5 stories that impacted the beauty industry in 2019

As 2019 draws to a close, we look back at the biggest beauty news of the year, including therapists being in the UK’s top 10 lowest paid earners and the arrival of brow lamination.

1. Brow lamination was the game-changing trend of 2019

As one of the biggest brow trends of the year, brow lamination will continue to be big news for 2020. Much like lash lift technology, brow lamination coaxes hairs upwards for a feathery, brushed up effect. 

The treatment originates from Moscow, Russia, and involves coating hairs with a glue, before they are combed into place and set with a brow perming and setting solution.

According to PB's monthly Insider survey, 50% of UK salons believe it is a trend that's set to stay, so make sure you check out the best brow lamination courses to book yourself on to. 

2. The Government pledged to support beauty therapists in aesthetics

Earlier this year, the Government confirmed its commitment to work with beauty industry representatives to create accredited pathways for therapists in aesthetics. Caroline Larissey, director of quality and standards at the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF), met with the Department of Health and Social Care to put forward issues facing the industry, including: 

• Progression barriers from a vocational route for injectables.

• A discrepancy between how Level 6 is not recognised by the Joint Council of Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP), but is acknowledged by the beauty sector. 

Read more about the practices set by the Joint Council of Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) and Cosmetic Practice Standards Authority (CPSA).

3. There were significant changes to minimum wage, pension and sick pay

April saw the rise of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW), as well as updates to workplace pensions, sick pay and maternity and paternity pay. 

The hourly wage change, which depends on your employees’ age and if they are an apprentice or employee, means it is important to be aware of the new regulations and make sure you are paying staff the correct amount. 

• For those aged 25 and over, NLW rose by 38p (4.8%) an hour from £7.83 to £8.21
• For those aged 21–24, NMW rose by 32p (4.3%) an hour from £7.38 to £7.70
• For those aged 18–20, NMW rose by 25p (4.2%) an hour from £5.90 to £6.15
• For apprentices aged under 19, or 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship, NMW rose by 20p (5.4%) from £3.70 an hour to £3.90.

Read on here to find out more about the changes. 

4. New topical anaesthetic rules threatened to push therapists out of skin needling

In the summer of this year, many salon owners who offered microneedling on their treatment menu were surprised to find out that they were no longer authorised to apply anaesthetic to their clients prior to their treatment. The news came from some local councils who informed salons within the borough that their license was no longer valid. 

As a result, many salon owners were forced to remove microneedling from their treatment menus, unless a medical professional could apply the anaesthetic and was present for the duration of the treatment. 

Have you been affected? Here’s how salon owners have reacted to the new anaesthetic regulations. 

5. Beauty therapists ranked in the top 10 lowest paid workers

A report from the Office Of National Statistics looked at the highest and lowest paid professions and revealed that beauty therapists are among the top 10 worst-paid occupations in the UK. 

Ranking as the seventh worst-paid job, a beauty therapist can expect to be paid just £17,179 a year.

See what other professions made the list here.

What do you make of the big beauty stories of 2019? Comment below.