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Capital Region Barbershops And Hair Salons Reopen

Today was a long-awaited day for the shaggy among us as Capital Region hair salons and barbershops opened their doors for the first time since coronavirus shutdowns began in March.

Now in phase two of New York’s four-phase coronavirus reopening plan, area hair salons and barber shops are posting “Wear A Mask” signs, marking six foot distances on floors, and getting back to business.

Joey Federico owns The Barber Parlor on Central Avenue. He says the reopening comes with big changes.

“We are open,” Federico said. “We’re excited. We are sanitized clean. We’re checking everybody’s thermometer. Everyone’s wearing a face mask, face shield, disposable capes. Everybody’s waiting in the car who doesn’t have an appointment.”

Federico says he is not cutting hair for the first two weeks so that he can oversee the new safety precautions. He is the only employee allowed to handle cash right now.

The most common complaint?

“They took beards away from us. Shaves away from us. Which is a big part of our business,” Federico said. “It’s like going to a restaurant and you can only have the appetizers not the rest of the menu.”

At his shop on New Scotland Avenue, Joe Ritmo says it’s just nice to have his clients back. Many have been seeing him for over 40 years. He came to the U.S. from Italy in 1962 and says cutting hair is not a job, it’s the best part of his day.

Ritmo says he started wearing a mask even before the shutdown on March 22 and since barbershops are supposed to be clean, he doesn’t mind the added precautions.

Wearing a blue surgical mask, Mike Plotzker was getting his first trim in three months.

“You know he’s been cutting my hair for 49 years,” Plotzker said.

Ritmo’s shop is small so he is taking one client at a time and keeps the door locked to prevent walk-ins.

Rosanna De Leo of Mani De Leo Hair Salon on Western Avenue was giving a full cut, color, and foil to a client Wednesday morning.

“The works!”

That’s Mary Ellen Evertsen – she says she hasn’t had her hair done since March 1 and when the governor announced the reopening of salons yesterday –

“I clapped,” Evertsen said. “I come every two weeks for a haircut so it’s been bad.”

Preparing for clients, De Leo says she spent the past week sanitizing, bleaching surfaces, and ordering supplies online because the local retailers are all closed. De Leo rents the salon to one other stylist.

“And we are going to work opposite schedules,” De Leo said. “I’m working during the day – she’s going to be working at night.”

De Leo says more than the constant washing of the capes or the sanitizing of stations, the masks are the greatest challenge because it makes the interaction impersonal.

“It’s very difficult to wear this mask because we do like to talk,” De Leo said. “We do like to catch up. It’s not just about the hair it’s about the families - about recipes - about everything.”

De Leo says as hair salons and barbershops are opening up, the best way Capital Region residents can help is to be patient.

“Just – let’s all work together in this because it’s not the salon’s doing it’s the state,” De Leo said. “The state wants us to do this. And let’s just abide by what they want us to do until we don’t have to do it anymore. Until this virus runs its course here.” 

All the barbershops and hair salons featured in this story say they’ve taken a financial hit due to the shutdown – but they also say they are now booked solid for the next three weeks. 

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