SAN DIEGO — Hair salons and barbershops that have remained empty for the past few months are finally able to welcome back clients, like Fresh Out The Barbershop in Poway.
"I'm back. I'm happy," said Eevil Twmka, the owner.
There will be new rules to follow. Everyone will have to wear face coverings during the entire visit. Appointments will be staggered to avoid congestion.
"Every hour I take one client. It is better so people are not waiting and it is safer for everybody," added Twmka.
Clients will also be screened.
"I have to ask them 'have they traveled in the last 14 days? Are you sick? Do you have a fever?'" said Kim Tran Kennedy, owner of Kim's Salon in Rancho Penasquitos.
Kennedy said it was nearly crippling to not be able to work for so long.
"I didn't work for 2.5 months. It is extremely hard," added Kennedy.
Lisa Grodzicki was her first client.
"I was so excited to hear the news, so I called her up right away and she said 'yes, please come in,'" said Grodzicki.
Kennedy and Twmka booked up in a matter of hours. Both will be working longer days.
"I'm coming in at 6:30 a.m. and will be done at 8 [p.m.] because I have a big gap between each client, too," said Kennedy.
"I'm going to be working extra hours since I am by appointment only. I can open my schedule to 10 p.m. to make more money," said Twmka.
Other personal services, like gyms and nail salons, are still closed for now.