When Sonoma County once again opened its doors to the public on January 25, residents rejoiced at the sight of some of their favorite restaurants and wineries resuming outdoor dining. Many of these businesses have been open for takeout throughout the lockdowns, and are excited themselves to usher in yet another wave of restored privileges. For businesses outside the food industry, however, the partial reopening granted by the County Department of Public Health was equally welcome, as barber shops, hair salons, and other beauty parlors had been completely shut down until the notice was issued. 

    Around Sonoma County, there are various independently owned salons which hire stylists. The stylists pay a fee, comparable to rent, to use the salon owner’s facilities as their place of work. However, at the beginning of the pandemic, many stylists took their business elsewhere, becoming private stylists and doing their job in the comfort of their own homes.

    Sheena Cleek, the owner of Santa Rosa’s Stony Point Studio has first hand experience with the closings and reopenings of salons, a process that has proven detrimental to her business. 

    “Our salon was unable to qualify for a PPP loan because I have a partnership and we have zero employees. All of our stylists and nail techs work independently. This has been a huge cost,” said Cleek.

    The inability to qualify for a PPP, or Paycheck Protection Program loan has left extreme stress on Cleek. She has had no help in paying her salons rent during the pandemic, and has experienced a lack of safety while working in her home and in the homes of her clients. Due to the constant closings and reopenings, Cleek has lost over fifty percent of her normal annual income as a stylist, and this past year was extremely difficult for her.

    Cleek also explained how too often during the pandemic, while working in the homes of others, she felt unable to use the skills she used while training to become a stylist.

    “As a cosmetologist we have sixteen  hours of training. Most of those hours are focused on sanitation and disinfecting. When we are working out of our homes and in other homes unfortunately it is harder to keep places sanitary and intern everyone becomes less protected,” said Cleek.

    Despite the drawbacks of hairstyling during the pandemic, Cleek’s business is now able to operate in its usual fashion―something that cannot be said for Petaluma’s popular music industry. Tom Gaffey, general manager of the Phoenix Theater, explains how his business model has been altered by closures of his own theater and others in the county.

    “What I found over the years is that we do better as a venue when there’s a lot of competition around. When the Mystic was going, in the 90s when it was the Mystic and the Guerneville Theater and the Cabaret in Cotati and us, it was so great. So I’m hoping that when we get to reopen that there are enough clubs that do get to come back and reopen and get themselves going” said Gaffey.

    While the county continues its wait for music venues to be granted permission to reopen, Gaffey has managed to provide local teens with a space to practice and perform their music, even in the absence of staff and a sound crew.