PB assistant editor Suzanne Braithwaite finds out how salons and spas across the UK are getting into the festive spirit

'Tis the season to be jolly! We’re well and truly into the festive season with only a week to go till the big man arrives. The halls are decked, presents (hopefully) bought and wrapped, and your clients have indulged and pampered themselves with a few Christmas treatments ready for the festivities.

To get you in the spirit of Christmas and to spread a little festive cheer we asked a number of salons and spas up and down the country to share how they prepare their business for the holidays.

From fun-festive jumpers to homemade Christmas stollen, beautifully decorated windows to holiday hoorah’s in the form of Christmas songs – you really are a merry bunch!

Happy Christmas everyone! The PB team x

Thanks to OPI for decorating our fingertips with a bit of sparkle ready for our Christmas party. We’ve dubbed our nails accordingly…

Top left: Nora wearing #mulledwine

Middle left: Lucy wearing #sexysanta

Bottom left: Eve wearing #whitechristmas

Bottom right: Suze wearing #sugarplumfairy

Middle right: Vicki wearing #blackbauble

BEAUTY TIME, BRISTOL

As we travel west over to Bristol, business owner of Beauty Time Maria Mason leads the way in “decking her salon halls”.  With the Christmas tree purchased (pictured here with Maria in her red sleigh (convertible)), the salon, throughout December, offers a gift with purchase. They also offer a gift-wrapping service for clients in which their presents are put in little penguin gift boxes, and while they wait for their purchases to be made pretty they are offered a glass of sherry or cordial and homemade stollen. Beauty Time staff wear Santa hats to get in the spirit and the salon holds a private party for its loyal clients with fizzy and fancy lovely things to eat.

ARMATHWAITE HALL, CUMBRIA

Heading up to the Lake District Armathwaite Hall is all about spreading some Christmas cheer to its clients through its Festive Salon and Grooming Offers and extended opening hours for the party season. They’ve also put together a selection of boxes containing items from its product houses – Comfort Zone, Thermae and Just Be, which all have 25% off.

SLEEPING BEAUTY, INVERNESS

Across the border in Scotland, Lilac Miller and her staff at Sleeping Beauty salon created a winter wonderland. With snowflakes hanging from their window display and tree, presents galore littering every surface of the salon retail area to entice their guests.

PODOLOGY, SALTBURN-BY-THE-SEA

Podology owner Laura Dicken treated her staff to a Christmas night out to make them feel jolly during December. The pedicure-specialist salon kept in theme with its business by creating a Christmas tree filled with little chocolate feet, sourced from a local chocolatier, to give to their clients.

THE TREATMENT ROOMS, BRIGHTON

The Treatment Rooms owner Clare Rogers has gone for a classic Christmas look for her window displays with beautiful chic wreaths made by its local florist. Rather than sending Christmas cards, the salon gives its regular clients a mini bath oil, or for the big spenders, a salon-made candle featuring a festive blend of frankincense and myrrh.

PROHANDS, LONDON

Back in London Prohands salon is spreading Christmas cheer in a big way by displaying a giant advent calendar in its window and raffling off prizes with proceeds going to charity. Business owner Ellie Prohan tells Professional Beauty all money raised will go to the Palestine Children Relief Fund (PCRF), which helps Palestinian children and young people who are living in the midst of a medical and humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. 

The salon's neighbouring businesses have offered their support for the raffle in the form of gifts such as cupcakes, free zumba classes, cookery classes and afternoon tea, and they’ve also receiving prizes from retailers Banana Republic and Gap. Winners will be notified on Christmas Day. Here’s a photo of the team outside their salon with their Christmas jumpers on…

ROCKLIFFE HALL, DARLINGTON

Rockliffe Hall’s festive antics are a favourite among the PB team, just for the sheer brilliance of this video! Feel free to sing a long…