Beauty salons to smash £1bn barrier

SPENDING on beauty treatments such as facials, Botox injections and leg waxing is set to smash through the £1bn barrier next year, making the British pampering industry bigger than coal-mining.

Annual growth of 8% means the beauty business - as portrayed in the television series The Salon - is one of the fastest-growing in the UK, according to an in-depth survey published today.

The number of salons is forecast to increase to 14,425 by 2005, double the figure of as recently as 1999. The total includes hairdressers that also offer beauty treatments.

The growth is being fuelled by changing attitudes towards beauty treatments, increasingly seen an an 'essential' part of modern lifestyles rather than a luxury, and by an ever-growing emphasis on grooming and appearance.

Use of beauty treatments by media and celebrity role models such as Liz Hurley and Victoria Beckham is also thought to be a strong influence.

Spending is forecast to be about £920m this year, rising to just over £1bn in 2004 and £1.13bn the year after. By contrast, Britain's declining coal industry - once one of the country's biggest employers - is worth about £950m a year.

The survey, conducted by market researchers Allegra Strategies, found that the most popular services offered in salons are hair removal through waxing and laser treatment, manicures and facials. The average spend per visit is just under £32.

Biggest chains are The Tanning Shop with 127 outlets, the Clarins Studio (82), Regis Hairstylists (80 branches offering beauty services) Saks Hair & Beauty (75) and The Salon by Regis (32.)

The survey suggests that there is no sign of a slowdown with two thirds of customers saying they visit salons more regularly than in the past and only 7% less so.

Christina Blache, associate consultant at Allegra, said the market was still overwhelmingly dominated by women although the male sector was growing very fast.

'As soon as men get over their embarrassment and go in for the first time, they go again and again. But it's quite a big step,' she said.

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