Just get a trim where ever you feel most comfortable. If your original stylist says anything later, just say well I took care of it myself. It is not a lie, you did, just not with him.

My stylist follows the same protocol as yours. Everyone is masked and only one client at a time. Everything is wiped down with disinfectant. What is your concern with your stylist? That he's a "social butterfly?" What does that mean - that he will pass on Covid? I'm not following why his level of socialness is a factor. As long as he wears a mask, you're the only one in his salon, and he wipes down everything, you should be fine. The only difference between him and the other one is that she cuts hair outside. What I'm picking up is that you'd really like to change to the other stylist because you think she's "very talented." If you want to switch, just do it. Have you heard from your current stylist since March? Has he checked in on you?

You'd be safe at his salon. But if you want to switch anyway, just do it. Stylists are people we hire to do a job. We aren't obligated to them to prevent hurting their feelings. Clients come and go.

You're right, someone seeing a parade of people each day is more likely to be exposed than others who don't. Having one at a time indoors isn't sufficient if the place is poorly ventilated with fresh air, as many such places are.

Find someone who will do it outside, that's much safer.

I guess I could have phrased it better than social butterfly. He is single and is out every night dining out and getting together with friends and usually gone to a tourist area on the weekends,

I have not heard from him since March. While I agree stylists are people we hire to do a job, we have become casual friends as well.

A parade of people each day? If only one at a time are allowed in at a time, and if he works eight hours a day, that's less than eight people in a day. I guess it depends how you define a "parade."

Ah, so he has more opportunities to be exposed to Covid. Going out a lot and going to tourist areas. He can be carrying the virus and still be asymptomatic. I'd opt for the stylist who will cut hair outside.

"He is single and is out every night dining out and getting together with friends and usually gone to a tourist area on the weekends, ... I have not heard from him since March."

So, you don't know that he has been socially irresponsible during the pandemic. For all you know, he could have been very socially responsible.

I would go to the outdoor stylist and really not feel guilty over it. It is the most sensible decision for you to make. Your health is the most importing thing here. It can be fun to go to a new stylist and perhaps try a little different hair style. After all it is your hair and your money. If you do return to your previous stylist at some point, you really don't owe him an apology and he probably is experienced enough to be tactful and not ask any questions about who else has cut your hair.

Do what makes you comfortable. It’s not about the stylist, it’s about your safety. My stylist goes to her clients homes if that’s what they prefer. I go to the salon and don’t worry about it. They are following all protocols.

Going to a different stylist is not like cheating on a spouse.

I agree (as usual:) ) with Ded and Lucille. I have had the various issues and when I have discussed them with more than one stylist, they all say the same.

They understand if things just aren’t working.

They understand that you might use another stylist or colorist in the same salon.

They are professionals.

When the dust clears and you feel comfortable entering into that environment again, all you need to say is, “I’ve really missed you!”

He might critique your hair. Whenever I go to a new person they always like to put their 2 cents in about someone else’s cut. They cNt seem to resist.

It’s all good.

I'd go to the one who will cut it outdoors. The other with many contacts in/ out of the shop would be more dangerous to you. I have the same problems and try to stay away from places like that even if they've been ok'd to open again.

my hair needed cut 8 months ago. I let it go too long and the virus hit. It grows fast and was getting very long and heavy. I can no longer handle long hair. I've been cutting it myself the past 3 days. A little a day. From the front it looks ok (and much shorter). from the back - I don't know and don't care really.

sephia_wa,

To answer your question, no I don't know how responsibile he is with COVID precautions and if I did know I still wouldn't be totally comfotable due to the frequency and wide variety of contacts.

Thank you all for your input. I was feeling very guilty even contemplating using another stylist. I think I will do what makes me comfortable.

If it were me I would find someone else. I would live with the guilt. It's healthier than living with covid-19. Good luck!

ponytail....problem solved!

Absolutely go for the outdoor haircut. Wear the best mask you have, especially one which fits snug over the nose. You can shampoo your hair before you go, and go home with it wet. In and out fast. Take cash or your credit card only., no purse. Sanitize hands in the car. if that’s not enough, change your clothes when you get home.

I’d say wear a face shield too but i

think those fit around the back of the head, so that wouldn’t work. I don’t know, I’ve never won one.

When my regular beautician was able to resume work here in Illinois, I arranged to be her first cut of the day. There are only two other stylists in the shop, and neither was in at that time. I washed my hair at home; she cut it; I went home and styled it myself. I held my N95 mask in place while she cut. (Now I know I should have also added a surgical mask to protect HER from ME, but it's extremely unlikely that I have the virus, isolated as I have been.)

"To answer your question, no I don't know how responsibile he is with COVID precautions..."

I guess I was responding when you initially wrote this "He is follwong COVID protocols i.e. everyone is masked and only one client at a time in the shop."

I always wash my hair before getting a haircut and go in for just a cut. I'm in & out in 15 minutes. Have had one haircut post covid. Held a mask in place for the duration. I had zero anxiety about it.

Go where you feel the safest

Grow your hair! 60's style is coming back. :-)

Can you ask your guy to come to you and cut your hair outside wearing masks? We recently did that with my mom's stylist. She asked that mom wash her hair just before she arrived, so it would still be damp. They were outside in the yard with masks on the whole time.

I don't think the presence or absence of particular feelings is a measure of safety. Some will have anxiety in safe circumstances, others will baselessly feel fine when they're not safe. Assess the situation and judge from what you learn.

You need to go to the person you feel safest going to and you should not worry about it. I have a family member who is a stylist. She’s been doing most of her clients for many years and it’s not uncommon for any one of them change things up by seeing other people too. It’s not personal, it’s business. The bottom line is that you have to do what is right for you. If he was to ever say something, just be honest and tell him she did hair outside, and you preferred using that option during covid.

My hair is really horrible, but I've reached the ponytail stage so it's a little easier. I survived that miserable stage between needing a haircut and having a ponytail. If I get a haircut, I'll need another in a month, and that doesn't appeal to me.

"I have not heard from him since March."

So you have absolutely no idea whether or not he has remained inside his house since March, having all meals, food, and necessities delivered to his doorstep. He could be the healthiest, safest person in the country, but you are presuming that because he had an active social life before the pandemic that he would be a health risk now.

Cute? At MY age?

Stop it. I bet you ARE cute! You are a lovely person and DH sees you with loving eyes. But even so there are a lot of grey haired women that I think are cute as a button.

Thank you Lucille. Lovely of you to say.

GO ON STRIKE, like me.

haven't had a haircut since last year.

Gonna wait til 2021.

2020 is my newest swear word.

oh, shut the 2020 up... is fun to say.

In normal times, I would say don't slight your hair stylist, take any risk of damaging that relationship. Stylists who can consistently do a great job with our particular cut or color may be difficult to find - or at least that's true in this smaller community where everyone know everyone.

But these are not normal times and I think its reasonable for you to go where you are most comfortable. You've struggled with your hair all these weeks, make it a good experience and do not add a nagging worry for the following 14 days - making you wonder if you've made the right choice or taken the right degree of risk. If you feel more confident outside with someone different...then do that.

I saw my stylist two months after I'd planned to have gone. I've known her many many years and trust her, and her husband who I knew was working from his home office. Her exposure would have been people like me, people wanting their hair done. She seems to be doing all the right things, sanitizing in between clients, clients waiting outdoors so no shoulder to shoulder in a waiting area inside, masks, hand sanitizer and temp taken upon entering. I've been twice, feeling reasonably confident and have made an appointment for 9-14....

Is OP a boy? Long hair style in guys is popular now, it's not only for bikers.

Haha @ bragu - recently, Trevor Noah of The Daily Social Distancing Show had a Coronavirus Tip of the Day: just tell everyone you're growing your hair out as a form of protest...

Well looks like another business is going to bite the dust. I called my hairdresser for advice on how to do my hair myself at home since touch-ups are no longer enough. I haven't had my hair done since February. She told me to come over and she will do it for me in her home. I went today and got it done.

The salon she was with can't re-open here. So several of the hairdressers have left. They simply cannot afford to pay rent on the stations they can't use. Without them it is unlikely the place will survive. She is looking for another place. If they don't open up here soon she will probably need to end up in one of the surrounding counties. I would rather continue my business with her rather than going outside the county to someone else.

So I am happy to have my hairdresser back in my bubble. Simple pleasures. :-)

I'd much rather sit one someone's porch for a cut than go inside a typical salon. There must be some rule/regulations prohibiting it, or wouldn't people be advertising their home services?

These stylist's may be working off the books and using word-of-mouth.

There must be some rule/regulations prohibiting it, or wouldn't people be advertising their home services?

I'm not sure what the present status is but here during 'closed' times when nonessential business was prohibited barbers and cosmetologists could be fined, go to jail, and additionally license holders could face a $1,000 fine for each instance of performing services in an unlicensed location..

thanks Lucille, I figured there was something like that going on -- makes sense during pandemics. Nevertheless I do wish my MIL was still able to cut our families hair (she's too far gone in dementia).

Yikes! Jail and $1000 fine? Yet..you can go to a bar.

Well, there is always Wikihow for directions on how to cut your hair.

https://www.wikihow.com/Cut-a-Bob

Even in regular pre-covid times, it isn't OK to perform salon services in your house or whatever, it has to be in licensed salon. So, the hairdressers that are doing this in their own homes are doing this "illegally". They could lose their licenses. So, I would be really careful about who you tell because they could be reported and lose their license!

What business? There is no law saying a friend with a skill can't do another friend's hair. There is no law that friend can't reciprocate with a gift.

BTW are all of those who made home made masks to sell and profiting over pandemic fears reporting their additional income? I sure hope so. Gotta be 100 percent transparent so one doesn't find themselves in trouble with the law.

Not my law, Cosmetology Licensing laws. I am a licensed Cosmetologist so I am somewhat familiar with it. It sounds to me that hairdressers are doing their customers hair at their homes, this does not meet the rules of the cosmetology commission. I'm just saying...if someone reported them (say a jealous hairdresser) they could lose their licenses.

It is doing business. Performing a service and getting paid for it is business. I don't imagine they are paying taxes as self-employed either. I don't see that it rises to the level of a heinous crime that someone should be arrested for.

My family had a stylist who came to our home when I was a child. I don't know if that was legal or not but it was convenient.

I'm sure they wouldn't be arrested for it but they could be made to pay a fine and lose their license. In this time of pandemic panic, they could be turned into the health department also and fined or likely warned.

I can understand and support the need to regulate businesses, however small. No one wants their neighbor's customers taking up all the parking spaces, for instance. And I can see the public benefit of knowing/controlling what's going on for tax and health and maybe even public utility usage purposes. But why can't a licensed cosmetologist have a 'travel to your house' business? I see (in non pandemic times) dog groomer vans parked in front of people's houses, to wash and clip your pets. Why not same for 'people grooming'? I'm just curious.

There may be a license that you can get for a mobile salon, each state is different but to do that, they would definitely have to have it licensed. There are just too many health issues when you are dealing with the public. The sanitation rules alone could fill a book! HA! I can certainly see hairdressers(need to make a living!!!!!) and customers alike being desperate right now.

Why not just call and ask him if there have been ANY cases that developed from his shop? Of course the answer is NO or he would have been shut down. Go get your hair cut!!!

Thanks for the reply, arkansas girl. I can google "mobile salon" for my state. Not sure what I'll find, but that is the option I'd prefer right now.

Some states do or at least did allow salons to be operated in homes. They had to follow all of the regulations and be inspected the same as any other salon. Local ordinances may not allow. Cutting hair on the deck is not one of the things that is allowed.