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Industry reels from economic effects of pandemic

As at the end of July 2020, approximately 200 registered beauty establishments had confirmed to the National Bargaining Council for the Hairdressing Cosmetology Beauty & Skincare Industry (HCBSBC) that they have closed as a result of the COVID-19 national lockdown, which saw salons and spas prohibited from operating for nearly three months.

Frik Bekker, HCBSBC financial manager and acting CEO, points out that this is only a fraction of registered establishments. “However,” he continues, “with the information we are receiving, as well as the trends with the payment of contributions, we expect to see a drop in registered establishments of between 30% and 40% in the industry. This cannot be substantiated at the moment but we feel this is a relatively accurate estimate.

“The Council is still receiving feedback from the industry on whether an establishment has closed due to COVID-19, is still closed due to current lockdown regulations, or is only intending on opening in the new year. Not all establishments have informed us of such and this is on an increase on a daily basis.”

There are no comprehensive statistics for the total number of beauty establishments in South Africa because not all beauty establishments in the formal sector are registered with the HCBSBC, even though they are mandated by Government to do so. There are also beauty establishments operating in the informal sector that do not fall within the HCBSBC’s purview.

Job losses

Elna Hagen, president of SAAHSP – the Professional Body for the Skin, Body & Nail Care Industry, comments: “Since the inception of COVID-19 and the lockdown, we realised that the industry faced imminent retrenchments, as well as business closures, which in turn unfortunately caused irreversible damage as far as jobs are concerned and led to extreme poverty.

“As an organisation, SAAHSP is also seeing the enormous additional financial strains on businesses as they follow the necessary COVID-19 protocols in a high-risk professional environment during the quiet winter months.

“At this stage it seems like some salons and spas have decided to stay closed for the time being rather than not being able to operate at a 100% capacity.”

Franchises

The two largest beauty salon franchises in South Africa, Sorbet and Imbalie Beauty, each comprise of hundreds of establishments.

Says Linda Sinclair, CEO of the Sorbet Group: “We have closed four stores. The store lease for one of these salons came to an end and the shopping centre is not viable to continue trading as they are going to be doing massive renovations, while the other three stores were marginal before COVID-19.”

CEO of the Imbalie Beauty Group (Perfect10, DreamNails and Placecol Skin Centres), Esna Colyn, confirms that while the majority of Imbalie salons have reopened, a few doors are yet to open.

“We are working hard to assist our salons wherever possible, as some of them are trying to negotiate more favourable leases with their landlords,” continues Colyn. “It’s vital to make our businesses bulletproof for the future, and part of this is sustainable leases. In some instances, we have been able to consolidate two franchises within the same mall, into one salon.

“Furthermore, Imbalie Beauty is in the process of launching a new division and as such, is repositioning some of its franchisees within this exciting new venture.

“We need to remain positive and remember that we are only a month out of lockdown and in the middle of winter, so the market needs time to pick up. It’s now more important than ever before for the beauty industry to continue to consolidate, support and unite together,” states Colyn.

Environ donates over R1m in products to healthcare workers

South African skincare brand, Environ, has donated over R1 million worth of product to doctors and nurses at six hospitals in Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal.

Says Environ’s group chairman, director and CEO, Val Cartens: “Environ recognises the immense daily assault on the skin as a result of the masks that the doctors and nurses are wearing. By gifting them skincare boosters, which help to soothe and restore skin sensitised by long hours of Coronavirus patients could suffer from one of five common skincare issues, ranging from pustules and blisters, to flat or raised red bumps, according to a study by Spanish researchers.

Professional Beauty UK reports that the study was published in the British Journal of Dermatology and identified the following five common skin manifestations in those suffering with COVID-19: acral areas of erythema-oedema or pustules (pseudo-chilblain); vesicular eruptions; urticarial lesions; other maculopapules; and livedo or necrosis.

The Spanish Academy of Dermatology conducted the study in which four dermatologists wearing a mask, we wanted to show support and care, as well as lift morale for healthcare workers who are making daily sacrifices.”

Environ has donated to doctors and nurses working at the Hospital of Hope, a special COVID-19 field hospital established at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, as well as to doctors and nurses at various hospitals in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

The donations were recently handed over by Dr Des Fernandes, reviewed images of unexplained skin eruptions in 120 patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, and then a consensus was reached. These patterns were then applied to the rest of the images, consisting of 375 patients, and further refined into five broader conditions, by which nearly all patients could be classified

According to the study, just under a fifth (19%) of cases presented with pseudo-chilblain symptoms, commonly found on the hands and feet, and were associated with younger patients, lasting for a mean of 12.7 days. Just under a third (32%) suffered from pain and 30% itching.

“Other vesicular eruptions (i.e. Environ’s founder and scientific director, and Carstens (his sister), at the Hospital of Hope.

Each donation includes Environ’s popular immuneboosting serum, Colostrum Gel, which helps to protect sensitive skin from external and internal stressors, and Original Mild Night moisturising cream, to replenish skin with the vitamin A, antioxidants and essential nutrients that it needs to look

Dermatologists link skin issues to COVID-19

healthy and stay resilient. small blisters) were seen in 9% of those studied, which were associated with middle-aged patients and lasting for a mean of 10.4 days. Itching was a common symptom with more than half (68%) of patients, the report found.

Urticarial lesions – commonly interpreted as nettle rash or wheals, which show as pink or white raised areas of skin – were present in 19% of patients, and other maculopapules (small, flat and raised red bumps, usually discovered around hair follicles) in just under half (47%), which generally lasted for a shorter period of time – 6.8 mean days for urticarial and 8.6 for maculopapular.

SA gears up for World Wellness Weekend

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organisers of World Wellness Weekend (WWW), which takes place on 19 and 20 September 2020, have decided to go digital and host a virtual event.

Founded by Jean-Guy de Gabriac of Tip Touch International, World Wellness Weekend is set to be celebrated in over 100 countries around the globe. It aims to inspire and empower people to make healthier choices and enjoy an active lifestyle with family and friends. Participating properties will host free and fun wellness activities during the event.

Says WWW South Africa ambassador and spa professional, The Spa & Wellness Association of Africa (SWAA) recently celebrated its 10th anniversary by hosting an online webinar featuring special guests and supporters, such as Suzie Ellis, CEO of the Global Wellness Institute (GWI).

Also participating was SWAA’s patron, former President of Mauritius, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim.

SWAA founder, Elaine OkekeMartin, said she was inspired to create the association a decade ago in order to change the narrative for the spa industry in Africa. She continued: “I’d come back to Africa after many years of working in the industry overseas to find that our spas were sub-standard. At that stage, there was no sharing of information and no networks in our sector, so I spent lots of time building bridges and relationships.

Taryn Lilley: “We will be sharing a series of free Wellness Workshops and providing exercise, nutritional and healthcare tips over the duration of WWW. One of the confirmed live sessions will be an exercise workout called, ‘Bootcamp with a Cause’, hosted by Foreverstrong Transformation Studio. This fun-filled session will be a metabolic burn workout and guaranteed to get the blood pumping. It will cater for all fitness levels and all ages, so we encourage

SWAA celebrates 10 years

the whole family to all get involved.

“We have long been focused on evolving standards for African therapies, and will release a booklet in this regard in September. Funding for SWAA is a perennial challenge

“Ellerman House Spa will host a session, taking us on a journey of breath work and mindfulness. They will focus on yogic breathing (Nadi Shodhana Pranayama) and some lymph drainage to strengthen the immune system and work on increasing lung capacity.

“Also included in the line-up will be a nutritionist sharing some healthy eating tips and easy non-guilty snack ideas. We have some exciting surprises in store for children as well, so we encourage the whole family to join in the fun.

“More sessions will be announced in the build-up to the weekend. If any other professionals would like to join in by sharing their skills, they can get in touch with me on taryn@spadynamics.co.za.”

and that’s why we need to keep on pushing.

“I encourage all African countries to partner with SWAA, as it is a way to produce jobs and reduce poverty.”

Social media users shy to show natural skin

More than half (55%) of social media users are self-conscious about their natural skin, according to a survey conducted by Skin Proud.

Kieran Read of Professional Beauty UK writes: “More than a third (40%) attributed this lack of confidence to comparing Head trainer and co-owner of Luscious Lashes & Brows International, Lesley-ann Altree, was recently invited to judge the overseas Classic Charm eyelash extension competition.

In addition, Altree was nominated in the Lash Artist of the Year category of a competition run by international brand, Artistic Fur. South African skincare brand, SIX, has rebranded and consolidated its range according to demand and the results of surveys conducted. It has also changed its packaging to meet the target market’s preferences.

Says SIX founder, Marisa Dimitriadis: “Our new packaging is completely environmentally friendly – from box, to label, to container. Furthermore, we have introduced a re-use, recycle and reduce campaign, where we actually give money back for returned containers and products bought without a box.

“Every single month, for every product sold, we donate R1 to POWA (People Opposing Woman Abuse). Being a woman-owned and run brand, we feel very strongly about gender-based violence.”

Dimitriadis notes that SIX is aiming to be completely paperless by the end of the year, meaning marketing, brand catalogues, prescriptions, consultations, etc will all be digital. themselves with others, while more than a quarter (28%) claimed they felt a pressure to look a certain way, the report found.

“More than a fifth (21%) of respondents said their friends’ appearances had affected their self-confidence, while

Her second in command, company manager Nicole Scheepers, has been asked to judge the upcoming Summer Doll Up International Eyelash Extension competition.

“During this tough time the beauty industry has been going through, we have been lucky enough to have been busy internationally and feel very blessed,” states Altree.

Some products have been consolidated, such as the new Eye and Neck Firming Cream, which was previously two separate products. Ten products have undergone a recent ingredient revamp. a further 20% claimed their confidence was affected by the appearance of complete strangers on social media.

“This study shows the impact that filters and edited photos on social media can have on clients’ confidence

Luscious Lashes internationally active during pandemic

Changes at SIX

and self-esteem.”

“We also launched a merchandising module that gives our clients guidelines, based on research, of how to position products on a shelf for best movement,” concludes Dimitriadis.