HR Salon: A Complete Guide for Employers

Industries like hairdressing, barbering, and beauty all rely on exclusive customer experience and satisfaction. It leaves businesses with the challenge of creating a well-constructed, goal-driven workforce at the forefront of a fully compliant, consumer-driven organisation.

Employers need to utilise their HR department to ensure their salon or beauty business stays on the right side of the law – whilst aiming for overall business accomplishments. One wrong move and you could end up losing talented workers, causing legal breaches, and facing reputational damage to your business.

For more information on salon HR, speak to one of our expert HR advisors today. Now, let’s look at ways employers can improve their HR services to encourage success in their hair and beauty business:

Tackle on skills shortages

According to the National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF), 53% of businesses have maintained their workforce – whilst 18% saw a decrease in workforce stability in 2024.

Salon and beauty employers must ensure they have strong recruitment methods to help hire and retain talented hair stylists, beauty therapists, and other specialist roles within the industry.

Let’s look at ways salon and beauty HR teams can help improve their businesses:

Recruitment: It’s important to utilise an abundance of strategies when hiring for your hair and beauty business. A great place to start is with job adverts, but you can also recruit talented candidates through career fairs at schools, and even online through social media platforms. Sometimes, even word of mouth can lead you to talented artists.

Staff turnover: Many salon owners face high turnover numbers, as well as low onboarding rates. Most of these issues derive from incomplete notice periods which leaves your business with staff shortages, cancelled appointments, and reputational damages.

Notice periods: To combat staff shortage issues when employees decide to leave, make sure they’re contractually obliged to fulfil their notice periods. There’s no law on how long notice periods should be. You should decide on a reasonable length based on their employment needs and the business’s.

Outline contractual terms and conditions

60% of people in the beauty and hairdressing industry class as being self-employed according to research by PolicyBee.

Ranking as a majority portion of your workforce, salon and beauty employers need to ensure the right steps are taken when it comes to employment terms and conditions – especially for those with varying employment status and entitlements. Download our free salon employment contract template today and stay compliant.

Let’s look at ways salon and beauty HR teams can help improve their businesses:

Worker status: Many salons hire freelance or self-employed staff who’ll either ‘rent-a-chair’ or earn a percentage of earnings in exchange to locate themselves in your business. It’s important for employers to understand the rights and responsibilities of everyone’s worker status.

Moonlighting: Many workers in the salon and beauty industry take up second jobs (moonlighting) in order to earn more and advertise their services. Make sure you outline the rules on second jobs, particularly when it comes to using your business services or clientele.

Apprentices: Hair and beauty apprenticeships have increasingly become popular in recent times. If you offer them, make sure you’re fully aware of employment responsibilities for hiring an apprentice in your salon or beauty business.

Invest in professional development

According to the National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF), apprenticeships for hairdressing and barbering have fallen by 19%.

As the industry faces impacts from skills shortages, employers and their HR department need to invest in their existing staff – growing both their personal and professional talents and abilities.

Let’s look at ways salon and beauty HR teams can help improve their businesses:

Staff training: Many young people enter the hair and beauty industry straight after school or college. It leaves employers having to hire staff with very little worldly experience. You should offer further training sessions to help them establish solid personal and professional skills.

Staff development: To help combat turnover rates, employers should invest in career development for their salon staff. This can include anything from providing work shadowing to guiding them towards senior roles. Good efforts will be reciprocated through business loyalty and success.

Soft skills: Hair and beauty businesses are fully reliant on their customer base. That’s why it’s crucial to have staff who possess excellent soft skills. From friendly communication to servicing needs, the business will benefit from having talented and personable employees.

Promote positive workplace dynamics 

46% of salon owners worry about business continuity, according to research from the British Beauty Council. Economic stress, market rivalry, even professional conflict disputes can all cause damage to your business.

Employers and their HR department need water-tight strategies for keeping positive employee relations, professional work ethics, and an overall cohesive culture.

Let’s look at ways salon and beauty HR teams can help improve their businesses:

Workplace conflict: The hair and beauty industry are high-stress environments to work in. Ensure your staff are fully aware of how to professionally conduct themselves during grievances and disputes – away from customers and the public eye.

Employee morale: Your staff are a direct reflection of your business – good and bad. That’s why it’s important to boost employee morale and satisfaction to help promote a positive workplace dynamic.

Workplace culture: Promote good communication, positive attitudes, and friendly inclusion to help establish a successful workplace culture for your hair or beauty business.

Focus on professional liability

Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are seen as the leading social media platforms that drive traffic and consumerism within the beauty and hairdressing industry, according to Statista.

Employers and their HR departments need to ensure the right steps are taken to comply with statutory rights, as well as professional liability. Staying on the right side of the law will keep your business compliant, as well as encourage both staff and customer satisfaction.

Let’s look at ways salon and beauty HR teams can help improve their businesses:

Social media:  A huge aspect of the hair and beauty business relies on social media advertisement. From finding new clients to promoting services, make sure your business follows lawful and ethical requirements for social media usage. It’s advisable to reiterate these within a social media policy that’s available for both staff and customers.

Health & Safety compliance: It’s important to follow good health and safety practices in industries like hair and beauty. Both staff and clients are exposed to potentially harmful substances from hair bleach, colour dyes, and nail chemicals. Not to mention, hazardous equipment like scissors, hairdryers, and other electronic devices.

Employment law: There are a handful of new legislative changes and proposals passed in recent years – which are applicable to the hair and beauty industry. From increases to statutory payments to the epic Employment Rights Bill… Make sure your HR team is on top of all legal compliance that apply directly to your staff and the business.

Get expert advice on salon and beauty HR with Peninsula

From skills shortages to upcoming statutory compliance… The hair and beauty industry is accustomed to all sorts of requirements regarding human resources. Employers have both a legal and ethical duty to ensure the right steps are taken towards an investible, compliant, and driven business.

Peninsula offers expert advice on salon and beauty HR. We offer specialised guidance on HR contracts and documentation – ensuring your business meets all its HR compliance. Get your free salon employment contract template today always stay legally compliant.

Want to find out more? Contact us on 0800 028 2420 and book a free consultation with one of our HR consultants today.

Sources

UK hair and beauty industry statistics 2025 | PolicyBee

YouGov survey reveals the power of a haircut for better mental health | British Beauty Council

Industry recovery on the rise but recruitment challenges continue, according to new survey | National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF)

Industry Statistics | National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF)

Leading social media platforms for beauty e-commerce in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2024, by purchase intent clicks |Statista