These Corpus Christi-area hair, nail salons plan to reopen May 8. Here's what's next

Some Corpus Christi-area hair and nail salons that closed in the wake of coronavirus precautions will reopen their doors Friday, while a few are preparing to open at a later date.

On Tuesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott surprised salon owners when he announced cosmetology salons, hair salons, barber shops, nail salons and tanning salons would be allowed to reopen beginning May 8. 

The businesses have been closed since March as part of coronavirus shelter-in-place orders in Nueces County and across the state that called for nonessential businesses to temporarily shut their doors.

For several Corpus Christi-area businesses, reopening Friday is the first step to returning to "business as normal."

"We've been waiting for this for a long while, and honestly I didn't think this moment would come as fast as it did," said Rick Morin, owner of Flawless Barber Shop in Corpus Christi.

Herlinda Silva, the regional general manager for Super Cuts, Cost Cutters and Pro Cuts Sports in the Corpus Christi-area, said the salon franchises will reopen its doors Friday.

On May 1, Abbott issued his first phase of reopening Texas. His order allowed movie theaters, along with dine-in restaurants, in-store retail services, shopping malls, museums and libraries, to reopen at 25 percent capacity. 

Previously, cosmetology salons were not set to reopen until May 18.

Morin said he had a cleaning company clean and sanitize his shop during the weeks-long closure.

"Sanitation is our highest priority," Morin said. "We've never taken it lightly and we don't plan to once we reopen."

Changes for shops, customers

Flawless Barber Shop will implement new safety guidelines during its reopening phase:

• Customers and employees will be required to wear masks when they enter the shop; 
• The shop will operate largely by appointments, though some walk-ins will be welcomed;
• Chairs and styling equipment will be disinfected between appointments;
• Customers will need to wait in their cars in between haircuts.

Morin said opening the shop's doors again Friday gives him hope to make his monthly payments on his shop on time.

"While we were closed, I still got bill statements in the mail by our landlord and electricity company that we still have to pay our bills," Morin said. "Now that we are opening again, I feel more at ease that things can begin to go back to normal and I can start paying my employees again."

While Abbott's order clears the way for such businesses to open, a few are choosing not to for now. 

Anthony's Aveda and Planet Sol, both in Corpus Christi, don't plan to reopen to the public until May 11. They each reported on their social media pages they were finalizing organizing and sanitizing their work stations before they could open their doors.

'Doing what we love'

Silva said salon stylists at the Super Cuts, Cost Cutters and Pro Cuts Sports franchises will require customers and employees to wear face masks. Work stations will now be 6 feet apart for social distancing and customers will be made to wash their hands when they enter the salon.

Customers also will have to wait in the cars in between appointments.

"We know a lot of people are eager to come back and socialize with one another —especially with our stylists," Silva said. "We want to help people feel good about themselves, but we also want to make sure everyone is staying safe."

Linh Odom, owner of Kosmo Salon in Corpus Christi, said as hair and nail salons like hers return to regular business hours, there is no "new normal" in this post-COVID-19 era.

"It's all about getting back to work and doing what we love," Odom said. 

Odom said her salon on Staples Street will take several precautions, including doing temperature checks at the door. The shop also continue using disposable pedicure kits and liners, while also using hospital grade EPA-registered sanitizers to disinfect all areas. 

"We would like everyone to come in and feel safe while they get some much deserved pamper time," Odom said. "We plan to implement all coronavirus procedures and hope that everyone else does so, too, so we don’t have to go back to closing our businesses again."

Reopening too soon?

Odom said when customers heard Kosmo Salon planned to reopen Friday they couldn't contain their excitement.

"Some told us 'we miss you all' and were eager to get some much needed pampering. For us our clients aren't just customers, they are like family. And we are happy that we are able to see them once again," Odom said.

While local salons are eager to reopen, some state Democrats said Abbott’s latest order was premature.

State Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, tweeted reopening hair and nail salons came too soon after other businesses were allowed to open, including malls, movie theaters and retail stores.

“I thought we were waiting to see if the first round of re-opening caused COVID-19 spikes before making decisions on additional openings? It’s been four days,” Turner tweeted.

Jack Kleinhenz, chief economist for the National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, said the economy should gradually recover as states begin to slowly reopen, assuming the coronavirus doesn't return.

“Getting back to work or shopping in a pre-virus manner is difficult to predict at this time, with households likely to tiptoe back in rather than making an immediate return to the lives they experienced before,” Kleinhenz said. “The recovery will have fits and starts among states, regions and cities, depending on the severity of the pandemic in their localities.”

RELATED COVERAGE:

• Here’s what Gov. Abbott’s first phase to reopen Texas means for Texans

• Texas theaters can reopen May 1. But these Corpus Christi-area theaters don't plan to
• Gov. Greg Abbott: Texas hair and nail salons can reopen Friday with some restrictions

Corpus Christi-area hair/nail salons reopening May 8:

Do you know a Corpus Christi-area salon or barbershop reopening? If so, send us their hours of operation, number and safety guidelines in your news tip at meagan.falcon@caller.com so we may add it to our list.

Atelier Salon (Appointment only)

Open: Hours may vary

To make an appointment, call 361-225-0072.

Guidelines: 

• Please come to your appointment alone. No additional guests or children at your appointment.
•  No one with a fever may enter the building.
• All team members and clients MUST WEAR MASKS. No exceptions. We can provide you one if needed.
•  Clients will be required to sanitize or wash their hands upon check-in.
•  Client chairs will be spaced 6 feet apart to maintain distance.

Anthony's Aveda Salon (Reopening May 11th)

To make an appointment, call 361-994-9401.

Cost Cutters (all locations in Corpus Christi-area)

Open: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (hours may vary at each location)

Walk-ins are welcome

Guidelines:

• Customers must wear a mask at all-times
• Customers must wash their hands upon walking in
• Customers must wait in their cars in between haircuts

Flawless Barber Shop (Appointments, walk-ins)

Open: noon to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays (Hours may vary)

To make an appointment, call 361-992-6600.

Guidelines:

• Customers must wear masks at all-times
• Customers must wash their hands upon walking in 

Kosmo Salon

Open: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Hours may vary)

Appointment only. To make an appointment, call 361-334-3407.

Guidelines:

• Customers are required to wear a mask. Clients who choose not to wear a mask will be refused service.
• Customers will be given a temperature check
• Customers must wait in their cars before their scheduled appointment

MTV Nails in La Palmera mall

Open: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Hours may vary)

Appointment only. To make an appointment, call 361-510-8101.

Guidelines:

• Customers are required to wash their hands before being serviced
• Customers will be given a temperature check
• Customers will be required to sign a liability form stating they have not shown any signs of being sick
• Customers are required to wear a mask

Nails by Nichole

Appointment only. To make an appointment, call 361-945-1011.

Planet Sol Hair Salon (Reopening May 11th)

To make an appointment, call 361-814-8899.

Procuts Sports

Open: 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Hours may vary)

To make an appointment, call 361-760-2887.

Guidelines:

• Customers must wear a mask at all-times
• Customers must wash their hands upon walking in
• Customers must wait in their cars in between haircuts

SuperCuts (all locations in the Corpus Christi-area)

Open: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Hours may vary)

Walk-ins are welcome

Guidelines:

• Customers must wear a mask at all-times
• Customers must wash their hands upon walking in
• Customers must wait in their cars in between haircuts

Tulip Nails

Open: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Hours may vary)

Appointment only. To make an appointment, call 361-993-6868.

Guidelines:

• Customers must wear a mask at all-times
• Customers will receive a temperature check upon entering the nail salon

K Hair Artistry (Re-opening May 11th)

Open: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays

Salon is located inside of My Salon Suites on 4120 S. Staples St., Suite 301.

Appointment only. To make an appointment, call 361-271-3222. For appointment requests outside of normal business hours, please text or call. K Hair Artistry also offers a 20% military and veteran discount on all regular priced services with ID.

Nativis Skin Care

Open: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday

Appointment only. To make an appointment, call 361-986-2010.

Guidelines:

• Please arrive to your appointment with a mask on. If you are feeling sick or are around people who are sick, please re-schedule your appointment. 

Austin Statesman reporters Lori Hawkins and Shonda Novak contributed to this report.  Meagan Falcon covers entertainment, things to do and trending news. Support more coverage like this by checking out our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe