DENVER — Brandi Harvey is used to fighting for things. Just ten years ago, the army veteran was living on welfare, going to college full-time and raising her two young boys as a single mom.
To make some extra money, she got her lash certification and began doing lash extensions on the floor of her home.
"My poor sister laid on the bed for four hours while I did the best I could with my shaky hands," she said.
Today, her side hustle has turned into a thriving business in Denver's Capitol Hill neighborhood. Harvey was weeks out from opening her second shop in the Lower Highlands neighborhood when Gov. Jared Polis ordered all salons and spas to close through April 30 due to the coronavirus.
"I'm a single mom so I don't have any other income. That was it, so it's really hard to figure out what to do from here," Harvey said.
Harvey needed to act, not just for her business, but for the others left paralyzed by the order. So she created the Colorado Salon and Spa Support pages on Instagram and Facebook. The pages provide people with a list of Colorado salons and spas selling gift cards, discounts and deals that they can purchase now and use in the future.
"Gift cards for future purchases, is really the best way to get some kind of revenue coming in, in the moment right now and obviously those clients will still come in," Harvey said.
Right now the page lists more than 100 salons and spas and continues to grow. Harvey hopes it'll help the now-struggling industry get by until they can get back to business.
"I just really appreciate any support people could give us. I don't feel like the salon industry has had really any sort of a voice in things, I don't feel like it was really addressed in where we are or how many people are suffering because of that," Harvey said.
