, despite Kemp's order. “We have public health officials, scientists, and experts who are saying that for us to get through this pandemic and for us to get to the other side of this crisis, we have to socially distance,” Bottoms says “What I expect to see is that some people simply will not listen. Some people will go into hair salons and get manicures and pedicures as if it’s business as usual, and I expect that in a couple of weeks, we will see our numbers continue to rise in this state.
Though Kent’s order legally permits salons to open, Bottoms put it simply for Atlanta residents: “Stay home,” she says. “Nothing has changed. People are still dying. We’ve got to get money into the pockets of people who are concerned about putting food on their tables and paying their rent. That’s where we should be putting our energy.”"I understand that my service is essential to many people, but assisting in the spread of COVID-19 is not one of my priorities.
It's left many beauty pros with a dilemma: To reopen or not to reopen?"It's a hard situation because I am a single mother and the sole provider for my family," says, hairstylist and owner of Z Chic Salon."I don't have a lot of the help that people with spouses and wealthy parents might, so it's up to me to take care of myself and my son."
Cook’s circumstances have left her considering reopening sooner rather than later. “When the stay-at-home order was put in place, I paused services for booking until April 29th,” she says. “I still intend to allow clients to book services as of the 29th.” For her, sanitation and safety measures are something that she says licensed hairstylists should already be trained to practice, but the most significant adjustment will be servicing one client at a time.