One in four salons has had to temporarily close due to self-isolation rules

One in four salons has been forced to temporarily close due to the current self-isolation rules, according to the results of a new poll by the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF).

Following a recent rise in the number test and trace notifications, the NHBF poll of 2,500 hair and beauty businesses showed that, as a result of staff having to self-isolate or caring for others having to self-isolate:

• Almost 25% of salons had to close them temporarily.
• About 30% of salons faced staff shortage issues in the last month
• About 83% of salons had few to several cancellations every week.

As a result of the financial impact that these closures are having on businesses, the NHBF is calling on the Government for more financial help.

NHBF chief executive Richard Lambert said, “As it stands businesses get no financial aid for ‘doing the right thing’ by closing, and so we are calling on government to provide this support to save these salons from going out of business.

"The likelihood of being ‘pinged’ by test and trace is also likely to increase from July 19 until the rules change on August 16, and then that still only applies to those who have been doubly vaccinated. We need a confirmed timetable for when the trial system of daily testing for five days (and being able to go out as normal for each day your test is negative) will be introduced.

"Our industry primarily employs those aged 16-44 so that includes a huge number who are not yet double vaccinated and are unlikely to be for several months.”

The NHBF poll ran on Instagram during the first week of July.

The results were released on "freedom day" (July 19), the day that restrictions around wearing face coverings and social distancing were lifted in England.

Although it is no longer mandatory for salons and spas to use face coverings, many beauty and spa professionals told us that they will continue to use masks for the forseeable future, with one key reason being to reduce the likelihood of staff or clients being told to self-isolate following a salon appointment.