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beauty

Very

Finding practical ways to maintain a healthy work-life balance has been high on the agenda for beauty salons. A massive 53% of you say making a daily to-do list helps you keep on top of things, while scheduling holiday time well in advance (37%), using time management tools (26%) and refraining from answering emails outside work hours (24%) also helps you get some much-needed downtime.

Helping out your local community is also important, which is why 62% of you are considering launching a beauty bank in salon, where customers can donate new and unopened products to help tackle hygiene poverty in the UK. Meanwhile, your skincare sales have been booming as customers invest in moisturising products such as sheet masks, facial mists and serums. Check out the latest textures taking the skincare industry by storm on page 82.

On the spot

How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?

1. Make a daily to-do list

2. Schedule holiday time in advance

3. Use time-management tools

4. Avoid answering emails outside work hours

62% would launch a beauty bank at their salon to help tackle hygiene poverty in the UK

Which moisturising skincare product is most popular with clients?

1. Serums

2. Sheet masks

3. Facial mists

4. Gel-format moisturisers

September 2018 in numbers

HOW DID TREATMENT BUSINESS IN SEPTEMBER 2018 COMPARE WITH SEPTEMBER 2017?

Insider spa

Cotton Traders

With the retail side of your business booming, up 50% compared to last year’s figures, many of you have been stocking up on your bestsellers, especially moisturising skincare. Hydrating serums (71%) have been the most popular item with clients, followed by sheet masks (29%), gel-format moisturisers (21%) and facial mists (14%).

To ensure staff don’t burn themselves out, many of you have put measures in place to make sure everyone has a good work-life balance, from daily meditation (21%) and achievable to-do lists (43%), to policies where everyone has to leave work on time (21%). As the boss, delegating more to staff (43%) and giving them responsibility for certain parts of the business ensures you have more time with your family and friends. For more top tips on how to achieve a healthy work-life balance, and the common pitfalls to avoid, turn to page 91.

On the spot

How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?

1. Delegate work to staff

2. Schedule holiday time in advance

3. Make a daily to-do list

4. Meditate daily

65% would launch a beauty bank at their spa to help tackle hygiene poverty in the UK

Which moisturising skincare product is most popular with clients?

1. Serums

2. Sheet masks

3. Gel-format moisturisers

4. Facial mists

September 2018 in numbers

HOW DID TREATMENT BUSINESS IN SEPTEMBER 2018 COMPARE WITH SEPTEMBER 2017?

Insider nails

Primark

With large-scale brawls in nail salons in New York and Canada having hit the headlines, both of which started because clients were unhappy with the treatments they received, the issue of dealing with disgruntled customers is in the spotlight. Although 88% of UK salons haven’t experienced a problem like this, 12% admitted that a client has tried to get confrontational or physical with one of their nail techs following a disagreement.

When it comes to troubleshooting tips, many of you turn to nail-focused Facebook Groups for advice, especially as it’s an opportunity to network with like-minded professionals who can mentor you. Some of the groups you noted as especially useful included Nail Tech Support Group for All, Nail Tech Network and Confessions of a Nail Tech. For the latest nail news, including a Q&A with session tech Marian Newman on the nails she did for the SS19 Mary Katrantzou show, turn to page 97.

On the spot

Which nail-focused Facebook groups are you and your nail techs members of?

1. Nail Tech Support Group for All

2. Nail Tech Network

3. Confessions of a Nail Tech

4. Nail Tech Safety Net

12% have had a client get confrontational/ physical with them following a disagreement in salon

Which nail art trend do you think is going to be most popular this autumn/winter?

1. Ombré

2. Animal print

3. Marble

4. Cuticle colour pop

METHODOLOGY Insider is compiled from a monthly survey of spas and beauty salons. The people who participated represent a crosssection of the industry and were polled by email from September 27–October 4, regarding business for the month to September 30. Nail business for the Insider Nails page was calculated from data provided by spas and salons that offer nail services among other treatments. The figures given represent the average score for each answer. Brands are ranked when mentioned by several respondents.

September 2018 in numbers

HOW DID TREATMENT BUSINESS IN SEPTEMBER 2018 COMPARE WITH SEPTEMBER 2017?