GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.. — People in West Michigan will finally be able to get their hair cut come Monday June 15.
Following nearly 3 months of not being able to cut hair due to Governor Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home orders, stylists and barbers are ecstatic to welcome back their clientele.
“I've never been off this long from doing hair. It's like my life and I love it. It was really hard not to do it,” said Lisa Atchison, a stylist at Classic Hair Design on Plainfield.
The phones at Classic Hair Design were ringing off their hooks while FOX 17 was there Friday morning.
Following the announcement that they would be able to open back up on June 15, Atchison says, “All of our phones blew up, you know, everyone looking for an appointment.“
She says both women and men are desperate to get an appointment.
"We’re going to be working extra hours, extra days, trying to get them all in,” Atchison said.
While they are opening up their availability as much as possible right now, Atchison says appointments are already starting to book several weeks out.
Across the street at Plainfield Barber Shop Robert Maleport is eager to be back around his long-time customers.
“It has been very hard and I know several people that have been begging me to come back to work,” Maleport told FOX 17 Friday.
"I'm anticipating that we will be super busy with a lot of people who have long hair,” Maleport said with a grin.
Both shops will have to take certain safety precautions against the coronavirus when they open up.
"You’ll have to wear your mask, maintain social distancing and we’ll take care of everything that way,” Maleport said.
Over at Classic Hair Design, once you nail down an appointment the tough part is over.
When you arrive at their location on Plainfield you are asked to wait in your car. A stylist will be watching and will come out to bring you inside.
You and whoever is cutting or treating your hair will have to wear a face mask but they have figured out a method of moving and holding the mask straps to make sure it doesn't get in the way of a good trim.
It may be a few extra steps but everyone speaking to FOX 17 Friday say they are simply overjoyed to finally be opening back up .
“I will be more than happy to get back to work, that's for sure,” Maleport said.
