EDITOR'S COMMENT

There’s a growing conversation around the gap between education and industry – and in this issue, it’s impossible to ignore. A new survey from Business of Beauty reveals that 42% of beauty students plan to go self-employed after qualifying (see page 7). It’s a confident, ambitious mindset, but one that also raises questions about how prepared new therapists really are as they enter the working world.

That’s something explored in more depth in our interview with salon owner Fiona Jackson, who has launched her RISE programme to help bridge that gap. Her experience will resonate with many employers – therapists are leaving education with technical skills, but not always with the confidence, communication skills or real-world understanding needed to thrive in a salon environment. Find out what she is doing to tackle the issue on page 35.

That idea of raising standards and meeting client expectations runs throughout this issue. In the treatment room, we’re seeing a shift in how services are delivered. Our feature on the “skinification” of waxing (page 38) looks at how therapists are taking a more skincare-led approach, with greater emphasis on barrier protection and aftercare – particularly as more clients use active ingredients and come in with increasingly complex skin needs.

At the same time, the business side of the industry is under pressure. Rising costs (see page 8) mean many salon owners are having to take a closer look at their pricing – not just what they charge, but how they structure their services. Our pricing feature on page 48 explores the practical ways professionals are adjusting treatment times, introducing memberships and building tiered pricing models that support profitability.

Whether you're looking to evolve how you train, treat or charge, we hope you find the advice and support you need among these pages.