NEWS

MPs call for support for hair and beauty sector in parliamentary debate

MPs called for financial support for beauty salons and a revival of plans for industry regulation during a recent parliamentary debate.

Conservative MP Julia Lopez, who secured the debate in Parliament, opened by saying, “This debate is about giving a voice to the thousands of small business owners crushed by the weight of tax demands.”

The debate followed calls from industry associations including Salon Employers Association, British Beauty Council and NHBF for measures to counteract the increase in costs caused by the Autumn Budget.

Lopez warned that the result of salons closing would not just be loss of revenue to the Treasury but young people without apprenticeships and high streets with empty units.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Gareth Thomas, recognised the challenges, saying “The pandemic, followed by the cost-of-living crisis and rising interest rates, forced many hair and beauty businesses into high levels of debt, depleted cash reserves and reduced profit margins.”

However, he held strong on the announcements made un the Autumn Budget, confirming they would not change.

“Later this year, we will be publishing our small business strategy, which will set out the Government’s vision for small businesses,” he added. “It will focus on boosting a range of support to businesses.”

The debate also covered regulation, with Thomas confirming that the current Government plans to respond to the consultation run by the previous Government, adding, “We are due to respond as soon as possible.”

NHBF chief executive Caroline Larissey said: “We’re encouraged by the Minister’s acknowledgment of increased support measures and particularly welcome the upcoming small business strategy.”

Scottish Government confirms Bill to regulate aesthetic treatments

The Scottish Government has confirmed it will introduce a Non-surgical Cosmetic Procedures Bill to regulate certain aesthetic treatments.

The Bill was confirmed as part of the Scottish Government’s Year Five Legislative Programme in the Programme for Government 2025-26: Building The Best Future For Scotland, published in May.

The document stated, “This Bill will regulate the delivery of certain non-surgical procedures offered for cosmetic or lifestyle purposes to support the safety of those who undergo the procedures.

“The Bill will ensure that certain procedures are required to be delivered from suitable premises registered with an appropriate body, and will make provision to support the enforcement of appropriate standards for service providers.”

The Bill will be introduced to Scottish Parliament before May 2026. More information will be made available as the Bill progresses through Parliament.

The announcement followed a consultation which ran from December to February and proposed a framework that would see certain beauty treatments fall under the remit of healthcare professionals only, including mesotherapy, radiofrequency, HIFU and cryolipolisis.

Commenting, Babtac chair Lesley Blair said, “We will continue to support and advise both Scottish and the wider UK government with insights and recommendations to ensure the final Bill is valid, robust and enforceable, while allowing provision for ongoing evaluation.”

Quarter of UK tweens using strong actives like retinol, study finds

Over a quarter of UK tweens (aged 9-12) are using powerful actives like retinol and AHAs, according to a new study, raising serious concerns about long-term skin health

In a survey of 1,500 UK girls and their parents by Pai Skincare, 46% of tweens reported using multiple skincare products each week, yet more than half don’t check ingredients.

Nearly half said they use skincare to achieve “clearer, blemish-free skin”, despite risks of irritation.

Social media is a major influence, with 41% of tweens looking to influencers for product recommendations. On TikTok, the hashtag #retinol has over 600,000 posts, prompting expert concern about early exposure to harsh ingredients.

To better understand the impact, Pai commissioned a clinical study, which found tween skin is biologically underdeveloped and has lower levels of cutibacterium acnes, making it more vulnerable to irritation.

Encouragingly, 59.8% of tweens still seek skincare advice from parents, offering a key opportunity for education and safer routines.

NMC to ban remote prescribing of non-surgical cosmetic medicines

In a landmark decision, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is updating its position on the remote prescribing of non-surgical cosmetic medicines, including certain anti-wrinkle injections and aesthetic emergency kit items. From June 1, 2025, nursing and midwifery prescribers must consult with people face-to-face before issuing prescriptions for these procedures, banning virtual consultations for such treatments.

Both the General Medical Council and the General Dental Council had already previously banned remote prescribing.

“We expect all nurse and midwife prescribers to deliver safe and effective prescribing practices every day, but inconsistent regulation of non-surgical cosmetic practice can present risks to people who use these services and the public,” said the NMC in a statement.

“Face-to-face consultations support the mitigation of these risks, and adopting this position will better align the NMC with other health and care regulators.”

Research found that, overall, people supported the NMC strengthening its position to better protect the public, and agreed that it would improve safety for people using services.

It also found that many people who underwent non-surgical cosmetic procedures had not fully considered how the medicine was obtained when the person administering or injecting it was not a healthcare professional, nor did they realise that these were prescribed medicines.

UK regulator bans ads for liquid Brazilian butt lifts over risk and body image concerns

The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned social media ads from six clinics promoting liquid Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs), stating they trivialised the risks and exploited body image insecurities.

Liquid BBLs involve injecting filler into the buttocks to enhance shape and size without surgery. Despite being marketed as a quick fix, the procedure carries risks such as blood clots, infection and serious complications.

The ASA criticised ads on platforms like Instagram and Facebook for using time-limited offers to pressure bookings, calling them "irresponsible". Phrases like “perfect peachy look” and “safe, proven, natural results” were flagged for downplaying risks.

The watchdog stressed that cosmetic procedures should never be portrayed as simple or risk-free, nor treated as impulsive decisions that were driven by discounts.

Following the ruling, some clinics responded. Rejuvenate Clinics and Dr Ducu said they would revise their advertising.

EME Aesthetics defended its ad, while three clinics – Beautyjenics, Bomb Doll Aesthetics, and CCskinlondondubai – did not respond.

The case comes amid growing concern over BBL safety, especially after the death of Alice Webb post-procedure. The ASA is now using AI to scan platforms for misleading ads, reinforcing the need for transparency and regulation in aesthetics marketing.

76% of Brits say skin conditions trigger anxiety in hot weather

Over three-quarters of UK adults with skin conditions feel more anxious about their skin in summer, with social media trends and ineffective treatments adding to the emotional toll.

A survey by pharmacy Roseway Labs found that 77% of those with skin conditions feel pressured by social media to achieve flawless skin – rising to 93% among Gen Z. Heat and UV exposure worsen flare-ups, with 76% feeling more anxious during summer.

More than half (53%) feel self-conscious due to their skin, while 79% say GP-prescribed or over-the-counter treatments haven’t worked. On average, people spend £177 a year on skincare but still struggle to find relief.

Roseway Labs reports a 31% rise in demand for personalised dermatology treatments, which offer tailored solutions for acne, rosacea and other conditions.

With 35 million UK adults affected, beauty professionals can play a key role in supporting clients through empathetic care and advice on personalised, effective skincare options this summer.

London named top international city for beauty

London leads as Europe’s most glamorous city, home to over 14,000 active beauty businesses, according to a new study by Catrice Cosmetics. The capital boasts 857 spas and 4,559 beauty salons, with over 480,000 annual searches for yoga and Pilates studios, highlighting its deep-rooted wellness culture.

Following London, Zurich and Paris stood out as Europe’s top cities for beauty, with Zurich offering 549 salons, 160 spas and a strong wellness focus, while Paris has 985 spas, 1,800 salons and over 1,100 annual beauty events.

Catrice Cosmetics also looked at UK cities to see how they stacked up against one another.

With London leading the way as Europe’s most glamorous city, it’s no surprise that it also claimed the top spot in the UK.

Behind London, Manchester and Edinburgh ranked as the UK's top cities for beauty, fashion and wellness.

Manchester has 459 beauty businesses per 100,000 people and 65 spas, while Edinburgh offers 538 beauty businesses and 328 relevant shopping destinations.

Professional Beauty's first online nail competition winner: Sicilian Summer

The winner of the first Professional Beauty Instagram nail competition is Aveley-based nail tech Ellie Jones.

The theme for the competition was Sicilian Summer, and we asked nail techs to create a look for a client who is off to Sicily on holiday and wants nails to match the vibe.

We asked you to think of vibrant, sun-drenched coasts and a Mediterranean charm with the only criteria being to include Sicilian Blue and a 3D element.

Entrants posted their images to Instagram, using the hashtags #PBLoves and #PBChallenge.

Among all the entries, Jones was named as the winner, scoring the highest with 84 points.

Professional Beauty deputy editor and nail artist Kezia Parkins said, “I am so thrilled with all the entries for our first nail competition. I loved them all but Jones stood out for precision, execution and understanding the assignment perfectly.”

With the new online competitions, Professional Beauty will regularly give pros the chance to get creative and challenge their skills, so keep an eye on our Instagram for an announcement of the next theme.

Glitterbels opens new headquarters in Newcastle

Nail brand Glitterbels has opened a new headquarters in Newcastle-under-Lyme, converting a former church. The building has been transformed over the last two years, with an investment of £500,000.

The new 850sqm space will incorporate a nail salon that will be open to the public, with space for up to 10 nail techs, making it twice the size of founder Annabel Maginnis’ existing Newcastleunder-Lyme salon.

Glitterbels’ training facility is also on site, plus there is a retail space open to both trade customers and the public for certain products.

The walls and ceiling are completely pink, the original church columns are now gold leaf, fluffy clouds adorn the ceiling, and the walls have been painted with hot air balloons, unicorns and fairytale castles.

A second training room is decorated in white with unicorns, clouds, flowers and gold leaf butterflies to complete the magical look.

Maginnis (pictured in the space) said: “My original salon was a magical wonderland with a full-sized white stallion unicorn who had a pink mane and Swarovski crystal horn and this HQ is several stages more extra than that.”

The “First Lady of Nails” Jessica Vartoughian passes away

The nail industry has paid tribute to Jessica Vartoughian, founder and former president of Jessica Cosmetics, who died in April.

Susan Gerrard, chairman of the Jessica brand’s UK distributor Gerrard International, said: “We are deeply saddened to learn of Jessica’s passing. She leaves us with memories of an incredible relationship we shared and of a journey that changed both our families’ lives forever.

“I will always appreciate her trust in me when I met her back in 1991 with a view to introducing her brand and educating in her philosophy of healthy nails to the salons and spas in the UK.

“Our condolences are with her daughter Nadia who has been at the helm of Jessica Cosmetics International for many years working very closely with us to continue Jessica’s legacy.”

Vartoughian opened her own salon, the Jessica Nail Clinic, in Beverly Hills in 1969, widely hailed as the first nails-only salon. Her celebrity clients included Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross.

Jessica Cosmetics, a product line based on her philosophy of treating the nail from the foundation, launched in the UK in 1992.