Ahmet Sim carefully planned the reopening of his Salon Simis & Spa for this Friday.

Sim had 45 bottles of hand sanitizer FedExed to him, including a case from Tennessee. He bought extra face masks for his customers and asked his brother to mail him a digital thermometer from Turkey because they were scarce in the U.S.

Then, on Tuesday, Sim learned that his salon in Fairfax would remain closed for at least two more weeks, by order from Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.

“It’s bad for economy, bad for all of us. But what can you do?” Sim said.

Hair stylists across Northern Virginia were surprised by Northam’s announcement. In an executive order, the governor explained that he extended COVID-19 restrictions on non-essential businesses including salons in response to a request from leaders in the region. They said they did not meet critical metrics to safely reopen, including a sustained downward trend of positive tests and hospitalizations. Previously, Northam had said that all of Virginia would move to a “Phase One” of reopening on May 15.

John Hall, owner of The Ultimate Barber in Alexandria, prepared for a Friday reopening by buying 1,000 disposable cutting capes, along with 4,000 masks and 20 boxes of gloves. He asked each of his 12 barbers to take a free COVID-19 certification course offered by Barbicide disinfectant company. He said it was frustrating to be deferred.

“We’re probably one of the cleaner places you could probably come to and get a service,” Hall said, comparing his business with a grocery store that could have hundreds of customers a day, yet remain open.

Hall said he’d rescheduled clients four times — once, when the governor closed barbershops until late April, then again when the ban was extended until May 7, once more when Northam pushed for an additional week, and now he faces the same task.

“We were pretty booked up as far as people anticipating coming back, but now we’ve just had to cancel them once again,” Hall said.

Hall said when he does eventually reopen, he is concerned about how he will forge a connection to his clientele.

“When you’ve got half your face covered up with a mask, no shaking of hands … you’re not really building relationships anymore,” he said. “You’re just sitting them down in a chair and just trying to give them a service.”

Local governments say they are aware their businesses are hurting during the pandemic. Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey said her county had re-allocated and fundraised about $1.2 million to issue to small businesses. Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson said his council would distribute to small businesses some of the federal funding it received for COVID. In Prince William County, Chair Ann Wheeler said her office set up a small business relief fund and offers consultations to help businesses take advantage of federal programs.

Some salons were not ready to reopen Friday.

Jyll Kauffman, owner of Revolution Colour Studio in McLean, said she had asked her three stylists who would be willing to resume work on May 15, and only one said yes.

“We’re in people’s faces,” she said. “It’s a little scary.”

Still, she had intended to reopen within a week of restrictions being eased. Kauffman said she had ordered masks and gloves, and planned to space clients far apart in the salon. She said she had not yet booked clients for May and was grateful.

“The stress of rescheduling, and getting everybody in and everybody wants to be first is actually more stressful than the closing,” she said.

Months without business is grueling. Kauffman said she got a PPP loan from the federal government, but she was straining.

“I’m trusting the people in charge know what they’re doing,” Kaufman said. Still, she said, “I don’t know how much longer we can go.”

Sim, in Fairfax, said he was waiting to hear if he would get a PPP loan. In the meantime, he has laid off his ten stylists and dipped into his own savings to pay his rent and utilities.

“As a business owner, I’m losing my profit,” he said. Still, he said, “I’ve seen worse before. I’m a survivor.”

Sim said he would use his extra time off to bond with his 16-month-old daughter.

Northam’s order expires on May 28; in theory, the salons, gyms and restaurants of Northern Virginia should be able to open after that. Sim said he hesitated to trust that date. As a safety measure, he said he is only booking clients for June 10.