74% of UK beauty salons and spas are ready to reopen by July 4

Almost three quarters (73.68%) of UK beauty businesses, which includes salons, spas and mobile/home-based therapists, feel they will be ready to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic by July 4 or earlier, implementing a whole host of new safety measures and protocols, found Professional Beauty’s latest Covid-19 Survey. 

1,400 people who work within the beauty industry responded to PB’s survey between May 21–26. The highest proportion of respondents selected July 4 (43.58%) as the date they feel most ready to open their doors again – which is the Government’s estimated date for beauty salons to reopen, while more than a quarter (26.32%) believe they won’t be able to safely do so until a later date, found the results. 

When do you feel you’ll be ready to safely reopen your beauty salon or spa business? 

Now – 15.87% 

June 1 – 4.91%  

June 15 – 9.32% 

July 4 – 43.58% 

Later – 26.32% 

What safety measures are beauty salons and spas putting in place for reopening?

Using just the beauty salon and spa data from the survey, we delved deeper into the results of how these businesses are getting ready to reopen. 

Making sure your beauty salon or spa is a safe space for both clients and staff when you reopen is a top priority, with many of you implementing new safety protocols based on advice from the Government and leading industry bodies.

By July 4, more than half (65%) of UK beauty salons and spas will have rearranged their premises to maximise social distancing, ensuring they adhere to the Government’s two-metre rule, the survey found.  

The highest proportion of respondents (31.61%) said they will have these measures in place by July 4, while 33% will have this sorted at some point in June. 

When will you rearrange your beauty salon or spa premises to maximise social distancing?

I plan to this by June 1 – 22.29% 

I plan to do this by June 15 – 10.96%

I plan to do this by July 4 – 31.61%

Later – 7.93% 

I haven’t done this yet – 13.85% 

It’s not necessary – 13.35% 

Many have also undertaken an assessment of their services, or are planning to do so, to ensure the treatments they offer when they reopen are safe.

More than a quarter (26.07%) plan to do a review of their services by July 4, while 10.71% will by June 15, 21.41% by June 1 and 6.55% will at a later date after July 4, the survey found. Just under a quarter of respondents (15.62%) feel is it's not necessary to adjust their services.

Are you planning to undertake a review of the services you offer and adjust your menu?

I plan to do this before June 1 – 21.41% 

I plan to do this by June 15 – 10.71% 

I plan to do this by July 4 – 26.07% 

Later – 6.55% 

I haven’t done this yet – 19.65% 

It’s not necessary – 15.62% (124)

What PPE are you investing in to use in your beauty salon or spa?

The question of what PPE to invest in when reopening is a hotly debated issue at the moment, which is why we wanted a better idea of what the majority of the industry was looking to use.

An incredible 92% of UK beauty salons and spas will be requiring their staff to wear masks, gloves and other relevant PPE when they reopen to ensure their working environment is safe.

Will your team wear masks, gloves and other relevant PPE (as required) when you reopen? 

Agree – 91.44% 

Disagree – 0.63% 

I will evaluate the situation closer to opening – 7.93% 

Making sure all staff are up to date with hygiene and health and safety measures is also crucial, which is why many of you are investing in training during this time of closure. 

It’s interesting that respondents are more likely to get staff to undertake training on safety and hygiene regimes well in advance of reopening, and this is probably because most beauty salons and spas already have good hygiene regimes in place which they can easily update. 

 

Have you undertaken staff training to ensure all team members are fully aware of safety and hygiene regimes?

I plan to this by June 1 – 38.41% 

I plan to do this by June 15 – 9.95% 

I plan to do this by July 4 – 24.56% 

Later – 3.78% 

I haven’t done this yet – 12.85% 

It’s not necessary – 10.45% 

Methodology: Professional Beauty surveyed the industry and had more 1,400 responses. The first part of this survey reflects the response from UK beauty businesses during May 21–26, 2020. The rest of the survey, from “What safety measures are beauty salons and spas putting in place for reopening?” onwards, came from the beauty salon and spa respondents in this survey, which was 794 people. 

What do you make of our coronavirus survey results? Comment below. 

 

For more coronavirus advice, check our Coronavirus Support Guide to help navigate your business through lockdown and reopening.