Unruly hair and grown out nails are some of the ways we're already physically seeing the impacts of salons and other personal care businesses closing their doors this week.
But we're really not seeing the ugliest part, which is how it's impacting the people who work here.
"I love coming to work here, I don't want to find anything else," says Angel Stucky of her job as a nail tech at Frenchie's.
For Angel and nail techs across Acadiana, coming to work, or even taking a side job in the industry, is not an option.
"In the personal care industry, these are personal services. You are up close and personal with your guest when you do these services whether you're a hair dresser, a massage therapist, an aesthetician or a nail specialist. There's no way to do these things without coming in contact with people," says Frenchie's owner Melissa Maeker.
She adds unlike restaurants and local shops, businesses like her's can't turn to online or delivery options, and everybody is hurting.
Of her employees, she says "they don't have jobs and they don't have income, and I don't have income. And everybody's got bills to pay"
"We're not working right now. I've filed for unemployment. I've applied for some stuff. I've been told i'm not qualified to work as a cashier," adds Angel Stucky.
Because of the close physical proximity required to give a manicure, Maeker worries her business will have to be one of last to reopen.
"There's going to be a light at the end of the tunnel, but I don't know how long that tunnel is or when we're going to finally see the light and I think unfortunately there are going to be a lot of businesses that do not make it," says Maeker.
For anybody who wants to be a part of finding that light at the end of the tunnel, buying giftcards to use at a later date is helpful, and more than anything, stay home to stop the spread of the virus.
