[Updated] Salons support NHS staff amid coronavirus outbreak

It has been a week of uncertainty for the industry, however, as many salons and businesses have shown, challenging times often bring out the best in people.

From offering special discounts to running free treatments, beauty businesses up and down the country have been giving back to NHS staff who are working hard to care for patients during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Care boxes for key workers

AestheticSource and Get Harley are partnering to offer care boxes to 50 key workers, who have closed their aesthetic practice to return to roles in health care or other key worker roles. They will be nominated by friends, family or colleagues and will receive a parcel of products and a hand-written note to their doorstep. 

“We want to personally thank everyone returning to support the NHS. We all know how challenging it is for skin to be under PPE all shift," says Lorna McDonnell-Bowes, co-founder and chief executive of AestheticSource.

To nominate, post: “Thank you [their social handle]” and tag them in comments on any of the AestheticSource and Get Harley social posts. If they are not on social media, please email details to [email protected]. The first 50 key workers nominated will be contacted for delivery details. 

Personal protective equipment donations

Nail artist Katie Barnes is collecting unused personal protective equipment (PPE) such as surgical masks and gloves that are going spare in salons. 

Her Instagram post reads: "The NHS requires surgical masks and gloves. If you have these spare and are no longer requiring due to salon closures, please contact me. I am putting together a consolidated collection to deliver to the local hospital. It's a small thing but we can all do our bit to help."

Permanent make-up artist and founder of Nouveau Beauty Group Karen Betts is donating her residual stock of face masks, gloves, hand sanitisers and disinfectant wipes to the NHS. In total, she will be donating 100,000 items to support NHS staff and care homes locally and across the UK.

Discounted and free treatments

Dija Ayodele, CEO of Westroom Aesthetics and Founder of the Black Skin Directory, has launched an initiative called The Nightingale Treatment to offer a free treatment to NHS workers. 

Additionally, The Spa at Carden is encouraging customers to nominate their NHS heroes on a Facebook post for the chance to win a spa day. The winners from the NHS and their guests will be able to enjoy full access to the Spa Garden and Thermal Suite on a designated day.

Salon Beauty at the gate is encouraging clients to purchase a special £10 gift voucher. The salon will then contribute an £5 to a designated pot that will be used to give free treatments to local NHS workers once the salon re-opens.

Similarly, the Simpsons Beauty Group is also raising funds and matching donations for NHS staff, so that local key workers can receive a treatment when they open. 

Urban Retreat is another salon that offered a menu of free treatments to NHS workers. In an Instagram post, the salon said: “Thank you for taking care of all of us, let us take care of you”. Since the closure it has announced it will be honouring this for two weeks after it is safe to re-open.

Fitness studios offering support 

Boutique fitness studio Frame has also lent a helping hand to support the NHS and other key workers by allowing free access to its online classes.

Meanwhile, London gym group 1Rebel is offering its gym space to the NHS, with capacity to house approximately 400 beds. “We estimate that, across our seven studios in central London, we could make space for 300–400 beds,” says co-founder James Balfour. 

“There are also extended changing facilities, showers and areas for IT facilities. There is great lighting and even the fact that we have sound systems – offering the opportunity to play music – could lift people’s spirits.” 

Are you running special offers for NHS staff in your business? Tell us below.

Find out the financial support available to salons and spas during the coronavirus.