CHALMETTE, La. — With the saltwater wedge’s gradual encroachment upon St. Bernard Parish, local businesses, including hair salons, are gearing up to address the potential impact on their operations.
Remaining Resilient Amidst Uncertainty
St. Bernard hair stylist, Lorna Lucito Boos, expressed a sense of calm amidst the looming concern, asserting, “Definitely calm down. It’s not going to be that bad. We have overcome much worse.” Boos, who boasts decades of experience, vividly recalls the challenges posed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which compelled her and her business to rebuild from scratch. The subsequent BP oil spill in 2010 took a toll on her clientele, affecting her earnings. Hurricane Ida’s power outage in 2021 and the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced many salons to close for months, are also part of the trials Boos has weathered.
“I just don’t see any major concern. I think St. Bernard has control over what’s coming, and I think we will be fine,” Boos remarked optimistically, advising residents to stay prepared.
Adapting to Water Shortages
However, Dorene Garcia, another St. Bernard hair stylist, holds a different perspective, particularly concerned about the potential water scarcity. Given the considerable water usage in her salon, she worries about maintaining essential services.
“I guess when the time comes, we will have to bring in water to shampoo, and hopefully they can maintain their hair with bottled water,” Garcia stated.
Boos offered a contrasting viewpoint, highlighting that people routinely expose their hair to saltwater during vacations without adverse effects. She emphasized, “We can use bottled water to spray for a haircut. Styling, clients get styled once a week. It’s one shampoo.”
Saltwater’s Impact on Hair Health
Garcia, however, cautioned about the potential damage caused by excessive exposure to saltwater. She explained, “Salt draws moisture out of the hair, the scalp, and the hair, which can lead to breakage, frizz, split ends. And if you have hair extensions, around the extension piece, it causes matting. It does affect color, because without moisture, the dryness, the color will fade out. And the color fades out quick.”
To counteract the effects of increased salinity in water, Garcia recommended frequent conditioning. “Try to leave some kind of protectant over the hair cuticle to keep it from stripping its moisture,” she advised. “Even like a little bit of oil on the ends and just run it through the hair.”
Boos added that, counterintuitively, less frequent hair washing can be healthier, helping to preserve hair color.
“When you go home, I would suggest don’t wash your hair every day,” Boos suggested. “You don’t need to wash your hair every day.”
As St. Bernard Parish braces for the potential impact of the saltwater wedge, local hair salons are readying themselves to adapt to the changing conditions while offering guidance on hair care in salt-affected environments.
