The UK Government has suggested hair and beauty salons may be able to open by the 4th July. However, the industry has not received official guidelines on how to re-open safely and we urge the Government to provide these as soon as possible to allow businesses that do wish to re-open sufficient time to prepare.

A recent survey completed by 2,800 people working in the profession concluded that 74% were ready to open their businesses by July 4th or earlier and that 91% would use the required level of PPE.

The guidelines will allow salon owners, freelance and mobile hair and beauty professionals to plan for their reopening and make the necessary changes to their protocols to operate in a safe and appropriate way when the time is right. This will be individual choice once the UK Government has confirmed an opening date.

The industry adds over £6.6 billion to the UK economy and employs more than 285,000 people across 49,000+ businesses, with 88% of the workforce being female. These individuals have been disproportionally affected by the pandemic and allowing this sector to open would support jobs and incomes of women in a higher proportion than other sectors.

Professionals are used to working in hygienic environments where cleanliness is paramount and tools sterilised after each client.The sense of wellness associated with a hair or beauty treatment should not be underestimated.

Hair and beauty salons need to feel safe and ready to open and to protect their clients and staff. Providing official Government safety guidelines will stop the public using ‘underground’ services where PPE and proper health and sanitisation measures may not have been taken, and the HSE can not monitor; we urge Government to factor this in when balancing the industry’s risk profile.