Revealed: what beauty salons and spas will invest in this year

Skincare, express services and machinebased treatments are what salons and spas will invest in this year, according to new research by Professional Beauty.

30% of owners and therapists in our exclusive survey said skincare was the area of their business that would recieve the highest investment this year – be it taking on new product houses or adding to their treatment menu. However, this figure has fallen from 45% in 2016, when we conducted the same survey.

Meanwhile, 36% of businesses want to invest in quick-fix lash, brow and make-up treatments, up from 26% in 2016. “Although full luxury treatments are still a large part of salons’ day-to-day business, you also have to be able to attract this new clientele who want quality results but with care and speed,” said Sara Shoemark, owner of Glow Beauty, which has three salons in the North West.

Hellen Ward, managing director of Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa in London’s Sloane Square, believes this is part of a larger trend for all-encompassing grooming packages: “Clients want a one-stop shop for hair, makeup and nails as a multi-tasking service, with a couple of therapists working simultaneously to deliver a seamless makeover. This demand for specialism and expertise as a faceted service is proving to be really strong.

Being able to offer a more varied nail treatment menu is also a top priority, with 22% saying this is the area of their business that will see the most investment in 2017, compared to just 10% in 2016, our research found. “Clients are demanding more choice, and with nails, we’ll see the trend of the prescription manicure – natural nail and gel polish – gain traction,” commented Ceri Silk, beauty development manager at Saks Hair & Beauty.

Machine-based facials and body treatments are also growing in popularity, with 9% of owners saying machines are their number-one area for investment this year, compared with 0% last year, the survey found.

This story first appeared in the January issue of Professional Beauty. To make sure you're always first to read the news, subscribe online for just £37 a year.