Since the start of the pandemic, businesses across the globe have suffered tremendously, and beauty parlors and spas are no different. With touch and close contact being key aspects at beauty centers, the spread of the virus has left people wary of visiting these places.
In most countries, lockdown measures have been put in place to limit the spread of the virus. With the lockdown, came the closure of restaurants, cafes, gyms and even beauty parlors and spas in various countries. As a result, the global beauty industry is expected to see a 15% decline in growth, according to BCG and Mkinsey.
In mid-March 2020, UAE’s department of Economic Development ordered the closure of spas for the remainder of the month, reports the national news. Soon afterwards, orders to close down beauty parlors and salons took place in order to control the spread of the virus. In May 2020, businesses began to reopen but with strict precautionary measures to ensure the safety of employees and guests. However, even though the lockdown was lifted, beauty salons are struggling to make ends meet. Many report that not enough customers are visiting their salons.
“Some of our outlets would get up to 75 customers daily around this time last year. Today the same outlets barely draw seven,” - Nguyen, manager of Companion Beauty Salon & Spa at UAE.
The situation for beauty salons in Jordan is no different from that in UAE. Many beauty businesses are scrambling to maintain their place in the market. One employee at a men’s barber shop says, the situation is very difficult, people are afraid to go to salons and the lockdown allowed them to learn how to cut and shave their own hair.
Not forgetting to mention that the lockdown has left many people with a new sense of routine where many started focusing on styling their own hair at home instead of visiting a beauty parlor with almost everything available online; in terms of products and tutorials. With the help of e-commerce and the different social media channels, people can now put their hands on their favorite beauty products easily, swiftly, and safely. And with the abundance of video tutorials, people are unleashing their creativity and talents when it comes to beauty routines.
I believe that people are still learning how to cope with the pandemic as they move on with their lives, but it might take awhile to build the trust that comes with physical touch.
What about you, are you still wary about visiting beauty parlors?
