PB News
From a campaign to get recognition for salons, to changes in regulations, here’s what’s shaping the industry now
Professional Beauty Group launches campaign to champion high street salons amid economic pressures
Professional Beauty and Hairdressers Journal are joining forces to launch major new industry campaign “At The Heart Of The Community”, designed to help the salon and spa sector loudly demonstrate its vital economic and community value.
The initiative arrives at a critical time for salon owners across the UK, who are navigating unprecedented operational and cost pressures yet were left out of the Government’s recent 20% business rates cut (see below).
The campaign aims to shift the narrative around the industry by loudly celebrating salons and spas not just as lifestyle spaces, but as foundational community anchors, critical drivers of high street footfall, and major creators of local employment.
Rather than acting in isolation, Professional Beauty Group’s mission is to amplify and celebrate the excellent advocacy work already being spearheaded by industry bodies, including the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF), British Beauty Council (BBCo) and Salon Employers Association (SEA).
The campaign will provide a suite of free, professional marketing assets designed to boost local visibility.
These will include customisable social media graphics and captions, plus free physical window transfers and display assets to help businesses catch the eyes of passersby and reinforce their role on the high street.
The campaign will also equip salon owners with the tools needed to demand structural change from local and national government representation, including formal, pre-drafted letter templates that therapists and business owners can use to easily write to their local MPs or councils to highlight the direct impact of current business rates, energy costs, and tax burdens on local commerce.
Updates will be available at professionalbeauty.co.uk/community
Salons excluded from new 20% business rates cut for high street venues
Beauty salons have been excluded from a new 20% business rates discount for pubs, social clubs and live music venues in England, prompting renewed calls for the Government to recognise personal care businesses as vital high street anchors.
The measure, due to apply from 2027/28, is expected to benefit nearly 32,000 venues, with the typical pub saving around £1,100 a year. However, beauty salons, hairdressers, barbershops and aesthetic clinics are not eligible.
The announcement came shortly after Professional Beauty and Hairdressers Journal launched the At The Heart Of The Community campaign, highlighted above, making its message even more urgent.
Industry bodies have criticised the exclusion. The National Hair & Beauty Federation is calling for equivalent support, with head of policy and public affairs Sam Silver saying, “Our sector is every bit as important to thriving communities as hospitality.”
Meanwhile the British Beauty Council’s Victoria Brownlie MBE described the decision as a “slap in the face to our high streets”, adding, "High street businesses are interdependent ecosystems – pubs cannot thrive surrounded by boarded-up salon and retail storefronts."
New UK cosmetics regulations: what the changes mean for salons
New UK cosmetics regulations took effect across July and August, with changes affecting ingredients used in skincare, fragrance and professional nail products.
From July 15, the UV filter 4-MBC was banned in newly placed cosmetic products, while the threshold requiring a “releases formaldehyde” warning on products containing certain preservatives was lowered.
Further rules took effect from August 15, including a ban on 16 substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR), including trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO) – a photoinitiator used in some UV- and LED-cured nail products. New maximum concentration limits for fragrance ingredient hexyl salicylate also apply.
For salons, the TPO change is particularly important. Nail professionals should check gel polishes, builder gels, base and top coats and other cured products.
Products containing TPO that were legally placed on the Great Britain market before August 15, 2026 may continue to be sold or otherwise supplied until the end of February 14, 2027.
Salons should ask suppliers to confirm compliance, keep invoices and batch records, and check imported or own-label products carefully. The rules apply in England, Scotland and Wales; Northern Ireland continues to follow EU legislation.
One in three aesthetics clients influenced by social media when choosing a practitioner
Almost one in three people seeking anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers or other non-surgical cosmetic treatments are influenced by before-and-after pictures or social media testimonials when deciding where to book, new research has found.
The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) survey of 1,000 UK adults who have used an aesthetic practitioner found that 29% were influenced by social media content and 36% by five-star reviews.
Yet just 16.5% had used a verified source, such as a government-backed register, before booking in for non-surgical aesthetics, therapy or private ultrasound services.
The research also revealed misconceptions around regulation, with 46% believing non-surgical aesthetics practitioners are legally regulated. Among 18-to-24-year-olds, this rose to 53%, while just 32% in this age group checked practitioner qualifications.
Convenience can also reduce research: 28% do less when appointments are scarce, 25% when under time pressure before an event and 24% when booking last minute.
The findings accompany the PSA’s Look Before You Book campaign, which encourages consumers to check for its Quality Mark and to always choose practitioners on an Accredited Register.
…IN BRIEF
Promoting skin health education at the Happy Place Festival, CACI key opinion leader Dr Hansel Misquitta joined presenter Afia Kufuor to discuss the impact of hormones on skin. The session covered the effects of pregnancy, menopause, and conditions such as PCOS on skin health.
Revitalash Cosmetics has transitioned its UK distribution in-house to accelerate growth across retail, professional and direct-to-consumer channels. The strategic move aims to strengthen stockist relationships and boost brand visibility, while Harpar Grace International retains distribution for the Republic of Ireland.
Aesthetic nurse prescriber Kelly Saynor has created The Practitioner Hub, an online membership platform designed to support practitioners in building safe, credible careers. Launched in August, the service provides practical education, career guidance, business support and live webinar access.
Nail salon brand Townhouse has expanded into spa destinations, opening a location at Champneys Tring in Hertfordshire this August. The partnership brings the company's manicure and pedicure treatments to the estate, allowing guests to combine appointments with spa days or overnight spa break stays.
Expanding its UK footprint across five new hotel locations, skincare brand Ishga has partnered with venues including New Bath Hotel & Spa and Macdonald Forest Hills Spa. The expansion brings the Scottish seaweed brand's total partner portfolio to approximately 100 properties nationwide.
72% of therapists report burnout or overwhelm, new wellbeing survey finds
Almost three quarters of beauty, spa and wellness therapists have experienced burnout or overwhelm at work, according to new research by award-winning therapist and mental health campaigner Hayley Snishko.
Created by Snishko in association with education provider The Power of Touch, the Therapist Well-Being Report 2026 surveyed 159 professionals and found 89.3% had experienced physical exhaustion, 87% emotional fatigue and 72% burnout or overwhelm.
Despite these pressures, 99.4% said they felt fulfilled by their work and every respondent reported a meaningful connection with clients.
The research also suggests client needs are changing. Three quarters (75%) of therapists believed clients had become more emotionally overwhelmed over the past five years.
Meanwhile, 65% said clients appeared more health-conscious, 64% believed clients were more physically exhausted and 63% said they were more anxious. Only 3% felt clients’ needs were broadly the same as they were five years ago.
Stress relief was the most commonly sought treatment benefit (71.7%), followed by nervous system regulation (49.1%) and escape or rest (45.9%).
The report highlighted the need for realistic treatment schedules, recovery time, stronger professional boundaries and greater support for therapist wellbeing.
Hot tub therapy may support cognitive health in older adults, shows new university research
Regular hot tub use could boost memory, reasoning, and cognitive performance in healthy older adults, according to new research. The pilot study, conducted by the University of South Wales (USW) alongside the British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association (BISHTA), evaluated the cognitive impact of passive thermal therapy on adults aged 50 to 80.
Over six weeks, participants completed 30-minute hot tub sessions at 39°C twice weekly.
Researchers measured executive function, memory recall and reaction times before and after the trial.
The results showed a 14% improvement in spatial working memory, which governs the processing of complex information, and a 10% increase in spatial executive function, which supports reasoning and planning.
Led by PhD researcher Kelsie Welsby and supervised by Dr Gareth Dunseath, senior lecturer in clinical physiology at USW, the research suggests that passive heating produces cardiovascular responses similar to light-to-moderate aerobic exercise, including elevated heart rate and blood flow.
Dr Dunseath said, "The preliminary results are encouraging and highlight the potential for thermal therapy as a complementary lifestyle intervention to support brain health as people age."
…IN BRIEF
Cork hotel Hayfield Manor has added specialist cancer care treatments to its spa menu, in partnership with Ground Wellbeing. Central to the treatments is the Barróg product range, formulated to nurture, comfort, and support skin and wellbeing, with a portion of proceeds from every treatment supporting Breakthrough Cancer Research.
Skincare brand Natura Bissé has appointed Exclusive Beauty as its official spa distribution partner. The collaboration allows the Barcelona-based manufacturer to focus on professional skincare development while providing enhanced local support to hotel and day spa partners. Exclusive Beauty is run by Debbie Codron Merdjan who also runs UK operations for skincare brand Thalgo.
Aesthetics distributor Healthxchange has launched a new 'Trust in Aesthetics' campaign to help promote industry standards and ethical practices. Rolling out across trade and digital channels throughout 2026, the initiative highlights the distributor's CPD-accredited education programmes and its supply chain integrity.
Bringing Traditional Chinese Medicine into digital consultation, British wellness brand Ashmira Botanica has released its Five Elements Consultation App. Designed for spa and salon partners, the digital tool helps therapists identify client constitutional elements to deliver tailored treatment and retail recommendations.
Expanding its global footprint into Morocco, skincare brand 111Skin has partnered with Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort to offer signature facial treatments at the property's spa. The collaboration introduces clinical skincare protocols and anti-ageing formulas to meet growing regional demand for advanced wellness services.
93% of UK adults say their diet could be healthier as report reveals widespread nutrient gaps
New research suggests many UK adults could be falling short of essential nutrients, with potential implications for energy, mood and long-term wellbeing.
The Dietary Deficits and Future Health and Wellness Fallouts report, published by the Health and Food Supplements Information Service (HSIS), found 93% of UK adults believe their food choices could be healthier, while 85% have worried about gaps in their nutrient intake.
Combining a survey of 1,505 adults with analysis of National Diet and Nutrition Survey data, the report highlights potential shortfalls in vitamin D, iron, calcium, folate, iodine, selenium, potassium and omega-3 fats.
Almost half (49%) of respondents reported tiredness, while 41% experienced low energy, 34% sleeplessness and 30% low mood. Women were particularly affected by some nutrient shortfalls, including iron and selenium.
Cost is also influencing diets, with 61% saying the cost-of-living crisis has affected their food choices.
The report recommends prioritising a varied, nutrient-dense diet, while stressing that persistent symptoms or suspected deficiencies require appropriate professional advice.
7 in 10 UK consumers want sustainable brands but price outweighs ethics when buying
Nearly 7 in 10 Brits say ethical production matters to them, but when it came to their last purchase, most choose on price or quality alone.
The research by supply chain intelligence firm Zero100, found consumers were only willing to pay an average of 8% more for a more ethical or sustainable product, as budgets remain under pressure.
Between 25% and 28% won't pay anything extra at all – a figure that rose to between 37% and 43% among over-65s.
Among UK consumers who said they'd boycott an unethical brand but kept buying from it anyway, 21% said equivalent products were simply too expensive elsewhere, and 34% said no alternatives were available at all.
The good news is that brands embedding sustainable practices are still more successful overall, earning 23% more in operating profit than those that don't.
The data showed that consumers typically remain loyal, even as prices rise, to quality. 63% said product and service excellence would retain them as a customer even if a brand's prices went up.
…IN BRIEF
Beauty and tanning brand Rose & Caramel has opened a new HQ in Bolton. The space brings together its head office, warehouse and distribution centre, education academy, and a salon all under one roof. The new salon offers a wide range of treatments including spray tanning, manicures and pedicures, facial aesthetics, hair services, and a Japanese head spa.
Celebrating Black leadership and professional talent across seven sectors, the Black British Business Awards 2026 has announced its shortlist ahead of the October 9 ceremony in London. The awards recognise senior leaders and rising stars across categories including Beauty & Consumer, Retail & Hospitality, Fashion, STEM and Financial Services.
Booking platform Fresha has integrated conversational AI – by connecting directly to ChatGPT and Claude – to allow consumers to discover and book local beauty appointments using everyday language. Powered by an open Model Context Protocol server, the system keeps personal data and payments secure.
Spa brand Espa has announced an exclusive partnership with The Ritz-Carlton Rabat, Dar Es Salam – marking its re-entry into the Moroccan market. The collaboration makes the property the sole hotel spa in the country offering Espa's holistic treatments and signature wellness protocols.
Wellness brand Kama Ayurveda has partnered with Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, expanding its UK spa footprint. Located within six dedicated treatment rooms at the hotel's spa, the brand will offer personalised consultations alongside Ayurvedic massage and marma point therapies.
Treatwell and LCBT careers fair connects students with salon employers
Online booking platform and marketplace Treatwell has partnered with the London College of Beauty Therapy (LCBT) to launch a new careers event designed to connect emerging hair and beauty professionals with prospective employers.
The event aimed to address the gap between completing beauty training and securing work by giving students direct access to salon businesses, recruitment opportunities and practical careers advice. It also offered participating salons an opportunity to meet students and newly qualified professionals who may be interested in joining their teams.
The event was designed to give students a clearer understanding of what working in the professional beauty industry can involve, and covered both employed and self-employed pathways.
Alongside the recruitment and networking area, the Futures Fair featured a Knowledge Zone with panel discussions on building a career in the industry.
A Treatwell spokesperson said, “The future of our industry depends on the success of the next generation. Through Futures Fair, we’re powering the move from learning to earning, giving students the confidence, knowledge and connections they need to succeed, while helping salon businesses access talent that will drive future growth.”
Unique Skin Group named exclusive UK distributor for AnteAge
Unique Skin Group has been appointed exclusive UK distribution partner for biosynthetic skincare brand AnteAge.
The partnership with Cellese, the California-based company behind the brand, will bring AnteAge into Unique Skin Group’s portfolio of professional aesthetic brands, which also includes LED brand Celluma and skincare line Circadia.
UK clinics and aesthetic professionals will receive local fulfilment, a B2B ordering portal and UK-based customer support.
Unique Skin Group will also provide clinical support through its team of product specialists, including training and clinic growth strategies.
As part of the transition, Charli Carter, formerly UK sales manager for Cellese, has taken on the newly created role of international business development manager.
She will continue to support UK operations while taking on wider global responsibilities for Cellese.
Et Al and Cellstory UK & Ireland form strategic collaboration
Skin-first makeup brand Et Al, created by the International Institute for Active Ageing (IIAA), has announced a collaboration with Cellstory UK and Ireland, a Korean professional skin treatment system using patented microspear technology.
The partnership will see Et Al recommended by clinics offering Cellstory treatments as a complementary makeup option for clients following professional treatments and as part of their homecare routines.
The collaboration aims to support a skin, combining Cellstory’s non-invasive skin renewal protocols with Et Al’s skincare-infused makeup.
Anushka Patel, head of Et Al, said, “Cellstory’s approach to advanced skin renewal felt like a natural fit for Et Al, given our shared focus on clinically driven, barrier-conscious skin health.”
DIARY DATES
September 16-17
LONDON PACKAGING WEEK
Excel London
Explore packaging for perfume and cosmetics, connecting beauty brands with creative, sustainable solutions.
londonpackagingweek.com
October 1-2
CCR
Excel London
Aesthetics trade show featuring education, networking and brands.
020 3096 1228
ccrlondon.com
October 4-5
PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY LONDON
Excel London
Europe’s leading beauty and spa event, featuring live education stages plus international conferences.
020 7351 0536
professionalbeauty.co.uk/London
October 4
WORLD SPA & WELLNESS AWARDS 2026
The Brewery, London
Awards rewarding the work that spas do around the globe, celebrating the world’s leading spas, wellness destinations, spa teams and industry leaders for customer care, treatment delivery, sustainability, leadership and business performance.
wswawards.com
October 12-25
BRITISH BEAUTY WEEK
Nationwide
British Beauty Week 2026 will see brands spotlighting “The Impact of Beauty” through activations across the UK.
britishbeautyweek.co.uk
November 8
BABTAC & CIBTAC AWARDS
The Fairmont Windsor Park
Awards celebrating practitioners, salons, spas and educators.
babtac.com
