Hair salons left out of new executive order from Gov. Abbott

ROUND ROCK, Texas - A-Zany-Do Salon and Spa in Round Rock has been closed for more than a month. The expectation the state may allow it, and others, to reopen had cosmetologist Sarah Johnson dashing out for supplies.

"I got plenty of gloves, I ordered some reusable and washable masks to get ready to open, I have plenty of Barbicide on hand, we're ready,” said Johnson.

Johnson had good reason to believe the doors to the salon were about to be unlocked. Last Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott posted on social media the reopening of hair salons and shopping inside stores could be coming soon. However, his new order on Monday which expanded the list of businesses allowed to have a conditional reopening did not include Johnson's industry.

"It felt like a gut punch, and I had to fight back my tears. It’s hard that we have to wait and we still don’t have an end game in sight and we still don’t have a date that we get to go back yet,” said Johnson.

Earlier this month Johnson launched an online petition urging the governor to allow hair salons to reopen. She still believes it can be done safely and would tell the governor that if given the chance.

"I just feel like if we had protocols in place in addition to the ones we already have for sanitation, wearing masks, us wearing a mask, our clients wearing a mask, us having gloves on, and our clients having gloves on, I think we can prevent the spread of this virus any further,” said Johnson.

RELATED: State stay-at-home order will expire on April 30, first phase of businesses reopening May 1

Another stylist, Shelly Luther who owns a salon in North Dallas has also made headlines by tearing up a cease and desist letter that authorities sent her won praise from others who have grown tired of the stay-at-home order, but it hasn't helped Johnson's cause.

"I don’t think it makes us look good, I think it makes us look haughty and hasty, I think we should absolutely be waiting, until we get a go-ahead, from government officials, I don’t think it’s a good idea to do it, because you feel like it," Johnson said.

Johnson said she was getting calls as recently as Monday morning from clients hoping to be the first to schedule an appointment. The governor indicated those appointments may not happen until mid-May.

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