59% of Brits don’t know if their beauty therapist is qualified or insured
New research has revealed just under two thirds (59%) of Brits don’t know whether their chosen beauty professional visit is insured, or even qualified.
The research saw a database of 1,000 female beauty consumers surveyed as part of the launch of Salon Rated, a new platform from the founder of salon tools brand Navy Professional to help consumers in the UK find professional, qualified hair and beauty services.
The survey showed that, unsurprisingly, most consumers look to social media when looking for a new beauty professional, with 87% turning to Instagram and 48% relying on word of mouth when it comes to salon recommendations.
With the beauty industry lacking regulation, consumers should be doing some form of research before booking a treatment, but three fifths (60%) of those surveyed admitted they don’t know how to do background check on salons before making appointments.
A further 75% were not even aware of the lack of regulations in the industry, with no legal requirement or formal assessment needed to perform treatments like intimate waxes or facial treatments such as lash extensions and brow tinting.
Whilst licensing schemes and regulation for non-surgical treatments such as filler in both England and Scotland are underway, non-invasive treatments are currently not subject to any regulations.
New licensing is expected to come into place in 2023, with the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners revealing in September that the scheme is likely to include high street cosmetic treatments, which can cause serious harm when not carried out correctly or in a safe environment, such as laser and chemical peels.
Those surveyed also admitted to having no idea what products their beauty professionals use (63%), and almost half (43%) have never received any type of aftercare advice from their salon after having a treatment.
Salon Rated and Navy Professional founder Rebecca Crawforth said, “It’s easy to see how people make assumptions around qualifications in the beauty industry as so many people are unaware of the lack of regulations.
“Unfortunately, cutting corners and using cheap, damaging products has become the norm for some salons in the UK, giving the industry a bad name… We want to help consumers to have peace of mind that they are in safe hands whilst attending their appointment, as client care and safety should be paramount when performing treatments.”