ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The state of Maryland issued new guidance on Monday involving barbershops and hair salons in the state.

Generally, barbershops and beauty salons are required to remain closed. However, this new guidance will allow these shops to provide services to employees of essential businesses or those businesses not required to close under the governor’s order. Establishments providing these services must follow the following conditions:

The Barber/Salon may only provide services on an appointment basis; no walk-in services will be allowed

Only one customer will be allowed in the establishment at a time

Services performed must be necessary for the customer to meet grooming standards established by their employer, and they MUST provide written documentation of the grooming standards in way of a letter or a copy of the employer’s policy stating the grooming standards

Both the customer and staff member must wear face coverings except to the extent that a face covering on the costumer would make it impossible for services to be performed

After each customer, the establishment must clean and disinfect the area where services were performed

The Barber/Salon must keep telephone contact information for each customer, in the event that any staff member tests positive for COVID-19. The Barber/Salon can then notify all customers

It is assumed that these new guidelines will be used for military personnel, first responders, and other essential workers that are required to maintain certain, well-documented grooming standards as part of their profession, or where ungroomed hair could pose a safety risk.

The full order can be found here.