The personal health care industry was already reeling, and dumbfounded that even after seemingly every other form of business in the state of Michigan was being given the green light in the next week or so to reopen for business. However, when their governor flippantly suggested they “Google how to cut hair, or throw it up in a ponytail,” they literally exploded.
Today, they descended on Lansing to testify before the Joint Select Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic at the State Capitol.
Carrying with them the fact that Michigan now the only state in the country where salons remain fully closed, the Safe Salons for Michigan coalition has again called on Governor Whitmer to not only apologize for her remarks but to allow licensed salons and barber shops to reopen for business.
The Safe Salons for Michigan coalition issued the call today after new data revealed Michigan is the only state where salons remain fully closed.
Data from Behindthechair.com shows that Michigan salons remain closed, while salons in every other state have either fully or partially reopened, or have a reopening date scheduled.
The coalition today in Lansing reiterated its call for Governor Whitmer to reopen Michigan’s licensed salons and barber shops, under the provisions within its 8-pillar safety plan that was submitted to her last month. The reopening plan was worked on with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, includes state-of-the-art sanitary and procedural measures to keep employees and clients safe.
Mike Sarafa, CEO of the Alline Group, testifying before the Joint Select Committee said, “Today in Michigan, you can get your teeth cleaned, get your dog groomed, get a relaxing facial at the dermatologist and then join friends at a restaurant or bar for dinner and drinks…. all while you still can’t get a haircut in a sanitary environment.”
Additionally, the coalition is asking Governor Whitmer for an apology after she disrespected Michigan’s more than 100,000 licensed highly-trained beauty professionals while speaking at a press event on Monday.
Kevin Lent, President of BAMF X2, LLC and member of Safe Salons for Michigan, told the committee, “As if being closed wasn’t impossible enough, Governor Whitmer made matters worse by disrespecting Michigan’s highly-trained licensed cosmetologists in saying that people can simply Google how to do a haircut,” and added, “Michigan’s licensed cosmologists and barbers are well-trained, educated professionals who have spent years honing their abilities. On behalf of the entire salon industry, we ask Governor Whitmer for an apology.”
