An unemployed Washington man drove more 600 miles to get a $20 haircut in a California county after local officials decided to open salons...
An unemployed Washington man drove more 600 miles to get a $20 haircut in a California county after local officials decided to open salons earlier than Governor Gavin Newsom's Phase 2 plan for reopening.
J Farr, a 28-year-old living in Olympia, Washington, made the arduous journey to Butte House Barber in Sutter County on Tuesday.
Farr decided to make the trip in his Volkswagen Jetta after a friend from his hometown in Yuba City, California, also shared that he had gotten a haircut there.
'I immediately started making preparations,' Farr explained to the Los Angeles Times.
J Farr, a 28-year-old living in Olympia, Washington, made the arduous journey to Butte House Barber in Sutter County on Tuesday
'When I got in there it was exactly what I had hoped for,' Farr said (pictured in Feb). 'I've been isolated for the last three months and that's the first time I had that type of social interaction in that period. It's a really good feeling to feel like there's other people in the world who aren't going to sit inside in fear when there's nothing to be afraid of'
Farr, who lost his job as a paint sprayer, considered shaving his own head prior to the cut.
'When I got in there it was exactly what I had hoped for,' he said. 'I've been isolated for the last three months and that's the first time I had that type of social interaction in that period. It's a really good feeling to feel like there's other people in the world who aren't going to sit inside in fear when there's nothing to be afraid of.'
People from neighboring counties and other states have been making the long treks to salons in Sutter and Yuba counties. In early May, officials from the counties allowed fitness centers, shopping malls, tattoo parlors, hair and nail salons and other businesses to reopen.
Officials argued that the counties have been less affected by the pandemic than other areas in the state.
Some salons are still taking extra steps to ensure that they won't lose their licenses by making customers wait in their cars and limiting contact with professionals to roughly 30 minutes.
Shop owners are trying to meet the overwhelming demand the best that they can.
'I am cutting people's hair from out of state, from San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Martinez, Fresno, Madera, Redding, Reno,' said Wes Heryford, owner of the Butte House Barber Shop. 'There's not very many options and people are excited that there is someone cutting hair, so they have no problem to drive three or four hours to come see us'
'I am cutting people's hair from out of state, from San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Martinez, Fresno, Madera, Redding, Reno,' said Wes Heryford, owner of the Butte House Barber Shop. 'There's not very many options and people are excited that there is someone cutting hair, so they have no problem to drive three or four hours to come see us.'
The governor gave the counties permission to move forward with Phase 2 of California's reopening plan - which does not include personal care services. The Yuba-Sutter bi-county health officer has still asserted that businesses should seek private legal county to determine whether they fit within that phase.
Still, many salon owners are concerned about possible legal ramifications. The California Board and Cosmetology has warned that it may pursue action against licenses of those who do not follow the state's stay-at-home order.
On Tuesday, the Professional Beauty Federation of California, launched a federal lawsuit hoping to reopen the industry. They've cited that the sanitation and hygiene measures and training most cosmetologists should have.
Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist at UC San Francisco, shared that the issue is with cotton masks, which do not fully protect against coronavirus transmission.
Heryford does not require his clients or barbers to wear masks
Amy Johnson, owner of Rockabetty's Hair Parlor in Yuba City, reopened so that she could support her family and staff. She already has lost out on money having let her stylist skip out on rent payments
'I think you're in very close contact and even with masks it's going to be problematic,' he said. 'It's the concern about respiratory secretions.'
Mike, a 52-year-old bread deliveryman in san Bruno, decided to make the two hour trip to Heryford's salon. Mike, who did not disclose his last name, make the 115-mile journey on his day off on Wednesday after seeing good reviews about the barbershop online.
Heryford does not require his clients or barbers to wear masks. Mike did not wear one.
'Barbers go about sanitizing their clippers, their combs, whatever tools they use,' he said. 'It's a big thing, sanitization from one customer to the next. They're very careful about it.'
Heryford stressed that it was up to his customers if they wanted to wear a mask.
The 40-year-old salon owner is taking extra steps to ensure safety by spraying shoes with disinfectant and making all who enter her salon, use hand sanitizer
In the salon, there is a marked walkway that promotes social distancing. Stylists also use a 30-minute timer and turn away requests that require more time
'I don't force anything on anybody, it's a free country as far as I'm concerned,' he said. 'It's their decision, it's their life. I myself am not afraid of the virus, so I'm not wearing a mask.'
Amy Johnson, owner of Rockabetty's Hair Parlor in Yuba City, reopened so that she could support her family and staff. She already has lost out on money having let her stylist skip out on rent payments.
The 40-year-old salon owner is taking extra steps to ensure safety by spraying shoes with disinfectant and making all who enter her salon, use hand sanitizer.
Clients and stylists sign release forms stating the parlor is not liable if they contract the virus. In the salon, there is a marked walkway that promotes social distancing. Stylists also use a 30-minute timer and turn away requests that require more time.
Johnson said that she has been getting 'tons' of customers from across the state, including many men,
She is debating whether to continue letting them come from out-of-county.
'I'm really not sure what to do,' she said. 'How am I going to say that to a person? And how am I going to enforce that?'
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