Many Ottawa hairstylists sticking with original Step 2 reopening date

Many in the personal care industry are feeling uneasy about the province entering Step 2 of its COVID-19 reopening plan a few days early.

As a result, many businesses represented by the Ontario Professional Hairstylists Association (OPHA) are sticking to the province's original reopening date of July 5.

“I mean people are ready to get back to work, the industry is ready to get back, I think that the earlier date [of June 30] has sparked mixed feelings for many hair stylists, considering that it's only a day earlier because of the Canada Day holiday,” said Tanya Hill, Vice-President of the OPHA. “We've been moved [reopening dates] about four times since May 20, some salons find that it's a lot of work, because you're not moving one day, you're moving six to eight weeks of clients.”

Many of the salons in Ottawa and across Ontario will be opening on different dates, between June 30 and July 6. Hill explained that the scattered reopening is the result of the mixed messaging from the government. 

Even her own salon won't be fully open on June 30. Hill told CityNews that she will be opening her doors on the earlier date but only as a soft opening. 

“This summer we're going to be playing catch up, we'll be working six or seven days a week, 12-hour days to see as many clients as possible, most of us won't see July or August,” she said. 

Under the Step 2 of the provincial reopening, hair salons are only able to operate at 25 per cent capacity. The OPHA Vice-President thinks that will likely make it difficult for salons to see as many clients as they would like.

Hill explained that the OPHA will continue to advocate for reducing the COVID-19 capacity limits with the hope of being able to operate at 100 per cent capacity as soon as possible.