Hair salon post-lockdown recaptures joy

Tweet

It was Thursday morning, and I anxiously got ready to go to the hair salon for the first time since lockdown. I live in Louisiana, and we were a hot spot for the virus, which made this all the more nerve-wracking. Although I trusted my salon and stylist, and they had instructed me ahead of time, I still wondered what this new, temporary normal would look like. I finished my morning routine and set off, still unsure, but definitely excited about the change I was about to make. Arriving at the salon I was surprised to see so many cars due to the 25% capacity rule, but I later found out that employees had to park up front now. I called to let Mrs. Jones know I was there, and I could hear Whitney, my stylist in the background talking excitedly. When it was my turn to go in I waited at the front door for her to open it, and the procedures were to be expected: temperature was taken, questionnaire, signatures, everyone in masks. When I looked around, though I could feel the change in the air. This once buzzing, happy place hadn't completely lost its zing, but hanging over it was a heaviness, a worry, a sense of chore instead of joy. Everyone was trying their best to push through it, but it clung to every moment. Whitney was determined to give me my fun and relaxation, though, because she knew that place was one of the rare times I could escape from work, stress, family worries, just everything, and feel like myself unencumbered, so off we went to begin the change! We went through the usual process of washing and conditioning my long, thick curly hair, chatting away and catching up on life since Covid, while she took the extra sanitation steps, and we struggled to breathe through the masks. Next step: the scissors! She had me face the mirror, and people actually gathered around because she asked me repeatedly how long I had thought about this. I assured her I was ready, and she asked one more time as she held the scissors to my hair. When I said "go", and she cut, people gasped, cheered, and clapped. Whitney had just cut 16 inches of hair, and she was not done yet. Suddenly the buzz was back in the room with people watching and cheering us on, and for a few minutes we didn't feel heavy. The masks still made it hot, and the worry was still there; we just finally got caught up in the excitement and remembered this was a place to feel alive. Other stylists helped her sweep hair, and people were asking me what brought on the change. Other clients who had short hair assured me I would feel so much better. We were a sisterhood, and you could see the smiles through the masks. When the finishing touches had been done Whitney spun me around to face the mirror for the big reveal, and I cried happy tears for the first time in months. I needed this change, and I needed something to be excited about. I jumped up to hug Whitney, and we actually cried together. Social distancing be damned; we needed that moment. Covid changed so many things about life for so many of us: health, finances, relationships...and there were moments many of us couldn't feel joy. That day I was nervous about going to the salon post-lockdown and nervous about my big change, but instead of nerves I found strength and life again.