For Years, I've Run a Salon That Doubles as a Safe Space. Then the Pandemic Hit

Brennan Kilbane
·5 min read

This story is part of our series exploring how the ongoing pandemic affects the beauty industry. In this edition, Jamie DiGrazia, hairstylist and owner of Chicago’s Logan Parlor, reveals the unique pain that accompanies closing a business that doubles as a safe space.

From “Where Everybody Knows Your Name,” June 2018: “The Parlor is a hair salon second and a safe community space first, hence the radically positive vibes. You can also drink there. LGBTQ activists Jamie DiGrazia (a hairstylist) and Tricia Serpe (on the business side) opened Logan Parlor seven years ago on Chicago's North Side. It's one of the country's first gender-neutral salons.”

Well, a month ago, everything was fine, right? We were looking forward to spring, putting blonde back in people’s hair. Once we heard that this [disease] was spreading, and they were suggesting that people stay home, a lot of our guests were canceling their appointments and wanting to reschedule. We closed on March 16th — before we were mandated to — until the 31st, the media’s suggestion [at the time, thinking] that if we stayed in for two weeks it would go away.

[Chicago mayor] Lori Lightfoot mandated everyone to close, and then she showed up [on TV] with a nice haircut. And she said, "Well, I’m in the public eye…" I don’t know — to me, it’s crazy.

I tried to stay positive for the team for the first couple of weeks. Right away I had to make a plan about how to close the business. I made a Google doc, like, "Alright, we think we’ll be able to go back on April 7th. What do we need to do for three weeks? We have to cancel water delivery, paper delivery." Then the reality sank in.

We set up a GoFundMe for the stylists. People have donated over $2,000 to our team! We’re going to give it out [on] Friday. All of our clients have basically been giving me ideas of what to do now, like "You have to be able to sell gift cards online." We did curbside pickup for hair care two days ago. And now we're launching an online store with the help of L’Oréal and Hair.com. The salon will get 20 percent commission, and literally, that’s our only income.

I also had to apply for unemployment. On March 19th, I was online trying to figure out how to apply for unemployment, and they just take the information off of your ID — birthday, weight, and name. And they kept saying "we can't verify your information at this time." Why on earth not? They knew I was lying about my weight! They gave me this number to call, and it was busy, for 10 days. Then I got through, and I had to listen to this seven-minute message about them being really busy. In the end, the line hung up. Super frustrating. I was like, "Is it my browser, my Internet?"

I finally got through on April 9th, after trying since March 19th. I registered and am supposed to be hearing back with next steps. I have some money saved, thank goodness, but my team is comprised of young stylists who have just started their careers. They’re more positive about it, which is so nice.

Part of the CARES Act is a $10,000 business loan, and my accountant, who has been amazing, said to apply for it. Now she’s suggesting that I apply for the [Small Business Association] loan, too. I just know there’s money and I’ll get a loan.

Now I’m thinking about what do I do to reopen, and when? We’re figuring out how to separate the stations more, we’ll wear gloves and masks. We’ll do whatever we can to be safe. We’re going to extend our hours so there aren’t as many stylists in the space as the same time. Normally we all work Saturday and it’s really fun in there, but now somebody will work on Monday and split their shift in half. If your appointment is 45 minutes long, we might book on the hour, so people aren’t going in and out at the same time and we have time to sterilize. But I can’t believe they want to deregulate salons in certain states when sanitization is so important. Can you imagine if there were a bunch of unsanitized and deregulated salons? [Ed Note: From the Professional Beauty Association: “Deregulation of occupational licensing for the professional beauty industry places both the consumer and those providing services at a real health risk. A reduction of hours damages the longevity of a legitimate career path. Occupational licensing of beauty professionals is not a barrier to work, instead the requirement of an education allows for lifelong stable career that cannot be outsourced and supports our U.S. economy.” Some deregulation efforts help empower hair braiders, however: For more on that, click here.]

Honestly, at the end of this, I’m either going to be a really grounded yogi or a complete alcoholic. Or both, I’m not sure. I went out and bought a hedge trimmer and am going to do that. I guarantee I’m going to love it. I’ll do the whole block. I’ve been trying to paint, planted some seeds, I’m trying to still create stuff. So much of my self-worth and happiness and inner joy comes from producing something that makes someone happy. I just need to be able to do that. I miss the community more than the money, you know?

As told to senior writer Brennan Kilbane. To learn more about Jamie DiGrazia you can visit Logan Parlor’s website or follow her at @jamiedigrazia on Instagram.

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Originally Appeared on Allure