Here come the floodgates.
The announcement of outside hair services bothered me. Why are salons unsafe to work inside? If the argument is saturation, i.e. spending an hour inside an enclosed space, then why are we allowed to shop at a variety of stores? Is it our close proximity to you? Why are you allowed on a plane, sitting shoulder to shoulder with people in front and behind for hours, with recycled airflow? There is no good answer. Have I not compromised enough? Masks, plexiglass, taking temperatures, etc. Now I have to work outside? I think not!
Circumstances don’t make the man, they only reveal him to himself.
Then I thought of my Grandpa Salvatore: he spent weeks on a ship traveling here and shoveled coal into people’s furnaces in Brooklyn. He was a Mr. Fix-it and made something of himself. If I told him I refused the opportunity to work outside… that I’d rather lose my business… oh the shame I felt in that moment.
I will yet again do something I never thought I would. Is this an “extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures” scenario or a more positive note like “necessity is the mother of invention?” Either way we are going for it; it’s that or shut the doors and add our name to the growing list of business closures up and down California.
Welcome to the great outdoors!
We have set up seven chairs outside our doors... literally right outside the doors. We will be operating Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Same rules apply with masks and sanitation; just keep an open mind and pretend we are in Hawaii… until the weather changes, then it’s day by day and at your discretion. We will be there, trying our best to serve you as best we can. Please come in with that attitude so we can all maintain grace under the circumstances.
We are changing our software!
I sincerely apologize for doing this again but hope it’ll be our last transfer, as this new software aids us in transitioning to the “new normal:” providing transactions with minimal contact. We will have our own App, which should make online booking more efficient. One key feature is an automatic check-in upon arrival (based on proximity) or you can opt to manually check in on your phone. This will then notify our front desk and your stylist that you’ve arrived and if permitted, we will text you when your stylist is ready. After your service, your bill is pushed to your phone and you can choose to pay directly rather than wait in a line at the front desk.
It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.
I guess as a culture, we could point out all the things wrong but in reality, we’ve been good to each other. I know it's easy to think about that one person that refused to wear a mask or that cyclist on the trail that didn’t have one but for being locked down and with things so crazy, we prove that we are resilient. Kindness towards one another is far more powerful than upsetting each other so maybe a pat on the back for us all.
I want to thank you all in advance for being patient with our changes as we navigate through this challenging time. We pride ourselves on not only our skill and creativity in doing your hair, but also the customer service we provide. We are working hard to bring back the warm hospitality to which you’ve grown accustomed.
Finally, my condolences to all the parents/caregivers of young children who are trying to make the Zoom thing work! School starting would normally provide some freedom for you to get things done; it is so hard. I know it and truly feel for you, and bravo for making the best of it!
~ Hope you are all safe and happy ~