13 mins
News
Women moving back to professional salon treatments but favouring natural look
Women are taking their beauty treatments back to salons, with 75% stating they have had some form of cosmetic enhancement treatment – including everything from fillers and more invasive aesthetic procedures to nail extensions and brow lamination.
Just under half (47%) invest in regular treatments monthly, with numbers rising in eastern Europe to 53% in Poland, 60% in Turkey and 66% in Romania.
Beauty retailer Avon’s new 2023 Future of Beauty Report surveyed 7,000 women across three continents, with key findings including a more embracing attitude towards a “natural” look, because of both the pandemic, and tightening purse strings due to the cost-of-living crisis.
The research also found that the majority of women link cosmetic treatments with improved confidence (60%) and self-esteem (57%).
Additionally, most are continuing to embrace the ageing process, with almost three quarters (72%) wanting to focus on looking healthy rather than young.
When it comes to the most popular treatments, semi-permanent make-up has seen a 3% increase as women aim to cut their gettingready time down. Gel polish manicures are still proving popular, with a 1% increase.
On the other side, spray tanning has seen the biggest decline, dropping 15%, with acrylic nails also decreasing by 4%, as consumers concentrate on natural nail health. And, despite 67% of women choosing make-up looks on the more natural side, more than a quarter (26%) stated they still want strong elements in their look, whether it’s a bold bright lip or long and full lashes.
New category line-up as Professional Beauty Awards 2024 opens for entries
Entries are now open for the 2024 Professional Beauty Awards, with nine categories available to enter.
Professional Beauty Awards 2024 categories
• Spa of the Year
• Boutique Salon of the Year
• Large Salon of the Year
• Skin Clinic of the Year – sponsored by Million Dollar Facial
• Spa/Salon Team of the Year
• Mobile/Home-based Beauty Business of the Year
• Nail Salon of the Year
• Therapist of the Year
• Employer of the Year
Entries close on September 1, 2023, with the shortlist due to be announced in October.
The awards night will then be held on March 3, 2024, alongside the Professional Beauty London show, when the full industry comes together.
Winners receive a trophy, as well as industry recognition and dedicated PR support – press releases, videos, logos and images to help them make the most of their win.
The awards are free to enter and are open to spas, salons, clinics and beauty therapists.
Enter the Professional Beauty Awards 2024 for free at professionalbeautyawardsuk.co.uk
News in brief
Salon chain Mooeys has opened its fourth franchise in Newbury, Berkshire, marking its sixth location in total and its third franchise opening since lockdown. The group, which specialises in waxing and nails, has branches across the South East. The Newbury franchise is owned by Kria Acuavera, who previously worked in nursing before deciding she wanted her own business.
The Therme Group has partnered with the University of Surrey to develop new digital platforms to enhance the tourism industry’s ability to measure and reduce its carbon footprint. Across several research projects, they will develop digital platforms for businesses to quickly calculate their carbon emissions and find solutions to mitigate their impact.
Hive of Beauty is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Launched in 1993, the brand has a worldwide customer base and offers everything required by the modern waxing professional, whether a mobile therapist, small salon, or high-end waxing technician.
Dermalogica has named actor and Friends star Courtney Cox as the brand’s newest ambassador. Speaking on the partnership, Cox said, “I was introduced to Dermalogica on the set of Friends and have used Daily Microfoliant and Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50 for years.”
Barons Eden has invested £4million into developing a new spa garden at its Nottinghamshire property, Eden Hall Day Spa. The spa garden features all-year-round facilities including an outdoor sauna and firepit, four standing therapy stations, air loungers and a hydrotherapy pool.
Revealed: the UK’s biggest skin concerns
"Large pores" tops the list of the nation’s biggest skin concerns, with 10,943 people citing it as their primary concern, according to new stats.
To identify the UK's most pressing skin priorities, skincare brand Kiehl's analysed data collected by its Instant Skin Reader from February to December 2022.
This followed a survey conducted by the British Skin Foundation, which revealed that one in five respondents expressed dissatisfaction with their skin, yet less than half of those pople were willing to seek professional advice.
The second most significant skin concern identified by the Instant Skin Reader was "fine lines and wrinkles," with 9,758 respondents prioritising this issue.
Coming in third place, 8,312 respondents indicated "dark pigmentation" as their top concern.
Completing the list of the top five customer skin priorities were "undereye fine lines" and "lack of firmness".
Professional Beauty Group to launch Professional Beauty & Hair Glasgow show
The Professional Beauty Group has announced the launch of Professional Beauty & Hair Glasgow next summer.
The event will take place on June 9-10, 2024, at the SEC Glasgow and will serve salons, spas and freelancers in Scotland who want a place to connect and meet directly with the biggest brands in the professional beauty market.
Beauty professionals will be able to meet with their favourite professional beauty brands, take part in live education sessions, and get a first-hand look at the beauty industry's latest professional launches and innovations. There will also be a full live stage line-up of expert speakers and demos. The event will run in collaboration with Hairdressers Journal International, and will see a mixture of skincare, nail, make-up, hair, barbering and more.
Professional Beauty Group managing director Mark Moloney said, “We are looking forward to providing a space for Scottish hair and beauty professionals."
News in brief
Cellcosmet has announced a partnership with Ouronyx, a clinic in London. The Swiss brand is launching six facial skincare treatments at Ouronyx, including three exclusive treatments: Ouronyx Swiss Anti-Fatigue & Energising Eye Contour, Ouronyx CellEnergiser and Ouronyx Advanced Procollagen CellFacial.
Maya Blue Wellness at Titanic Hotel Liverpool has launched a range of treatments for people who are receiving, or have received, medical care for cancer. Therapists have undergone training with the Espa Training Academy and the Amethyst Trust, a specialised training facility that enables spas to welcome people with experiences of cancer.
CACI’s Micro-Touch Facial has been awarded Highly Commended in Pure Beauty’s Global Awards 2023, as Best New Aesthetic Treatment. Dean Nathanson, managing director of Caci, said, “We are delighted that CACI’s new Micro-Touch Facial, using our conductive Electro Glove technology, has been recognised for its innovation.”
Gharieni Group is the Forbes Travel Guide’s official spa and wellness technologies and equipment brand for the fifth consecutive year. The brand has been selected to represent the best products and services in the luxury hospitality industry, in this category.
Xpert Professional’s Nesha Wakelin has been promoted from business development manager to regional sales manager. In her new role, Wakelin will oversee the management of the business development team, working closely with them to continue to provide outstanding service and exceed the expectations of Xpert Professional clients.
Associations call on Government to protect small businesses from soaring energy costs
Trade organisations including the National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF) have sent a joint letter to Angus MacNeil MP, chair of the newly formed cross-party Energy Security and Net Zero Committee.
The letter highlights the unprecedented cost pressures arising from non-domestic energy supply and emphasises the urgent need for an inquiry into supplier behaviour.
Together, the organisations represent businesses supporting millions of jobs across the country, with other organisations involved including the British Beer and Pub Association, the Association of Convenience Stores, and the Federation of Small Businesses.
The aim is to protect small businesses across the country from being wiped out by skyrocketing energy costs, as the organisations expressed concerns about the immense burden placed on small businesses due to the sharp rise in energy costs over the past year.
The groups have warned about the potential devastating losses that communities and high streets across the country may face if immediate action is not taken to safeguard businesses from exorbitant costs and poor practices by energy suppliers.
Skin cancer charities call for SPF tax to be scrapped
Several UK charities have called for valueadded tax (VAT) on sunscreens to be scrapped in a bid to make them more affordable.
Currently, sunscreen is classified as a “cosmetic” product and carries a 20% tax. This adds around £1.50 to the cost of each bottle. It is only available without VAT to a select group of patients on an NHS prescription list suffering from certain conditions when dispensed by a pharmacist.
In a survey of 2,003 people commissioned by charity Melanoma Focus on sunscreen, half thought it is too expensive and around two-thirds said they would wear more sun cream if it were 20% cheaper. Meanwhile, 10% said they don’t use sunscreen at all due to the cost.
The survey also showed that 87% of people regularly put sunscreen on their children in the summer, but among those who didn’t, 12% said that is because of the high cost.
News in brief
Studex spent National Piercing Day (May 16) visiting 22 of its piercing partners across the country. The team handed out Studex goody bags and gave its partners a sneak peek at its new Crystal Shimmers collection.
Wellness organisation The Center will hold its first retreat aimed specifically at teenagers this summer. The Rewire Retreat, led by Natasha K Richardson, will take place at 42 Acres, Somerset, and is a three-day experience to address the root causes of anxiety and support teenagers with tools and practices to help their emotional and physical wellbeing.
Artificial intelligence and augmented reality beauty and fashion tech solutions provider Perfect Corp has introduced The Small Business Beauty Tech Accelerator programme to provide women- or minority-owned small beauty brands and retailers with up to six months of free access to Perfect Corp’s self-service virtual try-on solution for colour cosmetics.
Liz McKeon will run her Elevate Your Management and Leadership Skills for Success Programme this August. The Programme is for salon owners and managers looking to upskill in a management role, as well as team members wishing to become team leaders and those planning to open their own salon.
Seaham Hall has launched new residences for purchase, taking the total number of residential properties at the five-star boutique hotel to five. Set on the Durham Heritage Coast, the lodges have modern interiors and luxury finishings.
Industry pays tribute to Ian Gerrard of Gerrard International
The beauty industry has paid tribute to Ian Gerrard, financial director of Gerrard International, who passed away on May 30.
Gerrard ran the family business with his wife Susan, chairman, his daughters Lisa, managing director, and Danielle, international sales manager, as well as his son Paul, director of marketing and brand communications.
In a joint tribute, Lisa, Danielle and Paul said, “Behind this great man was a great woman (our mum) and behind that great woman was this great man (our dad). They made an awesome team as parents and as our employers. Dad’s absence will be felt by the many lives he impacted – both within and outside the industry.”
Ian first entered the beauty and hair industry in 1959, undertaking a hairdressing apprenticeship. Meeting Susan a year later on a blind date, he opened his first salon in 1964, a year before the couple married, with their first child following three years later.
Their second salon opened in 1982 and they first brought Jessica Nail Care to the UK in 1991, with Ian then bringing over Sexy Hair in 1993.
In 1997, the Gerrard International headquarters and training facility was opened in Borehamwood.
In 1999, Ian became a grandfather, with five more grandchildren to follow. In 2017, he was instrumental in the build of a 10,000sq ft warehouse in 2017. Ian was also a founding member of the Beauty Companies Association (BCA).
Always dedicated to the business and the industry, Ian continued to work five days a week until April, despite being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in October 2022.
Mark Moloney, managing director of the Professional Beauty Group added his own tribute: “Ian cared about people and the profession in particular. Whilst a tough negotiator, he was always very kind, very fair. I’ll particularly miss his gentle but quick witted sense of humour. His passing is an end of an era.”
Vagaro announces 2nd annual user conference
Beauty and wellness business management platform Vagaro has announced the company’s second annual user conference, iconic.23.
Taking place in California, the event will feature returning guest speaker Tabatha Coffey, a celebrity hairstylist and television personality; Jeannie Mai Jenkins, Emmy Awardwinning television host; Kendra Scott, founder of Kendra Scott Lifestyle and Jewelry Company; and E4’s The Big Blow Out star Jack Mead.
“Our keynote speakers have unique and inspiring entrepreneurial journeys to share with our audience. From building their careers from the ground up, juggling multiple roles, and overcoming adversity to achieve success – we look forward to learning a lot from them, whether personal or professional,” said Vagaro founder and chief executive Fred Helou.
The conference brings together professionals from beauty, fitness and wellness to share industry perspectives and grow their networks over two days of educational panels, breakout sessions, and wellness classes. iconic.23 will be held September 24-25 in San Diego, California, in the historic Gaslamp Quarter.
Deborah Mitchell launches Heaven on Harley Street
Deborah Mitchell, founder of Heaven Skincare, has brought her treatments to London with the launch of Heaven On Harley Street.
The new clinic on the prestigious street offers an appointment-only service for private clients, with Mitchell personally carrying out her skin treatments, including her Bee Sting and Collagen Facials.
Last year the brand opened a new HQ and Training Academy in Telford.
Mitchell said, “Over the last year I have seen demand for my treatments and products grow to the point where it made sense to introduce a new location that offered my London clients privacy and exclusivity – and what better place than Harley Street?
“I will still be offering treatments and working in my flagship salon in Shifnal each week, but it means even more people will get to experience my very special brand of Heaven.”
3D Aesthetics receives VTCT ITEC accreditation for training courses
3D Aesthetics has announced that its training courses have now been accredited by nationally recognised awarding body for Level 2, 3 and 4 beauty qualifications VTCT ITEC.
The newly accredited courses will include training on: 3D-lipo Ultimatepro, 3D Dermaforce, 3D Trilogyice, 3D HIFU Face and Body, and 3D Powersculpt.
“We are incredibly proud of the efforts of the department and their commitment to providing high-quality training courses,” said Joanne Leahy, 3D Aesthetics’ head of training.
“Learners who complete our courses will now receive certificates marked with VTCT ITEC, providing even more recognition for the quality and content of our training courses,” she continued.
Diary dates
// June 30–July 1 Facial Aesthetics Conference & Exhibibition InterContinental London Medical aesthetics event focused on the non-surgical aesthetic marketplace. 01268 745892 faceconference.com
// July 2–4 Spa Life UK Convention Cotswolds Water Park Hotel, Gloucestershire The convention includes meetings and education to help spa professionals grow their businesses. 01268 745892 spa-life.international
// September 24–25 Professional Beauty North Manchester Central The largest beauty exhibition in the North returns with product launches, education, competitions and more. 020 7351 0536 professionalbeauty.co.uk/north
// October 15–16 Olympia Beauty ExCeL London Now under the Professional Beauty Group umbrella, Olympia Beauty will run alongside hair show Salon International. 020 7351 0536 olympiabeauty.co.uk
// October 19–20 CCR ExCel London Trade show featuring education, networking and aesthetic brands. 020 3196 4370 ccrlondon.com
// January 16–24, 2024 Waxing Specialist Business Retreat Marrakesh, Morocco Waxing expert Marta Zaczkowska is hosting a four-day retreat including group coaching and business workshops. 020 7720 7883 waxingspecialist.co.uk