A recent survey published by The Professional Beauty Association confirmed salons and spas across the U.S. are following strict safety protocols. According to the trade association, the results also show the beauty industry isn’t contributing in a significant way to the spread of COVID-19. "Salons and spas are safe to visit," shares Nina Daily, Chief Marketing Officer of PBA. "The data is overwhelmingly in the industry’s favor."
In the survey, 2,532 salons and spas shared their safety protocols representing 19,392 licensed beauty professionals and services for over 2 million+ clients since reopening. Of the 2 million+ clients, only 0.07% reported testing positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of visiting a salon or spa.
“In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, salons and spas across the country increased their already rigorous safety protocols to safeguard against the spread of infection, including enhanced sanitization for both the client and the stylist, modified check-in and payment procedures, retrofitting of workspaces to allow for social distancing among many others. These efforts have paid off; the results show with these safety measures in place, salons and spas are safe for staff and their clients,” explains The Professional Beauty Association in a statement.
The US salon industry — whose pre-COVID annual sales were estimated around USD 58 billion — has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic.
"As with so many other industries, the beauty industry has been devastated by the pandemic," says Steve Sleeper, Executive Director of the Professional Beauty Association. "The salon and spa industry completes sanitization training as part of their licensing and has been using cleanliness protocols for years. Now, with extensive measures in place to protect against COVID-19, we see salons and spas are safe and not helping to transmit COVID-19. The recent survey shows that less than .1% of visitors to a salon or spa contract COVID-19 within 14 days, suggesting salons and spas can safely stay open."
PBA has also established its COVID-19 Relief Fund, with support from top industry brands like L’Oréal Professional brands, Moroccanoil, Henkel Professional Beauty Division, Dyson, and more. 100% of the donations are going directly to support licensed beauty professionals experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last summer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report showing how facial masks were effective to prevent the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in hair salons, adding weight to universal face covering policies as a means of slowing the spread of the COVID-19.
