The Salon by Natasha Lynn Brletrick

Here are the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology COVID Guidelines. Customers must wait outside until I’m ready for them. I’m to remove waiting room furniture. Must sanitize hands upon entering the salon. Masks required for staff and customers. Eye protection for staff while washing hair. No magazines, books, ect. No more candy dish . No lip waxing. I have been extremely lenient in the past about being late for your appointment. I can no longer do that as I can only have ...one client at a time in the salon. If you are late i can’t just let you hang out until I can fit you in in between others. I also can’t infringe upon the persons appointment time after you because you are late. I’m very sorry if you don’t agree with these rules. I didn’t make the rules. I’m a state licensed business if I don’t follow the rules I can have my license suspended or terminated and fined. See more

Salons in various parts of Pennsylvania have been open 2-3wks. The State Board did not give any official guidelines prior to opening. I had conversations with other salon owners about this over the past month. It was confusing to all of us. Going from what other states had implemented I figured most of these guidelines would be in place and prepared for most all of them. Then we had no official letter or email or website posting. For me it’s just a matter of printing signs with the correct wording on them. I still don’t understand why we were allowed to open without any guidelines. Why couldn’t we have had this a month ago to be fully prepared. Here are the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology COVID Guidelines.

Just a quick update for my customers. Even though the county is going Yellow Friday and the county commissioners & D.A. have said they will not enforce the Governor’s orders I still can not open legally until we move into the Green Phase. I am licensed through the state. Salons have to be inspected at least once a year. These inspections are unannounced. If I am working in the salon against the orders I could get fined or my license suspended or both. There has been a barber... shop and restaurant within 6 miles of me that have had state reprimands recently. Any business that has a state held license is held accountable to the state and not the county. I had a county Commissioner confirm this to me. As much as I want to get back in the salon I can not afford a fine. I don’t want any suspensions against my license. Please be patient with my business following the mandate. Once the salon is up and running there will be state mandated social distancing and sanitation measures in place. As a cosmetologist and cosmetology teacher I have learned and taught strict sanitation rules for 30yrs. The State Board of Cosmetology hold us to very high standards of sanitation as we touch people often without gloves on for haircuts, shampooing, manicures, pedicures, ect. We have always used hospital grade cleaners. The changes specific to Pennsylvania have not been announced yet. From what other states are doing I can give you a little bit of insight on what you can expect. Washing your hands immediately upon entering the salon, no common waiting areas ( waiting in your car until you called or text to come in ), a 15 minute interval between each client for cleaning of every non porous surface, no candy dishes or snacks provided by the salon, no magazines or books. Salons providing disposable masks, and having more service capes on hand. In Connecticut they aren’t allowed to blow dry hair in the salon as of now. Some states are requiring things such as the stylist wearing disposable aprons and changing them between each client. Once again we have no idea on Pennsylvania’s specifics yet. In preparation I’ve already ordered some disposable masks and more capes so I will be as prepared as possible when we go to Green Phase. See more

I just ordered 20 new hair cutting capes to be prepared for when the salon is able to be open again. I miss all my customers who I count as my friends. Hope to see everyone soon

Thank you Alyssa Mills for your 14inch hair donation to Wigs for Kids