OLATHE, Kan. — Salons that house aesteheticians, hair dressers and massage therapists are trying to get back to normal — well, a new normal.
"That was really hard to make that decision to stop working and stop making money," Michaela Herron, an aesthetician in Olathe, said.
Herron's second day back to at the salon was Tuesday and she said she's hard at work trying to protect, not only her clients, but herself from the coronavirus. She's wearing a glove and mask at all times.
"That was the tough part, trying to find all of our supplies," Herron said, "just because everything was sold out."
Professionals who give facials get very close to their clients, a potentially scary proposition as they return to work during a pandemic.
"It's a little nerve-racking, but I feel if I do what I am suppose to do ... and take the extra precautions, hopefully we will all be fine," Herron said.
It's nerve-racking because she has a family at home and hopes she does not to contract the virus and pass it on to them.
"It's always on my mind, but I have to work," Herron said.
Doctors have been warning people for months to avoid touching their face, which begs the question if it's safe to allow someone else to touch your face.
"It depends on a little bit on the person," Dr. Sarah Boyd with St. Luke's Hospital said. "So, if someone is still in those high-risk categories, that may be the time to stop and think about do I really need to do this activity?"
Boyd is an infectious disease doctor and suggested people ask plenty of questions before receiving these types of personal grooming services.
"Social distancing or knowing how many people are going to be in the facility, trying to limit that interaction, those are all important steps you can take," Boyd said.
Herron said the adjustments have been tough at first, but she understands why they have to be done.
"Eventually, we all have to go back to somewhat of a normal lifestyle, so we have to start somewhere," she said.
We've created a Facebook group, We're Open Kansas City, where members of the community can post businesses serving their community.
