Ward’s world

HIT fog lights the

Managing through this period of constant change has been a challenge for all salon owners, so we need to ask for help from our suppliers, writes HELLEN WARD

At the time of writing, we’ve just received Government guidelines. With hair salon owners facing so much to sort out in order to create the “new normal”, the beauty industry is left just waiting, and hoping. With no date for reopening, swathes of nail bars, beauty salons and spas are no doubt keeping their team furloughed until they get their summed up the experience. “It’s like driving through thick fog,” I said. “You can only see what’s just in front of you. You cannot look any further forward because you just can’t see what might be coming.” All successful businesses need to plan and forecast. Of course, plans need a degree of precious date. fluidity, but trying to make them as clear cut as

I cannot say I’m surprised. Beauty is the closest contact work possible is key. Black and white – no grey. But the of all so it always seemed unlikely that we could forge ahead trouble is that grey is all there is right now. And that as safely as something like barbering. Prohibiting manicure is as unsettling for the salon owners as it is for staff. and pedicure surprised me, but in discussing it with my spa So what can we do? Well, now is the time we director, there’s risk that even I hadn’t thought through. We need help from the suppliers and manufacturers use gels and polishes on clients; so do we have to ask them to that provide our products and create our buy the bottle for their own singular use and bring it back treatment protocols. Please don’t leave it to us to every time? It’s a logistical nightmare. Our come up with Covid-friendly beauty team are raring to get back to work versions of your services. Help and salons that do both hair and beauty, Now is the time us figure out if there is like ours, will feel incomplete without them. we need help from anything we can adapt or

Their loyal following and their expertise is a huge part of our brand. the suppliers and re-invent to enable us to get some options for not just the manufacturers that immediate future, but that Change management provide our products we can keep under our hats

Managing a business through this pandemic and create our for further waves, more has been one of the biggest tests I’ve endured in my 30 years in the industry. treatment protocols restrictions At the time of writing, I’ve

Keeping a loyal team positive while making not heard from any beauty the very necessary changes to safeguard product supplier with any the future of the company has been extremely challenging. information on how we might carry on

Fighting the landlord, praying for a successful insurance claim conducting the services they’ve sold in to us. We outcome, waiting for updates from the chancellor, keeping need the people selling us the raw materials and on top of legislation – all with the aim of trying to ensure we the equipment to help us come up with some are ready. Hard enough, but when the goalposts are fresh ideas on how we might adapt. We may constantly moving, only the strong will survive. need these revised treatment protocols more

In one of my regular meetings with our core management than ever in the future, so putting the work in now team ahead of opening, I thought of an analogy that will help them survive as much as it will help us. PB

Hellen Ward is managing director of Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa in London, one of the most profitable independent salons in the UK. She is beauty ambassador for the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF). Send your feedback to hellen@professionalbeauty.co.uk

The hot Brow

TREND

Brow lamination is a treatment that’s in high demand. The London Brow Company has developed a unique method and product I t’s become one of the most requested eyebrow treatments in beauty salons around the world, but what exactly is brow lamination and why is everyone going mad for it? Think of brow lamination as a perm for the brows. The innovative technique transforms unruly or accredited by Associated Beauty Therapists, so you will gain a professional certificate once completed, which is a great way to get a foot into the brow industry. The course is done on a professional platform where you can access the content as often as you need for a six-month period,” says Blackwell. sparse brows by smoothing and lifting the hair in a “You gain instant access to the course on payment vertical direction. The end result so there are no delays and you is brows that look beautifully can track your progress as you glossy and brushed up, meaning go. You work through full theory, your clients wake up with perfect All courses are which covers industry training, brows every day. professionally filmed insurance, starting your own “Brow lamination originated in Russia around three years ago, but it is now making its mark in and industry accredited by Associated Beauty business and then the Brow Lamination treatment itself. There is also a community of the beauty industry worldwide,” Therapists, so you will other students doing the course, says Leigh Blackwell, founder of gain a professional who you can speak to and share The London Brow Company. “It only made its way into the UK last certificate tricks and tips as you learn.” Everyone who joins the course year when accredited courses is assigned a dedicated tutor started running.” that they can contact

The London Brow company throughout their six-month was one of the first to bring eyebrow lamination to the training period. Once the course is completed and the United Kingdom and the company has been at the certificate obtained, access to unlimited after-course forefront of raising awareness of this incredible trend in support is provided. the UK and international brow industry. The course is written and filmed by Leigh Blackwell

With its specially formulated brow lift products and with a professional film crew. The video tutorials have a unique brow laminating method, The London Brow guided step-by-step and up-close filming of the Company has created a brow perm that is exclusive to procedure so students are able to get in-depth training their London Brow artists. Giving clients a quality and knowledge. Those who sign up for the course product and safe yet effective perming method is what receive a 10% discount on their first London Brow sets the company apart from the competition. The Lamination kit order. London Brow Company is passionate about brows and dedicated to improving and developing this new The London Brow Company also runs a Henna Brow trend, which is why brow artists trust the company and Design course, a Lash Lift and Tinting course and a its products. beginners’ Brow.

Due to popular demand, the company has now increased training opportunities and offers online londonbrowcompany.com courses in Brow Lamination and Henna Brows. hello@londonbrowcompany.com “All courses are professionally filmed and industry 0800 334 5373

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