Several hair and nail salons in the Bronx are demanding that the city and state help the beauty industry during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Nieves Okoronkwo owns two beauty salons and says she’s concerned that when New York City eventually reopens, her business won’t be able to stay afloat. 

“I pay $18,000 a month for my two salons. How am I able to come up with that if I am closed all this time,” said Okoronkwo. 

Several beauty and nail salon owners are calling on the state to work with the city’s beauty industry, as businesses in other parts of the New York state region move towards reopening. 

The salon owners say they haven’t been given any guidance or help from the state on how to begin the process. 

They say they’re eager to get back to business but are worried that they won’t be able to financially handle the extra cost of protecting themselves, their workers, and clients from COVID-19.

Okoronkwo says she’s applied for federal loans and grants, but that so far no help has come. 

The business owners are pushing for a state or city task force to address the specific needs of the city’s beauty sector so that salons can stay in business when the city reopens. 

 

“This is about calling on the city and the state to work with the leaders of the New York City Beauty Salon Association to put together a plan to follows all the regulations,” said Okoronkwo. 

They say they are concerned that if the city or state doesn't step in, it won't be a pretty picture for their future.