Personal care services like nail salons could be opening as early as this Friday in San Luis Obispo County.
Cindy Tran, owner of Sky Nails & Spa in San Luis Obispo closed her shop in mid-march.
"It's time to get going," said Tran. "We've been at home for too long already."
She says she's been anxious to get back to work.
"It's been three months already so I kind of miss the salon," Tran said. "Honestly, we've been looking for the news every single day."
The news finally came last Friday from San Luis Obispo County Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein.
"We received guidance from the state on another sector that is now under consideration for opening," Borenstein said.
Dr. Borenstein said she would review the new guidance early this week to determine what's best for San Luis Obispo County.
"These business owners of that type ought to be taking a good look at the guidance, reviewing it, developing their risk assessment," said Borenstein.
Tran said she has taken the proper precautions at her salon.
"I'm very excited and we are prepared already," Tran said.
The salon put up plastic barriers to separate clients from nail technicians. Pedicure chairs also have dividers on both sides.
"When they come in, we have a paper for them to sign," Tran said. "We check their temperatures. They have to wash their hands."
Clients will be asked to wear masks as well. Less than 10 people will be allowed inside at a time and appointments are encouraged.
If you're waiting, you'll have to do that in your car.
Arroyo Grande resident Nicole Sutter is also ready for salons to reopen.
"I'm actually super excited," Sutter said. "I've been getting my nails done kind of consistently up until COVID-19 so my nails are really ugly and I pick at them so I think it'll be great."
With required testing and new safeguards, Tran is cautiously optimistic about getting her business up and running again.
"Sincerely I look forward to it but I also care about my customers safety," Tran said.
Other services like facials, massages, waxing and tattoos also fall under the same category as nail salons for reopening.
It is unclear when nail salons in Santa Barbara County may get the green light to re-open.
