Michigan, New Jersey Only States Still Prohibiting Haircuts

Michigan is now just one of just two states to prohibit hairdressers and barbers from working, under lockdown orders imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Jersey is the other state keeping hair salons and barber shops shuttered, according to research done by National Public Radio.

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy represents hair salon owner Sarah Huff of Holland in a lawsuit against the lockdown order. Huff has reopened her salon and has been charged with a misdemeanor.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer explained at a June 1 press conference why her executive orders are still prohibiting hair salons and barbers from reopening:

“The fact that we’ve gone from a moment where we’ve said everyone needs to stay home, except for these essential things to know, it’s okay to reengage except for a few of these things that still are too risky,” Whitmer said. “That’s our judgment, my hope is that we turn that dial in two weeks and take that next step, two to three weeks is what we think we need to see in terms of data. And I’m concerned, people who are going to Ohio might be bringing COVID-19 back I’m worried about that.”

Whitmer continued: “And so I tell people, if you’re like me, you need a haircut desperately, couple more weeks of this and we may be back in a place where we’re able to do that safely.”