Is it safe to get nails done during coronavirus

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has led to calls for social distancing. But after Gov. Brian Kemp reopened the economy in late April, hair salons, barbers, nail care artists, beauticians and massage therapists are among those who have been allowed to reopen.

While not all businesses have resumed operations, those that have are required to adhere to social distancing requirements and other safety measures.

For those who feel wary about going out for a hair, nail or spa appointment, they may wonder about alternatives to beauty treatments they’d ordinarily obtain outside their homes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people stay six feet away from each other. Visiting a salon to get haircuts, pedicures, manicures and other pampering won’t make doing so possible.

Here’s a breakdown of what you can do.

Can I get a haircut?

Hair salons around the country have closed but if the one near you is still open, is it OK to book an appointment? What about keeping the one you made in advance?

"I would say hold off on your haircut and then when you go back, when it's clear that we have vanquished this foe, everybody please give your hairdresser extra, extra tips," Carolyn Cannuscio, the director of research at the Center for Public Health Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania told the Atlantic. "I hope that policies will be put into place to protect the paychecks of people who will suffer during this period."

What to do instead

While you may be tempted to whip out the sheers and give yourself a shorter hair style, there are other things you can do to care for your hair on your own.

"While waiting to have your ends trimmed with a stylist, focus on keeping the general health of your hair in prime condition by adding a leave-in conditioner to your beauty routine," Amy Abramite, salon educator and stylist at Chicago's Maxine Salon told CNET. "It will nourish and moisturize your hair, as well as prevent split ends from heat styling before your next snip. Add your leave-in conditioner to towel-dried hair and blow dry to style."

Celebrity natural hairstylist Vernon François also cautions against cutting curly, kinky and coily hair on your own since it can be hard to see how much hair is cut "when your kinks or curls spring back." While prolonging trims, François told Vogue split ends "can be minimized by promoting hair health, treating it with TLC, having a healthy diet, and plenty of hydration inside and out."

Is it safe to get my nails done?

Before much was known about how the coronavirus spread, celebrity nail artist Julie Kandalec told NBC's "Today"show that she felt it was possibly safe to go to the salon since "surfaces were extra clean, tools were being taken care of even more diligently, etc."

But now, things have changed.

“We know that it is not only spreadable on surfaces, because this virus can be spread very easily through close contact and symptoms don’t show up for several days,” she said.

Kandalec recommended customers postpone nail appointments and stay at home — whether or not the salon has closed.

“It is not worth getting someone else sick unknowingly or spreading the virus even more,” she said. “If you see a salon that is open, that doesn’t give you the excuse to go in; please allow them to close, too, by not going in.”

What to do instead

Give yourself a nail salon experience at home by doing your own pedicure and manicure. Glamour magazine has tips on how to create salon-worthy fingernails while Cosmopolitan magazine has a five-step DIY guide to doing pedicures.

What about going to the spa?

People visit spas for everything from facial treatments to waxing, but with social distancing being encouraged, experts advice against going out for such treatments now.

"People should restrict non-essential appointments and activities," Mitchel Rosen, associate professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health told Insider.

What to do instead

While waxing is best left to the professionals, Elle magazine has tips on how to create an at home spa experience. Candles, bath oils and a clay mask are among the items that can help set the stage for a relaxing spa in the house.

How can I help professionals amid the coronavirus outbreak?

With salons and spas closing due to the crisis, there are still ways you can support professionals who have seen a dip in appointments, according to Allure magazine.