On Aug. 12, roughly 200 personal care professionals gathered outside the Federal Building in Westwood to peacefully protest the continued closure of all businesses providing cosmetology services. Over 600,000 licensed beauticians in the state remain unable to work. Holding signs that read “Our salons are safer inside” and “Let us work,” the crowd chanted “Open salons now!” The protest was organized by Eric Taylor, the owner of Salon Republic, a hair salon with locations in Beverly Hills, Hollywood and West Hollywood.
After Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the temporary closures of these businesses in mid-March, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) issued an updated order on June 19 allowing for personal care services such as nail salons, spas offering aesthetic and massage services and businesses providing cosmetology services to reopen at limited capacity once infection control and distancing requirements were met. However, the news was short lived. Roughly three weeks later, on July 13, Gov. Newsom’s revised health order closed the salons once more, as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continued to rise across California. On July 21, Public Health released updated protocols allowing personal care establishments, including hair salons and barber shops, to perform services outside.
