Editor’s Comment

At a recent focus group we held here in the PB offices, some leading spa directors were discussing the client sectors that may still feel marginalised.

While it’s true that huge strides have been made in recent years to welcome people going through or recovering from cancer into spas - and you can find out more about exactly what’s involved in cancer touch training in our career path feature this month, on page 152 - this increasingly inclusive approach has shone a light on other groups that still need a little more attention.

In our focus group, the question was raised as to whether it’s time to take a fresh look at the treatments we offer women during pregnancy, for example, which are often limited to one specialist massage, and sometimes nothing at all in the first trimester.

Treatments for those going through menopause were also tipped as a key focus for 2020, with spas and salons looking for new ways to help women manage the changes to their skin, body and wellbeing. Our feature on page 106 takes an in-depth look at the subject, uncovering the key changes women experience during this stage of life and the help you can provide, through both changes to their skincare routines, and practical adjustments such as the temperature of heated beds.

You can read about the other market trends and challenges identified during our focus groups on page 117, while our Professional Beauty London preview (page 68) offers a sneak peek at six of the major 2020 trends you can discover at the upcoming show - from vegan make-up to CBD skincare, there are launches that will help you make all clients feel welcome.