With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
LA Salon Owners Frustrated As Haircuts OK'd Throughout SoCal — But Not LA County

It is legal, once again, to get a haircut in a salon in most of Southern California. Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino counties all received permission from the state to allow hair salons and barbershops to reopen.
L.A. County has not. And salon owners like Rebecca McDonald are frustrated.
Here is a comprehensive list of where you can legally get a haircut in Southern California as of May 27, 2020. https://t.co/7nPcR0r6Vr
— Emily Guerin (@guerinemily) May 27, 2020
McDonald, who owns Hammer & Nails Grooming in Echo Park, already has a six-step plan for how she's going to safely reopen that she says surpasses the state's guidelines for salons:
- Barbering chairs will be 6 feet apart
- Clients and stylists will wear masks
- Hair washing and blow drying will not be allowed
- Appointment only
- Extra cleaning
- Temperature checks
But given that salons in neighboring counties reopened on Tuesday, McDonald worries she’s going to lose clients.
"Our customers, our loyal customers, are now traveling to Orange County or San Bernardino County for a haircut," she said.
L.A. County applied for permission from the state to reopen additional businesses, like hair salons, and should hear back soon.
READ MORE ABOUT PANDEMIC-ERA HAIRCUTS:
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our nonprofit public service journalism: Donate now.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember.
-
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain.
-
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings.
-
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past.
-
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.