What to look for
Beauty salons cover facials, manicures, pedicures, gel and acrylic nails, waxing, lash extensions, brow shaping and tinting, body treatments, and increasingly aesthetic treatments where qualifications and insurance permit. The category divides between high-street salons, in-home / mobile, and aesthetic-specialist clinics.
- Therapist qualifications (NVQ Levels 2/3, BTEC, manufacturer training)
- BABTAC, ABT, or FHT membership and insurance
- Hygiene practices visible (sterilisation, single-use where appropriate)
- Patch test 24-48h before lash, brow, or chemical treatment
- Price list visible with treatment time stated
- Aesthetic treatments separated from beauty if offered
Typical pricing: £20-£45 manicure, £35-£75 facial, £60-£140 lash extensions (UK 2026)
Regulator / certification to look for: BABTAC, ABT, FHT (voluntary professional bodies)