NEWS

43% of beauty and hair businesses back in profit as “resilient” sector recovers

Just under half (43%) of beauty and hair businesses are now making a profit and a further 43% are breaking even, showing just how resilient the industry has been, emerging from the coronavirus pandemic, according to the National Hair & Beauty Federation’s (NHBF) State of the Industry Survey.

The survey, which collated responses from businesses in the personal care sector across all areas including city centres, town centres and villages in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales from September 9–20, found that an impressive 40% had also raised their prices over the past three months, with a further 40% planning to do so within the next three months.

However, two thirds (66%) remain either partially or entirely reliant on Government support, which is slightly down from June 2021 (80%), the report found.

There were also interesting survey results regarding staffing, recruitment, and apprentices, including the fact that in the next three months 27% of hair and beauty businesses will “definitely” or are “likely to” take on new staff, up from 16% in June, 2021.

The survey also underlined that 63% of business owners are confident of their survival and 40% intend to grow their business, with 46% remaining the same size and only 14% downsizing or handing their business over.

NHBF chief executive Richard Lambert commented: “Ours is a resilient industry. This latest survey shows real recovery and an overall optimistic outlook, with 40% of salons saying they expect to grow.”

Law banning botulinum toxin and dermal fillers for under 18s comes into force

It is now illegal in England to give botulinum toxin injections and dermal fillers to under 18s purely for cosmetic reasons as the Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Bill came into force on October 1.

The bill prohibits procedures for under 18s in England if they are for aesthetic purposes and if they are not approved by a doctor.

The new law warns businesses that they should verify proof of age and that consent from parents or guardians is not a defence.

In cases where a medical need is determined and approved by a doctor, these procedures must only be undertaken by registered health professionals. The Department of Health (DoH) and Social Care said failure to comply with the law “could result in a criminal prosecution and an unlimited fine”.

It is estimated that around 70,000 under 18s received botulinum toxin or cosmetic fillers each year, according to the DoH.

Health experts have been calling for the UK Government to ban injectables for under 18s since 2019 in light of reality TV programmes such as ITV2’s Love Island making fillers more popular among teenagers.

APPG calls on Government to aid beauty industry’s recovery post-coronavirus as salons struggle

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellbeing (APPG) has published a call to action asking the Government to secure the revival of the £30 billion beauty and wellbeing sector post-pandemic, with suggestions of how this could be done.

The group, chaired by MPs Carolyn Harris and Judith Cummins, launched an inquiry following concerns from industry leaders that the sector was struggling to bounce back after coronavirus. It found that many are facing staff shortages post-Brexit and due to inadequate funding for apprentices, as well the deficit in consumer confidence. Meanwhile, 66% remain either partially or fully reliant on Government support to function.

The group has made three recommendations to Government to ensure that the sector is not left behind, based on evidence given in public inquiry sessions and written submissions from a wide range of stakeholders. The APPG’s three recommendations are:

1. Broaden apprenticeship incentives for employers, in particular for small and micro businesses

2. Include further accessible and broader holistic and complementary qualifications in the National Skills Fund

3. Recognise holistic and complementary therapies, and the crucial role these can play in taking pressure off the NHS.

VTCT partners with NCFE to develop Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics T Level qualification

Awarding body VTCT will be supporting NCFE –a leader in vocational and technical learning – to design and develop the T Level Technical Qualification in Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics. Development of these qualifications will begin immediately, with delivery of the Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics T Level scheduled to commence in England in 2023.

The courses, which last two years, are equivalent to three A Levels, and are developed in collaboration with employers to ensure the content meets industry needs and prepares the learner to enter the workforce.

David Gallagher, chief executive of NCFE, said: “With our extensive knowledge on the development of T Levels, combined with VTCT’s expertise and standing in the sector, we are confident that the qualifications will be of the highest quality and lead learners into fantastic career opportunities.”

Searches for aesthetic treatments and tweakments soar 50% as Brits take their skincare more seriously

Tweakments, skinimalism and products that understand the skin-psyche connection are trends that have helped to drive an incredible boom in the skincare industry this year.

The “Beautified Britain Index: The Skin Report”, released by Dr Yusra Clinic, analysed data to see how Britain is looking at beauty post-pandemic. The research revealed that consumers are taking their skincare much more seriously, with searches for “aesthetic treatments” and “tweakments” soaring 50% between January 2020 and July 2021, and “best skin care” searches rising 89% in the same period, the report found.

The most popular “tweakments”, such as lip filler, microneedling and chemical peels, saw a 22% search increase respectively. “Acne scarring” rose by 124%, “mask acne” saw a 315% increase and searches for “Zoom face” soared by 3,100% , the report found. Hybrid treatment models are also rising post-pandemic, with a 70% increase for virtual consultations.

Skinimalism, filler removal and glowing skin are also trending as people lean into a more natural look, with no-make-up selfies trending thanks to celebrities such as model Gigi Hadid and singer Beyoncé going barefaced on social media.

Wolverhampton tops list of UK cities with highest rated beauty salons

Wolverhampton has been named the best city in the UK for highly rated beauty salons, with 84% of salons in this area receiving ratings of 4.5 or above, and with a beauty salon for every 1,387 people.

The study, by supplement and beauty brand New Nordic, used data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Treatwell and TripAdvisor to rank the best UK cities for beauty salons.

Glasgow placed second, with ratings of 4.5 or higher for 35.9% of salons; Liverpool placed third with 35.2% of salons rated 4.5 or above, and a salon for every 1,197 people.

Cardiff and Nottingham were in the bottom two, with just 3.1% and 8.8% of salons rating over 4.5 respectively, while Southampton has one of the lowest ratios, with a salon for every 5,074 people.

Beauty Directors Club climbs Snowdon to raise funds for salon owners in developing countries

A group of 23 salon owners climbed Mount Snowdon in North Wales in September to raise money for female salon owners in developing countries.

The group, who are all members of consultant Susan Routledge’s Beauty Directors Club, raised more than £4,500 to help women set up salons and become financially independent via Lend With Care – an initiative from not-for-profit organisation Care International to fund small businesses.

They were on the mountain for seven hours and descended in the dark. The climbers were: Sarah Atkinson, Jane Barker, Laura Bateman, Rachel Cobley, Sheila Cummings, Sandra Fludgate, May Gordon, Sarah Hurst, Susanne Jennings, Anastasia Korabukhina, Alison Laws, Maria Mason, Clare Porter, Azra R, Clare Reed, Susan Routledge, Joan Scott, Sara Shoemark, Jo Simpson, Clare Singleton, Dawn Stanley, Suzanne Webb and Marta Zaczkowska.

“The climb was far harder than we all thought and showed the true importance of teamwork and the extra strength that comes out when everyone pulls together,” said Routledge. Previous fundraising efforts have helped launch five salons in Zambia.

Deadline: Collective Pride Awards close for entries on November 15

You only have until November 15 to enter your business into the Collective Pride Awards.

The new event, launched by mental wellbeing and suicide prevention charity The Lions Barber Collective, recognises beauty, hair and barber professionals who go above and beyond for others and their local communities, acknowledging that the industry offers way more than just personal care treatments.

There are eight categories professionals can enter, ranging from the Beyond Business Award, which recognises a salon where the effort goes beyond business expectation, to the My Saviour Award, which highlights a professional who has given support to a client during a tough time in their lives.

Professional Beauty Group is the official media partner for the awards. Enter at collectiveprideawards.co.uk

Zenoti acquires SuperSalon software, expanding reach to more than 15,000 salons and spas

Salon software supplier Zenoti has acquired SuperSalon software, a brand that has supplied some of the largest salon chains for the past 22 years. The acquisition follows Zenoti’s Series D funding round where it was valued at more than $1.5 billion.

The beauty, wellness, and fitness SaaS (software as a service) provider has seen recent growth attributed to the industry reopening following Covid-19 lockdowns, offering modern features such as mobile bookings, a reception-less environment, and contactless payments.

Although the value of the deal remains undisclosed, the combined entity will power more than 15,000 spas, salons, and medi-spas, including leading chains such as European Wax Center, Hand & Stone, and Fantastic Sams.

Zenoti’s chief executive Sudheer Koneru (pictured) commented: “Customers expect innovation, and innovation needs scale. SuperSalon is trusted and proven among large enterprises, and our combined entity will not only expand the reach of our offering but also give us the scale to continue to develop cutting-edge technology that takes our customers to the next level.”

Raj Mahajan, chief executive of SuperSalon, added: “Zenoti’s modern, mobile-friendly solution stands out as the strongest in our segment, and I see it as the best way forward to ensure continued growth for our customers.”

Shop Beautiful announces first nail brand partnership with Missu

UK distributor Shop Beautiful has announced a partnership with popular nail brand Missu in a bid to expand its offering for customers.

This is the company’s first collaboration with a nail brand, with Shop Beautiful stating that it chose Missu because it makes products with nail techs’ needs in mind and has “strong values for quality, community and education”.

Shop Beautiful accounts can access the full Missu collection on the website, including Builder Gel, Flexi Tips and Cool Sculpting Gel, as well as gain access to the brand’s academy, which offers knowledge both online and face to face with educators based around the UK.

Missu chief executive Helen Zeng said: “We’re honoured to be working with Shop Beautiful on bringing our products to their platform. We can promise our existing customers continued exemplary customer service and support, with an improved purchasing experience.”

Spa facilities specialist Klafs acquires pool supplier Guncast

Sauna and spa specialist Klafs has acquired swimming pool supplier Guncast so it can offer a more comprehensive package to luxury hotels, commercial spas, and private residences.

The partnership originally began in 2016, when Guncast was chosen as a supplier of Klafs products to the market in the UK, and since then the relationship between the two wellness companies has evolved, leading to this acquisition.

“Since 2016, we’ve enjoyed tremendous growth in the UK and this partnership will help us expand even more rapidly – in particular we’re seeing more clients wanting the complete spa experience, incorporating a pool, sauna and other treatment rooms,” said Stefan Schöllhammer, Klafs chief executive.

Made For Life Organics offers cancer therapies on cruise ships

Made For Life Organics has partnered with Fred Olsen Cruise Liners to offer spa experiences for those living with long-term health conditions.

New ships Bolette and Borealis will be the first in the fleet to offer rituals including meditative back, body and scalp treatments for those with sensitive skin and living with cancer.

Made for Life Organics founder Amanda Winwood said: “These specifically curated touch therapy treatment rituals open wellbeing to all and are tailored around each guest experience to provide total relaxation.”

PureSkin partners with facialist Kate Kerr and TV presenter Andrea McLean

Lots of developments have been happening at aesthetic treatment brand PureSkin, with the company announcing collaborations with leading facialist Kate Kerr (pictured top) and TV presenter Andrea McLean (bottom).

The brand’s PureHydro device, which provides an eight-in-one oxygenating facial, is now in situ at The Kate Kerr Clinic at the Agua Spa in the Sea Containers Hotel, London.

“As a clinic famous for its highly qualified practitioners and leading expertise in skincare technology and treatment, PureHydro will be the perfect addition to its treatment offering,” said PureSkin chief executive Jayne Mitchell.

Meanwhile, TV presenter and journalist McLean has been named the brand’s new celebrity ambassador. She said: “I love that the PureHydro treatments are totally bespoke to your skin type… I’m currently having a course of facials and I can’t wait to get my glow back.”