As COVID-19 swept the state in mid-March, salon owners were faced with a tough decision. The state had not yet mandated closure of nonessential businesses, and with the influx of traffic swarming in from the metro New York City area, where the virus had already taken hold, tensions were high among stylists, given the intimate nature of their work.

Despite financial uncertainty, many salon owners closed with the best interest of their employees in mind. Soon after, Gov.