#Is it safe to go to a salon amid the coronavirus? Here’s what you need to know

New Yorkers who botched their own bang jobs or gave into the boxed dye aisle at their local drugstore are anxious to get back into the salon chair for cut, styling and color appointments when most barbershops and hair salons open Monday. But many are wondering: Are salons safe during this stage in the coronavirus pandemic?

“Personally, I’ll be glad to get rid of the gray in my hair,” says Danielle Ompad, an NYU professor and infectious disease epidemiologist. “But from a public health perspective, I’m still concerned.”

While some states have thrown the doors open to everything from waxing studios to spas, New York City, where COVID-19 hit the hardest, is reopening more slowly.

Even though you might be able to head to your salon soon, you’ll have to wait a little longer for face-to-face treatments like manicures and facials — but that doesn’t mean the experience will be the same as it was before the pandemic. You’ll have to take some precautions, according to Ompad.

Here’s what you should know before booking an appointment:

Call before to check social-distancing protocols

While salons have to follow strict guidelines, such as operating at 50 percent capacity and disinfecting workstations between customers per NY state, each business will have slightly different protocols. “I would call to have a conversation about what they feel comfortable doing,” says Ompad, who estimates a quick trim would be more straightforward for a haircutter than a labor-intensive dye job. Above all, according to Ompad, “Pay attention, but don’t be paranoid.”

That means skipping gloves if you’re a customer. “I worry they can be counter-productive when not used properly,” Ompad says, and asking your salon how they plan on maintaining distance between customers and reducing the spread of germs. They may ask you to make an appointment whereas before you would have been a walk-in, or to wait outside the building before your appointment to ensure social distancing. Bring a hat and apply sunscreen in case you have to wait outside.

Keep your mask on throughout your service

The key to keeping germs to yourself is wearing a mask “that’s well-fitted and worn properly,” says Ompad. Read: snug, and covering your nose.

Since some services can take a few hours and masks can get sweaty, Ompad recommends taking a breather in the back of the salon. “You can take your mask off if you go to the back of the store and if no one is around. Just make sure to put it back on when someone comes near you,” she says. “Hopefully the salon will have AC on.” You can also ask the salon to keep windows and doors open to help air circulate.

It’s also a good idea to bring a mask that won’t get in the way of your snip. Skip the ones that tie behind your head — instead go for the ones with the ear loops — and if you’re hoping for highlights, “maybe use a disposable one so you don’t get color on it.”

Avoid common areas and refreshments

After months of at-home beauty hacks, it can be tempting to indulge in salon luxuries like a glass of Champagne or a magazine.

Still, it’s better to skip the tea and water, for your sake and the salon employees. Decline any refreshments so you can keep your mask on. “Bring your own drink and reading material,” suggests Ompad, who notes that a best practice is washing your hands right when you get inside, and after touching any objects, like a cup or plate, that you didn’t bring yourself.

Respect your stylist as an essential worker

“If you’re coughing, sneezing or drippy, even if you think it’s allergies, it’s not fair to put that stress on the service provider,” says Ompad, who adds, “if people get sick in a salon, they’re going to be shut down again.”

Before venturing out, be honest with your stylist about your level of exposure, and, if you’ve been in big groups or feel sick, stay home. “I would wait a couple of weeks before making an appointment if I went to a protest or a rally,” says Ompad. “It’s not cool to expose other people if you think you’ve been exposed.”

Also, consider tipping more than you normally would.

Service providers are potentially risking their health to treat you, says Ompad. “They deserve our utmost respect and care.”