Hey guys! I'm Zoie Rose, self proclaimed hair nerd (We claim her as a Hair Nerd too) in San Diego. I've been involved in the beauty industry as long as I can remember. In 2011 I decided to make it official and I never looked back. With years behind the chair, I've been fortunate enough to have been the creative director of a salon, had involvement in conceptualizing and directing photo shoots and video work, to have participated in competitions and traveled all over in the process.

I currently run my own one-person studio in Carlsbad, iron&rose studio. My passion for hair extends to educating beauty professionals. When I'm not behind the chair, I am spending time teaching new talent and doing continued education in salons.

How did the initial closure affect your business?

The initial closure was such a surreal feeling. I remember talking to my guests hearing the shelter in place for LA went into affect and thinking San Diego would be next. I moved up as many guests as I could in case we were to close that Friday, and low and behold, I was right. It was such a weird feeling (shit, it still is.) I have always been a worrier, and my anxiety-ridden brain goes immediately to the worst case, but somehow I also have the weird...talent? to turn that nervous energy into something productive. I hate not knowing and not being able to plan, so I was struggling hard. But I wanted to try to figure out ways to financially sustain my business that I could continue even when I got back to work. I was very fortunate to be at Sola San Diego, where our amazing team leaders weren't charging us rent at our studios, so that was a HUGE help. I have a lot of guests that fall on the high risk spectrum, so I wanted to assure them that upon our return, it would be a safe environment. Financially, I was hurting- but luckily that's what a savings account is for!! When I was able to be back during that blink of a 6 week reopening period, I was so busy and so grateful to be back at work. Because I wasn't double booking, my days were spread more, but being as everyone's hair was coocoo for cocoa puffs, the individual timing was so needed.I did have some guests who weren't comfortable coming into the salon right away, but not many.

What was your initial thought when California shut back down? And then state board decided you could do hair outside...

My initial thought when CA shut back down was "What...THE fuck?!" I felt defeat, disbelief, anger, shock, the list goes on and on. During that 6 week reopening period, my new salon home was under renovation, and our opening day would have been the day after we got the news to officially close. This second shut down is so much more insulting because it is completely unnecessary- the first time, EVERYTHING was closed, we didn't know what was going on...but THIS??? This feels personal. It is no longer "essential" VS "non essential" now they're saying we can't work because we are indoors and close contact, meanwhile you can go get a lapdance at an indoor strip club....what sense does that make?? (No shade to strippers, get that bag y'all do your thing!)

When the decision to allow us to do haircuts outside I was LIVID. In what WORLD does that make sense?! 3weeks prior it wasn't legal for us to do that, and now all the sudden we can? We are the ONLY industry being asked to move operations outside, that doesn't already operate outside. Before anyone comes for me with the bogus "BuT ReStAurANtS ArE oUtSiDe?!" NO!!! They did not move the cooks outside, they did not tell those establishments to move their stoves and ovens outside, the PATRONS have the option to dine outside- which has always been an option. (Whether or not the establishment chose or had the ability to have a patio or not) FURTHERMORE we are limited to ONE SERVICE. That's like telling Chili's they can only serve a Ceaser salad, HUGE PAY CUT MY GUY.

Yes, there are people who only do haircutting and this is an option for them, fabulous. I would like to also say, I feel our industry has never been taken seriously because of the archaic, idiotic mindset that this industry is "for women and gays" and it mainly (according to stereotype) caters TO women; Take a look at the people making this decision? Men, who most likely have only ever visited barbershops...which have the easiest ability because they don't do a lot (if any) shampooing or chemical services and their main income is cutting? Makes sense, let's cater to men. (I am also a licensed barber, and I am aware there are so many talented barbers of all genders and not only men visit barbershops, but you see where I'm going with this.) This decision doesn't make an inch of sense for an entire industry. Especially when, oh, yaknow, the entire country is still open and operating and we have proven to not be linked to the spread of covid.

What is your position on performing services outdoors?

I am against it, for the standards I hold for our industry and I hate that the talented, amazing people are being pushed into this corner. Am I shaming or judging people for doing it? Absolutely the fuck not- Keep your businesses ALIVE. I FULLY support every single person who has made an outside space work for the time being. I admire and respect every last one of you.And shit I might have to figure out if we can do it at my shop if this continues much longer.

I am fighting so hard against it because not everyone has the option! This is bigger than just me, I am by the beach in Southern California... I have a safe, away from speeding cars, front patio... Where this is a huge problem might not be for myself and my neighbors. It's a blanket solution, what about the people in downtown LA, SD, or SF!? Where their only option is an unclean sidewalk? Not everyone has a patio, or a safe parking lot. What about the people in Sacramento or Riverside where it's triple digit weather??

The problem for me, and I think the scariest thing about all this, is with this new "option" I fear it is going to keep them from hurrying to let us back inside. I fear every time there's cold season or flu season they're going to continue to shut us then open, shut& open, on and on. That will KILL our businesses. Our salons are safe and controlled and we have proven that over years and years.

If you could make changes to the current policy what would they be?

We need to be reclassified. We got thrown into a category with other businesses that we are NOTHING like. Yes we are indoors, but that is the only similarity to salons, gyms and food places. We should not be in "phase 3" or whatever they're calling us. We should be able to reopen indoors, with the laundry list of protocol they gave us when we opened the first time. They need to actually come make visits and make sure people are following it. Stateboard, the health department, whoever, I don't care. Let us submit biweekly covid tests to ensure we are not unknowingly carrying it, shit if baseball players get tested every two days, surely we can friggin test every two weeks.

Whatever that will take, it needs to happen. Until we get reclassified and/or considered essential, California will risk losing most of their salons and spas. People are moving, people are choosing other careers, students are dropping out of cosmo/barber school; our industry in CA will never be the same.