45,000 hair and beauty businesses operating in the UK in 2020. While there are no official figures yet for how many shut down during the pandemic, the survival rates for the industry was already in decline.
A 2021 report by the National Hair and Beauty Federation identified it as one of the hardest hit by the UK’s pandemic lockdowns, with turnover falling by an average of 45% in 2020 compared to 2019.
Salon capacity also fell to 70% of its pre-pandemic level due to social distancing and enforced closures. Many beauty professionals claimed that they were victims of discrimination, as female-led industries were hit hardest by Covid.
With the beauty industry 91% female and many felt they were disproportionately affected by economic ruin caused by the pandemic, as salons were unable to trade for so long.