Amal Niccoli Salon is poised to make a sweeping comeback as reopenings gradually unfold across the city.
— Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Jessica Sisavath

Lori Pino is preparing to open her salon with the new Covid-19 guidelines on June 10. Although salons and barbershops were allowed to open on June 1, Pino is taking her time to make some adjustments prior to opening to prepare her hairdressers and customers for a safe experience at Amal Niccoli.

Pino has been cutting hair for the elderly before the opening on June 10 in order to keep her high-risk clients safe. In preparation for Amal Niccoli’s opening, she has installed plexiglass, purifying systems for clean air, and constructed a space where her staff can roam easily while working, separated from the client area. Lori has also painted her salon as well, saying, “It’s great changes, it gives me a little bit of a facelift. June 1 was my 25 years in my location.”

On June 1, 1995 Amal Niccoli opened in their Somerville location on 731 Broadway and is getting ready for a big change. The other services, such as for skincare, will be available in Phase 2, which has not been announced yet.

Pino is making sure her hairdressers and customers are taken care of. With the new guidelines, hairdressers must wear gloves, a mask, face shields, and safety goggles if necessary. Once they get a client, the hairdresser will change their smock. They must change any cloths and cape for every customer.

According to the guidelines, conversations will be minimized, no water fountain or sharing of food and liquids will be allowed. However, Pino is making sure her customers still have a comfortable experience when they come in for their appointments. 

Since closing in March, Pino has kept in contact with her customers that needed to re-book for hair cutting services only. She’s confirmed every appointment and assures that customers are aware of the changes to protect them and the hairdressers from Covid-19.

Once a customer walks in, there will be a Covid-19 check-in process. There will be six-foot distance markers outside of the salon, a poster of the government guidelines which customers will have to read, a sign-in log, and a hands-free sanitizer, and they will be required to wear masks upon entering.

After the customers have read the guidelines, they will have to ring an automatic doorbell that the salon installed. Then, their temperatures will be taken and after passing these check-in points, they will be able to move around in the salon at the six-feet distance. Pino is telling all of her customers about the new check-in process so they know what to expect and also requesting, “I have one request no Covid conversation once you pass the Covid check point.” This will allow customers to hopefully have a peaceful experience.

For customers who don’t have a mask, Pino will have a masks available that she sewed herself. Also, for her first 200 customers, she has prepared coronavirus care packages that include the sewed masks and hand sanitizers.

With the new changes and guidelines, Pino is crossing her fingers that her re-opening will go well and is anticipating there might be more changes along the way.