Beauty industry extends opening hours to meet demand ahead of second lockdown

Beauty businesses across the UK are extending their opening hours as they strive to accommodate high levels of demand for their products and services ahead of England entering a second national lockdown this Thursday.

The news, announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the weekend, will force all personal care businesses including salons, retail and mobile services to close for at least four weeks, from 5 November.

British Beauty Council chief executive, Millie Kendall MBE, said the latest lockdown was “devastating for a sector already hit hard by months of closure, especially in the run up to the holiday season.”

“We rely on people being out and about for footfall. They have mostly extended their hours to accommodate two weeks-worth of custom in three days,” Kendall added.

Kendall also expressed concern that there might not be a “certain end date to this latest lockdown” and vowed that the Council would continue to “fight for as much compensation as could be awarded to its businesses during this time.”

“What we do know from central government is that our businesses are not presenting a high rate of infection and therefore when we do re-open we are hoping to see the full array of services,” she added.

Like thousands of beauty salons and retail stores across the UK, independent beauty salon owner Emma Greenwood of Customised Beauty, in East Molesey in Surrey, is operating extended opening hours from 10am to 10pm until the second lockdown is enforced on Thursday.

“This time we are at least grateful that we have been given some notice that we can pass on to customers,” she said.

A few treatments are also being offered at 10% off for the next three days.