LISTEN: Anchorage barber optimistic a month into shutdown, ‘but some weren’t in a position to weather this’

The Idoms pose for a portrait on February 26, 2020. The Hair Science Barbershop and Barber School is a family operation. Katie Idom, left, is a hair stylist, but also handles their merchandise. (From left to right) Katie Idom, Nova Idom, 1, Zendaya Idom, 3, and Shawn Idom. (Mayowa Aina/Alaska Public Media)

Hundreds of hair care and beauty industry businesses in Alaska have had to shut down in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

A barbershop in Anchorage called Hair Science is just one of them. Hair Science’s owner and lead barber Shawn Idom says he decided to close up shop even before a statewide mandate required it.

Read more coronavirus coverage from Alaska Public Media

Idom explained to Alaska Public Media’s Casey Grove what it’s like dealing with the quickly unfolding health crisis, for a line of work that inherently involves getting close to customers.

LISTEN HERE:

Related: At this Anchorage barbershop, the vision is ‘unapologetically black’

Casey Grove is host of Alaska News Nightly, a general assignment reporter and an editor at Alaska Public Media. Reach him at cgrove@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Casey here

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