30 October 2020

This update covers: 

  • Scotland: what the tier system means for hair and beauty.
  • Nottinghamshire: industry organisations press government to rethink beauty salon closures and template letter for businesses in Nottinghamshire.

Scotland: what the tier system means for hair and beauty 

A new five-tier system of coronavirus restrictions will come into force in Scotland from 2 November 2020. The levels are zero to four. 

Updated close contact guidance are expected to be published soon which provides further clarity on the framework and how it affects close contact services. The new guidelines also include tier 3 additional protective measures which at this stage are simply a set of recommended extra considerations for services operating in this tier. 

Effect on hair and beauty 

Level 0

  • Salons and barbershops can open.
  • Mobile close contact services are permitted. 

Level 1

  • Salons and barbershops can open.
  • Mobile close contact services are permitted.

 Level 2

  • Salons and barbershops can open.
  • Mobile close contact services are not permitted. 

Level 3

  • Salons and barbershops can open, but additional protective measures may be required.
  • Mobile close contact services are not permitted. 

Level 4

  • Salons and barbershops must close.
  • Mobile close contact services are not permitted. 

Find out which level your area is in.

Find out more on the Scottish Government website. 

Please note: this tier system does not come into force until 2 November 2020. Until then, the previous rules apply: 

  • Mobile hairdressers and barbers can provide services in their own homes and in clients’ homes. 
  • Mobile beauty therapists can provide services in their own homes, but NOT in other people’s homes. 

 Nottinghamshire: NHBF presses government to rethink salon closures 

Personal care services in settings such as tattoo parlours, tanning and nail salons, and piercing services must close. Hairdressers and barber salons can remain open but cannot perform services that are otherwise closed. Personal care services should not take place in private settings. 

Find out what tier 3 in Nottinghamshire means here. 

The NHBF, the British Beauty Council, BABTAC and the UK Spa Association have written a letter to Nottingham County Council to rethink the closure of beauty salons, nail bars and tanning salons in the county of Nottinghamshire from today based on the lack of evidence from Public Health England or Test and Trace to suggest that this is a decision based on transmission within the sector. 

You can view the letter here. 

We have also written template letters for businesses in Nottinghamshire to send to their local councils and MPs. 

We will continue to lobby to Nottinghamshire County Council to reverse this decision. 

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