In Wales we are currently on a two-week lockdown. That means no trips to the beauty salon, for haircuts, manicures, or facials. It really comes as no surprise that the pandemic has significantly altered the beauty industry. There has been a huge rise in DIY beauty treatment searches online. People are deciding to take matters into their own hands. Popular searches have included eyebrow grooming, home haircuts, gel nail care and eyelash extensions.

Not everyone has been successful though. There are so many different threads online of quarantine beauty disasters. So, it goes to show that even following expert advice doesn’t always lead to the same salon results.

Yet despite this even when places where salons are still open there has been a general reluctance by some to return because of the close physical contact required in this industry. But beauty is still as important as ever, it’s just altered in COVID. People are still keen to be pampered, in tough times like this beauty treatments can give your mood a real boost. Products like lash serum are more popular then ever before, because you can make your lashes stronger and thicker without needing salon treatment.

Buying Beauty At Home Products

Lots of us want to mimic the beauty experience provided by the salon in their own homes. As a result people are snapping up professional manicure products and haircare products to preserve colour. What they lack in skill they are trying to make up with better products to help. Certain products even sold out. For example, box dye sold out at Superdrug after sales rose steeply by 76%. I couldn’t get hair dye in my local supermarket either, so I just embraced the grey locks until it came back in stock! Then I bought three boxes so it wouldn’t happen again…

Virtual Consultations

Those beauty salons that were quick to adapt to the change have felt less of a financial strain from the pandemic. They managed to offer virtual consultations early on, then send out custom dye kits so you don’t have to worry about getting the shade wrong. Those who have been creative have managed to still be successful in difficult circumstances.

Online Tutorials

Some companies have kindly been providing online tutorials. Then all of us at home can still maintain our beauty in a pandemic. The problem with this is that it has had quite a negative backlash from other salons. Some don’t like trade secrets being shared as they think it will put them out of business in the long run. But seeing how many beauty disasters needed fixing after the first lock down I don’t think the beauty industry needs to worry too much! Some might have realized they have some skill and decided to go into a career in beauty but most of us will just keep botching up our nails and eyebrows!