Member of Parliament for Romsey and Southampton North, and Chair of the Parliamentary Women and Select Committee, Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, visited Lauren Hill Hairdressing, a L’Oréal partner salon in Romsey, to show support for the sector as it reopens.
Much more than just a haircut - the British public have been returning to personal care services with the long-awaited and safe reopening of hair and beauty salons across the country. Hair salons – the heart of the UK’s high streets and a hub for local communities – have reopened their doors under robust COVID-19 secure government guidelines as they look to bounce-back from the pandemic.
Offering a professional local service – and one where the highest hygiene and safety measures have always been standard practice – hair salons offer a unique experience that cannot digitalised; with human connection and touch an essential part of all hairdressing experiences. It is therefore not surprising that a recent online survey revealed that 68% of British adults that get their hair done professionally agree that having their hair done supports their mental health and wellbeing.
Throughout the pandemic, L’Oréal UK and Ireland’s Professional Products Division (PPD) have been supporting their hairdressing salon partners of nearly 13,000 by helping them to prepare for a safe reopening; with hygiene and safety training courses, Business Bounce-back Salon Support Guides, over 100,000 hand sanitizers, amongst other measures.
Béatrice Dautzenberg, Managing Director, L’Oréal UK and Ireland Professional Products Division, said:
“Hairdressers and salons have always been at the heart of our high streets and local communities – and over the past 12 challenging months - have highlighted this important service more than ever. Not only a service that supports physical beauty and grooming, but one that goes much deeper by supporting the nations mental health and wellbeing through the power of human touch and connection – and of course, one that can never be digitalised or automated.
“We are delighted to see the support of influential MPs such as Caroline Nokes for the Personal Care Sector, especially as a sector that is women-led and playing a crucial role in recovery of the UK economy. We look forward to continued support for all hair and beauty professionals who still face many challenges, and we at L’Oréal are committed in supporting all of our partners, as well as welcoming more apprentices and hair professionals into this highly-skilled and important industry.”
Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, Member of Parliament for Romsey and Southampton North, and Chair of the Parliamentary Women and Select Committee, said:
“I know how hard the personal care sector has worked to put in COVID-19 secure measures and to keep their clients safe. It is such a relief to see salons like Lauren Hill open again, giving people the chance to boost their confidence and get their hair sorted!
“This is a sector which employs hundreds of thousands of women, is a female led sector and is an important sector tackling loneliness and isolation. I know how hard the pandemic hit them and have been working over the last year to make sure Government Ministers understands the sector and all that it contributes.”
Lauren Hill, owner of Lauren Hill Hairdressing, said:
“It’s great to receive the support from local leaders. We have been working really hard as an industry to put in place all of the robust hygiene measures and our clients have been delighted to return to the salon with confidence in the care and service we provide. As a salon owner, it is important that support for our sector continues to ensure we can begin to recover and rebuild our businesses.”
