Stylists frustrated over late opening date
HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. – Stylists at Bellezza Beauty Salon & Med Spa in Hendersonville will be able to open May 6, as are other “close contact businesses” in most of Tennessee. This has many stylists relieved, but also concerned for what comes next.
The stylists said they’re excited to open, but frustrated that restaurants, gyms, and retail stores got to open first.
“Gyms tend to have a tremendous amount of bacteria people don’t wipe down equipment like they should,” Lois Burnett, owner of Bellezza Salon and Spa said.
She said they sanitize all their equipment after every client, and said they put additional measures in place before state guidelines came down.
She and her team also picketed in front of the capitol Monday, and sent emails to the governor’s office every day.
Burnett wants to avoid another shutdown, like this one, when another pandemic comes our way.
“I do hope during all of this that they have learned enough to guide us through the next time, so that our economy does not just come to a complete halt,” Burnett said.
FOX 17 News reporter Rachel Tiede reached out to the governor’s office by phone and email to ask why gyms were able to open before salons. FOX 17 has not received a response yet.
But Governor Lee did say additional guidelines for salons and other “close contact businesses” will come by the end of the week.
“We know that for these businesses, things like masks are especially important because of the close contact that employees have with customers,” Lee said during his Wednesday press conference.
As for the stylists at Bellezza, business will look a little different when they open with temperature screenings, gloves, masks, and clients waiting appointments outside.
“They’re going to have to expect that things are going to be a little different,” Burnett said.
