"Our life before COVID was exactly what you're seeing now. The same equipment and the same protection equipment that we're using is what we used to use before," said Scognamiglio.
She has added a UV sterilizer to disinfect the room and a few health and safety protocols like only one customer at a time, taking temperatures when they arrive, and requiring them to wear a mask.
Few OC nail salons choose to reopen outdoors after new guidelines
Few Orange County nail salons choosing to reopen outdoor operations after Gov. Newsom's new guidelines
"So we must wear a mask at all times. We wear protection equipment, we wear gloves and we do the whole procedure with everything being covered," she said.
This is all part of the reason she and other beauty industry professionals believe they should be able to reopen.
"It's just unfair to see that everybody can just be gathering around, partying on boats and I can't have my business open seeing one client at a time," said Scognamiglio.
Newsom allows some CA salon services to move outdoors
Gov. Newsom allows some salon services to move outdoors in California amid COVID-19
The state is only allowing personal care services to operate outside - but that excludes tattoo parlors. We asked the California Public Health Department about the industry's concerns and were simply told that all industry guidance must be adhered to. After five months of this, Francesca says she can no longer wait.
"It's either closing because of bankruptcy or getting fined, so we must make a choice and decide what's the best to do. We either support our family or we drown with regulations," she said.
She's decided to join hundreds of others across the state in reopening Monday, Aug. 17, saying enough is enough.
"We do this as a living. They say we're not an essential business. But this business is essential to our families," she said.
California reopening: Here's what's open, closed
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