Beauty salons reopen: All the treatments you can't have due to coronavirus

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In one of the final hurdles in the easing of lockdown restrictions in England: beauty salons will be permitted to reopen on Monday 13 July.

On Thursday, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden announced that beauty salons, gyms, leisure centres and pools will all allowed to reopen this month, having been closed since the nationwide lockdown was announced on 23 March.

The British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC) has been working with the government to ensure the beauty industry can reopen in the safest way possible.

But when salons open their doors once again, it won't be business as usual. Not all of the usual treatments you would be able to get at a salon will be available at this stage in the pandemic. This is due to the close contact required in order to administer select beauty treatments.

Ahead of salons reopening on Monday, here's everything you need to know about which treatments you won't be able to receive.

What treatments won't be available?

The BABTAC has said that any treatments on a person's face will not be permitted.

This includes:

• Face waxing, sugaring or threading services
• Facial treatments
• Advanced facial (electrical or mechanical)
• Eyelash treatments
• Make-up application
• Dermarolling
• Dermaplaning
• Microblading
• Electrolysis on the face
• Eyebrow treatments

Other facial treatments will also not be available.

Why can't facial beauty treatments be carried out?

Salon workers have been told that treatments involving the face are high risk with regards to catching or spreading coronavirus.

This is because splashes and droplets from the nose and mouth are present, even when they can't be seen, and could be easily transmitted from one person to another.

Which treatments can you receive?

You can get any beauty treatment that involves the body.

This includes manicures, pedicures, leg or bikini waxing.

Additionally, beard trimming will be allowed, but will be limited to "simple beard trims, thinning or removing bulk or length which can be done using either clippers or scissors", BABTAC said.

Fringe trims will also be allowed.

How will beauty salons be different when they reopen?

In its guidelines, the BABTAC has issued several recommendations to beauty salons to ensure they can be as safe and hygienic as possible.

This includes accepting card payments only and PPE for all staff and guests.

Additionally, some key luxuries such as magazines, phone chargers and food or refreshments will no longer be available.

You can read more about how the beauty salon experience will be different here.

Why has the delay for reopening beauty salons been criticised?

The delay in reopening the largely female-driven beauty sector has led to accusations of sexism towards the government.

According to The British Beauty Council, around 90 per cent of the beauty industry workforce is female.

Boris Johnson was criticised for his response to an enquiry from William Wragg MP during Prime Minister's Questions last week about when salons might be able to open, with some labelling it flippant and dismissive on social media.

“I am sure that one day I will go with my honourable friend to Lush Beauty, but it is a sad reality for many of those excellent businesses that they cannot yet open in the way they want,” said the prime minister.

The news that the industry can now reopen will come as a welcome relief to salon owners and the industry workforce.