The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) recently published a survey of salons and licensed beauty professionals across the United States to promote consumer, as well as stylist, confidence that salons are safe. Overall, the survey found that there is limited evidence that the salon industry contributes to the spread of COVID-19.
The PBA’s survey represents 2,532 salons and shared safety protocols representing 19,392 licensed beauty professionals and services for more than 2 million clients since reopening.
The survey reports that out of the 2 million clients, only 0.07% reported testing positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of visiting a salon. The survey also showed that in addition to the Salon Safety Guidelines, salons across the country have implemented many other safety measures, such as: sanitation stations, pre-screening clients, contactless payments, temperature checks, reduced capacity, as well as ongoing COVID tests for staff and stylists. According to the PBA, these efforts have paid off; there is no evidence that salons contribute to the spread of COVID-19.
Steve Sleeper, Executive Director of the Professional Beauty Association reported that aside from the integral priority of maintaining health, the PBA’s main goal is to “help ensure that the industry is minimally impacted economically. As with so many other industries, the beauty industry has been devastated by the pandemic.” Further, Sleeper reported, “The salon 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 are safe and not helping to transmit COVID-19. The recent survey shows that less than .1% of visitors to a salon contract COVID-19 within 14 days, suggesting salons can safely stay open.”
To help support members of the beauty industry during these hard times, PBA has set up resources available to salon owners and stylists. PBA has also joined the COVID Relief Now Coalition, and the PPP Forgiveness Coalition to work together to seek relief from Congress for small businesses and individuals. PBA also is encouraging owners and beauty professionals to explore funding opportunities through the SBA as well as state grants that may be available.
PBA has also established its COVID-19 Relief Fund, which has raised over $1.5MM with support from top industry brands like L’Oreal Professional brands, Moroccanoil, Henkel Professional Beauty Division, Dyson, and more; additional information is available at http://Probeauty.org/relief. 100% of the donations are going directly to support licensed beauty professionals experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information, go to https://www.probeauty.org/