Remember those 3 months in 2020 when no one could get a haircut? Jackie Epperson sure does.

Jackie owns Chroma Salon in Tacoma. She remembers clearly the day she closed her doors at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We thought it was going to be for 2 weeks,” she said. “We ended up being closed for eleven and a half weeks, and then came back with 25% capacity and restrictions.”

She doesn’t want to see that again. With case counts and hospitalizations recently reaching new highs in Pierce County, she’s urging anyone eligible to get vaccinated.

Safe space in the chair.

Jackie tries to provide a safe space in her salon to discuss concerns over the vaccine.

“I always come back to, ‘talk to your doctor,’” she said. “If you really are scared, stop getting on the internet. Stop going on social media. Go sit down and have a conversation with a medical professional who knows you. They’re the one that’s going to be able to talk it out and help you make the best decision for you and your family.”

Talking to so many different people helped Jackie realize the divide between us is often smaller than it seems.

“We all want the same thing,” she said. “We want healthy children and a healthy environment. A healthy economy. I don’t want us to close again.  I hope people realize the vaccine is one of the major ways to get back to everything we love.”

Back in business.

When the salon reopened, Jackie said clients were ready—and appreciative.

“Everybody was excited,” she said. “Everybody loves to get their hair done.”

Jackie estimates about 20% of salons didn’t make it through the shutdown. Her business was fielding hundreds of calls a day when they returned. They had to start a waiting list. 

“We’ve never been so busy,” she said. “Ever.”

The experience made one thing clear: when the vaccine became available, Jackie was going to get it to keep her business open and help limit the spread of COVID-19.

“Watching people get vaccinated and having people come in, it all felt very positive,” she said. “It was exciting. The vaccine was finally available. There wasn’t this negativity around it. People were finally able to do something about COVID.”

Find your dose.

After Jackie got vaccinated in April, she helped find doses of vaccine for many of her customers.

“It was a joke for a while,” she said. “People couldn’t find openings. When clients were sitting in my chair, I was helping them find vaccine appointments. Because I had just done it. We’d put their color on and then find a place to get vaccinated.”

These days, the vaccine is easy to find. Find yours today at tpchd.org/vaxtothefuture.

If you need a ride or can’t easily leave home, we can help! Call (253) 649-1412, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 7 days a week.

Your role to stop the spread of COVID-19 remains critical.

• Wear your mask.
• If you’re sick, stay home.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Get tested if you experience symptoms or were exposed.