masks and did not transmit the virus to any of their 139 clients. Click here to read the study.
