BUSINESS TIPS
ASK THE Experts
Our beauty experts answer your questions about every aspect of running a salon or spa business
What are the risks associated with laser treatments for skin of colour and how can they be avoided?
Around 10 to 15 years ago, laser hair removal wasn’t designed with darker skin in mind. Machines were typically intense pulse light (IPL) devices calibrated for lighter skin and darker hair. This meant people with melanin-rich skin often faced higher risks of burns, pigmentation changes, or poor results.
Thankfully, technology has evolved. The introduction of Nd:YAG lasers, which use longer wavelengths, along with advanced cooling systems, now allows treatments to be delivered safely and effectively for all skin types. Clinics that invest in the right technology and training can confidently offer results without the risks that were once common.
Understanding the risks
Melanin is key to understanding laser safety. Lasers target pigment, so if incorrect settings or wavelengths are used, the laser can affect the surrounding skin.
Darker skin tones have more melanin, increasing the risk of complications. Practitioners must be aware of these risks to protect client safety, build trust and maintain their reputation.
The most common side effects for melanin-rich skin are hyperpigmentation (dark marks) and hypopigmentation (light patches), which can result from burns.
In some cases, long-term scarring may occur if treatments are poorly managed. These issues usually stem from incorrect device choice, improper settings, or skipping key safety steps such as patch testing or consultations.
Managing wavelengths
Shorter wavelengths, like those used in IPL or Alexandrite lasers, are particularly risky for darker skin because melanin absorbs them more readily.
Nd:YAG lasers are recommended, as they bypass the upper layers of skin and target the follicle safely. Individual factors such as Fitzpatrick skin type, history of pigmentation, medical background and recent sun exposure also influence risk, making thorough consultations essential.
Minimising risks and ensuring safety
Practitioners can reduce risks through careful planning and protocol:
• Always conduct a patch test
• Start conservatively and adjust settings carefully
• Use cooling techniques before, during and after treatment
• Advise clients to avoid sun exposure before and after sessions
• Provide aftercare guidance to support healing and reduce inflammation.
Clear consultation and realistic expectation setting are also crucial. Clients should understand what results are achievable, likely number of sessions and potential risks.
Training and inclusive practice
Practitioners should seek Ofqual-certified training courses as a baseline, but many don’t provide enough detail for treating darker skin. As laser technology becomes more inclusive, training must reflect this to prevent accidents.
Salons can further ensure safe, inclusive treatments by investing in appropriate technology, seeking manufacturer guidance on settings for Fitzpatrick 5 and 6, training staff specifically for darker skin, and creating an inclusive culture in marketing and practice. Emerging trends, such as improved cooling systems, are also enhancing safety and comfort, with cooling air proving more effective than topical gels.
The key to safely expanding laser services for clients with skin of colour is to never cut corners. Invest in the right machine, receive proper training and fully understand each client’s skin before treatment. When done properly, laser hair removal can be life-changing for clients who may previously have felt excluded from the industry.
Francesca Otote is an aesthetic nurse and co-founder of Cactus Laser Clinic, which has locations in Croydon and Brixton, London. See her speak at Professional Beauty Autumn at 1pm on Sunday, October 12.
How can I balance running a home-based salon with family life?
Running a home-based beauty salon is both a dream and a juggling act. For me, it’s been about creating a professional space my clients love, while keeping the warmth and flexibility that comes with working from home. My salon in Shepperton has grown into a trusted, safe space for beauty treatments, while fitting around my family life.
Creating the perfect space
First impressions matter, so I wanted my salon to feel different from the standard high-street experience. I transformed a dedicated room into a calm, professional environment, completely separate from family areas. With its own entrance and toilet, there’s a clear division from our home, yet the room feels cosy, colourful and a little quirky, with positive affirmations covering the walls. I’ve also added a “support local” board for businesses to display flyers, alongside client-taken images of the local area.
Making time work for you
Balancing family life with client appointments takes careful planning. I schedule my week around school runs, mealtimes and activities, leaving buffer time between treatments so I’m never rushing.
My online booking system opens three months ahead, allowing me to block out school holidays and family commitments while still adding in extra evenings or days when needed. Being based at home gives me that flexibility.
Setting boundaries that stick
One of the hardest parts of working from home is separating “work mode” from “mum mode”. My booking system helps set clear salon hours, and I try to stick to them.
Of course, if a regular client needs something urgently, I’ll do my best to help. It works both ways – if I need to move an appointment, my clients are always understanding because they know I’m equally flexible with them. I keep boundaries, but I also stay human – helpful where I can, and confident in saying no when I can’t.
Growing the business from home
Not having a high-street presence can be challenging, but networking and social media have been huge for growth. I believe in supporting other local businesses, and in return they often support me. On Instagram, I share treatments and salon updates but also local events, new openings, and activities I’ve enjoyed with the children. These personal touches build trust and often lead to new clients who feel as though they already know me.
Once clients are through the door, offering an exceptional experience is everything. Word-of-mouth referrals are priceless, and loyal, repeat clients come back because of the care and consistency we deliver.
My top tips for home salon success
• Dedicate a room solely to your salon to keep it professional
• Stick to your set working hours to protect work and family time
• Be visible – share your work and snippets of daily life online
• Build a strong support network so you’re never stretched too thin.
Running Get Beautiful from home has been so rewarding. With the right space, clear boundaries and strong support, it’s possible to grow a thriving beauty business without sacrificing family life.
Laura John-Baptiste is the founder of the Get Beautiful home-based salon in Shepperton, Surrey, and also owns the specialist spray tanning company Get Bronzed.
How can I adapt my conversations with clients to improve retail sales?
Retail is so much more than an add-on at the end of a treatment; it’s a strategic lever that drives client loyalty, maximises treatment results and supports profitability.
With retail often generating around 50% profit, the challenge isn’t whether to sell products, but how. The key lies in repositioning retail from “selling products” to prescribing clinical ingredients as part of a client’s overall skin health journey.
Rethinking the consultation
Too many consultations skim the surface, missing the opportunity to build real trust and results. A strong consultation should resemble a diagnostic assessment, capturing:
• The client’s treatment history and product use.
• The current quality and effectiveness of their homecare routine.
• The skin’s readiness for active ingredients.
Language plays a crucial role. Saying, “This product will help” can sound like sales. By contrast, framing recommendations as “Based on your current skin condition, this ingredient is essential to achieve your next result” positions the therapist as a trusted expert.
Ingredients over products
A shift in mindset is needed: stop selling products and start prescribing ingredients. Clients are more likely to trust and invest when they understand how an ingredient like retinol works at a cellular level to improve their skin concerns, rather than being told to buy a particular serum.
When therapists explain why an ingredient matters, how it works, and connect it directly to the client’s skin issues, they establish authority and build trust. This trust not only drives retail sales but also fosters loyalty and referrals.
While anyone can recommend a product, informed ingredient prescriptions make clients feel understood and guided, increasing the likelihood they will purchase directly from their therapist.
Retail as part of the treatment journey
Retail should not feel bolted on at the end of a session. Instead, it should be seamlessly integrated throughout the treatment process. From the initial consultation, therapists can assess the client’s current products and explain why they may not be delivering results – often because they are too weak or unsuited to the concern.
During the facial or skin assessment, therapists should reiterate what they observe and link this to the ingredients that can improve those issues. Today’s clients are savvy; they expect detailed, honest, and technical explanations before committing to a purchase.
Ethical recommendations, supported by deep product knowledge, are key. By the time aftercare advice is given, retail should feel like a natural extension of the treatment, not an afterthought.
The leadership perspective
For salon, spa and clinic leaders, training teams to shift their mindset around retail is crucial. Common barriers such as “the products are too expensive” or “the client will buy next time” can be overcome by reframing retail as part of professional expertise, not as an optional extra. When teams confidently prescribe ingredients, rather than simply selling products, they achieve stronger results for clients and greater business growth.
Kristina Shepherd is a retail sales coach, the director of the 27 Two 6 Beauty salon in London, and the owner of lash extension training company KSLA Professional.
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Send your question about absolutely anything to do with running a beauty business to pb.editorial@thepbgroup.com