The Government allowed Hairdressers across to UK to officially reopen on July 4, this was announced by Boris Johnson in a briefing on Tuesday June 23, However other beauty services in the sector were told to stay closed and these included nail bars, beauty salons or spas.
The Government stated that the Business of Beauty namely salons, lash bars, nail bars, permanent make up studios and shops, tattoo, spa and wellness, and piercings services, will not be allowed to reopen as it is believed it will be more difficult to mitigate the risk of transmission. Mr Johnson stated: “We also intend to allow some other close contact services, such as nail bars, to reopen as soon as we can; when we’re confident they can operate in a secure way.”
The Government further added Aesthetic services to the list of closed beauty activities, in a proclamation in Parliament issued on the 3rd of July at 3.00pm, Aesthetic services will also not be allowed to continue activity, thus forcing cosmetic clinics and services across the UK to close.
Thousands of Aesthetic Practitioners, both medical and non medical across the UK were angered and frustrated as the news came hours before many were set to reopen on the 4th July.
The decisions to keep the Beauty sector locked down have angered the industry and left thousands of professionals puzzled as pubs reopen, but not beauty salons. The sector also criticised ministers of sexism and for overlooking the industry in lockdown easing plan.