A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment that provides cosmetic treatments for people. Other variations of this type of business include hair salons, spas,

day spa A day spa is a business that promotes itself as providing a variety of services for improving health, beauty, and relaxation through Body treatment, personal care treatments such as massages and facials. The number of day spas in the US almo ...

s, and medical spas.

Beauty treatments

Hair cut is generally offered in beauty salons.

Massage Massage is the rubbing or kneading of the body's soft tissues. Massage techniques are commonly applied with hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearms, feet, or a device. The purpose of massage is generally for the treatment of body stress or pa ...

for the body is a beauty treatment, with various techniques offering benefits to the skin (including the application of beauty products) and increasing mental well-being.

Hair removal Hair removal is the deliberate removal of body hair or head hair. This process is also known as epilation or depilation. Hair is a common feature of the human body, exhibiting considerable variation in thickness and length across different po ...

is offered at some beauty salons through treatments such as

waxing Waxing is the process of hair removal from the root by using a covering of a sticky substance, such as wax, to adhere to body hair, and then removing this covering and pulling out the hair from the follicle. New hair will not grow back in the pr ...

and threading. Some beauty salons also style hair instead of requiring clients to go to a separate hair salon. Some also offer

sun tanning Sun tanning or tanning is the process whereby skin color is darkened or tanned. It is most often a result of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight or from artificial sources, such as a tanning lamp found in indoor tanning b ...

via tanning beds. Another popular beauty treatment specific to the face is known as a

facial A facial is a family of skin care treatments for the face, including steam, exfoliation (physical and chemical), extraction, creams, lotions, facial masks, peels, and massage. They are normally performed in beauty salons, but are also a c ...

. The perceived effects of a facial mask treatment include revitalization, healing, or refreshment of the skin. They may yield temporary benefits depending on environmental, dietary, and other skincare factors. Although customers seek out these services for anti-aging or anti-inflammatory results, there is little to no objective evidence that there are any long-term benefits to the various available facial treatments. Specialized beauty salons known as nail salons offer treatments such as

manicure A manicure is a mostly Cosmetics, cosmetic beauty treatment for the fingernails and Hand, hands performed at home or in a nail salon. A manicure usually consists of Nail file, filing and shaping the free edge of nails, pushing and clipping ( ...

s and

pedicure A pedicure is a cosmetic treatment of the feet and toenails, analogous to a manicure. During a pedicure, dead skin cells are rubbed off the bottom of the feet using a rough stone (often a pumice stone). Skincare is frequently provided up to t ...

s for the nails. A

is a treatment for the hands that involves trimming and filing of the fingernails and softening the cuticles in preparation for the application of

nail polish Nail polish (also known as nail varnish in British English or nail enamel) is a lacquer that can be applied to the human Nail (anatomy), fingernails or toenails to decorate and protect the nail plates. The formula has been revised repeatedly t ...

. A pedicure is a treatment for the feet that involves trimming and filing of the toenails in preparation for the application of nail polish, as well as the softening or removal of

calluses A callus (: calluses) is an area of thickened and sometimes hardened skin that forms as a response to repeated friction, pressure, or other irritation. Since repeated contact is required, calluses are most often found on the feet and hands, b ...

Afghanistan

There were thousands of beauty salons in Afghanistan before the Taliban outlawed them in July 2023, mandating their closure within a month.

India

Beauty parlors employed 3.4 million people across India in 2013. The industry was expected to employ 12.1 million workers by 2022. Services typically include facials, skin-lightening bleaches, waxing,

hair coloring Hair coloring, or hair dyeing, is the practice of changing the color of the hair on humans' heads. The main reasons for this are cosmetic: to cover gray or white hair, to alter hair to create a specific look, to change a color to suit preferen ...

, and

hair straightening Hair straightening is a hair styling technique used since the 1890s involving the flattening and straightening of hair in order to give it a smooth, streamlined, and sleek appearance. It became very popular during the 1950s among black males and ...

United States

Beauty salons have been a recession-resistant industry across the United States. Although sales had declined from 2008 highs due to the

Great Recession The Great Recession was a period of market decline in economies around the world that occurred from late 2007 to mid-2009.

, they remain robust with a long-term positive forecast. Despite the tendency for consumers to be more price-conscious during recessions, spending continued to increase. With rising per capita incomes across the United States since 2015, beauty salons boomed, generating $56.2 billion in the United States. Hair care was the largest segment, with 86,000 locations. Skincare was expected to generate $21.09 billion in revenue by 2023, growing annually by 3.91%. This growth was driven in part by increasing awareness of the importance of skin care among American women, but also specifically due to an increase in the market for men. In 2020, the market was distributed widely across America, with a concentration in the Northeast and Midwest. There was also a growing trend in boutique salons popping up and leveraging online marketing to gain customers and compete with the franchise chains. In 2014, the US Labor Department estimated employment in the United States increased 20% between 2008 and 2014, with the greatest employment growth from skincare specialists. Beauty salons employ cosmetologists specializing in general beautification techniques. Cosmetology licensing requirements vary from state to state and depend on which specific license type is desired: general cosmetologist, hair stylist, esthetician, manicurist,

barber A barber is a person whose occupation is mainly to cut, dress, groom, style and shave hair or beards. A barber's place of work is known as a barbershop or the barber's. Barbershops have been noted places of social interaction and public discourse ...

, electrologist, or other.

Vietnam

According to the Ministry of Health, as of December 2023, Vietnam has a total of 11,752 establishments providing aesthetic services. Of these, only 598 establishments are licensed to operate in accordance with Ministry of Health regulations. In

Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) ('','' TP.HCM; ), commonly known as Saigon (; ), is the most populous city in Vietnam with a population of around 14 million in 2025. The city's geography is defined by rivers and canals, of which the largest is Saigo ...

, there are 7,087 establishments providing aesthetic services, of which only 598 are licensed to operate. In

Hanoi Hanoi ( ; ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Vietnam, second-most populous city of Vietnam. The name "Hanoi" translates to "inside the river" (Hanoi is bordered by the Red River (Asia), Red and Black River (Asia), Black Riv ...

, there are 2,044 establishments providing aesthetic services, of which only 200 are licensed to operate.

Infectious Disease Risk in Beauty Salons

People who work in beauty salons include

hairdressers A hairdresser is a person whose occupation is to cut or style hair in order to change or maintain a person's image. This is achieved using a combination of hair coloring, haircutting, and hair texturing techniques. A hairdresser may also be re ...

, nail technicians, estheticians, and other licensed cosmetic workers. Those who work at beauty salons are at risk of being exposed to infectious disease. Reasons for this include the direct physical contact between worker and client, and the amount of and the use of tools that can lead to breaks in the skin, increasing exposure to infectious pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Studies have shown that beauty salons are often breeding grounds for infections, such as antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and fungal infections, which can easily spread through cuts or abrasions that can occur from beauty treatments. Further, infectious diseases such as

HIV The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of '' Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the im ...

hepatitis B Hepatitis B is an infectious disease caused by the '' hepatitis B virus'' (HBV) that affects the liver; it is a type of viral hepatitis. It can cause both acute and chronic infection. Many people have no symptoms during an initial infection. ...

and C,

herpes Herpes simplex, often known simply as herpes, is a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. Herpes infections are categorized by the area of the body that is infected. The two major types of herpes are oral herpes and genital herp ...

, chronic fungal infections, hair lice, and eye and skin infections have all been attributed to beauty salons. Several risk factors contribute to the vulnerability of beauty salon worker’s health in terms of infectious disease. Beauty salon workers directly touch and use tools on client’s bodies, such as scissors, razors, and metal combs, that can create nicks, cuts, or abrasions on the skin that could introduce or spread infectious disease. Various cosmetic tools are also known to be ideal environments for pathogens to thrive, creating an opportunistic environment for disease spread when not cleaned sufficiently. Unsafe

sanitation Sanitation refers to public health conditions related to clean drinking water and treatment and disposal of human excreta and sewage. Preventing human contact with feces is part of sanitation, as is hand washing with soap. Sanitation systems ...

practices, such as the reuse of unsterilized or improperly sanitized tools, and poor hygiene protocols, all contribute to infectious disease spread and are prevalent in many beauty salons. Sanitation is very important in preventing

disease transmission In medicine, public health, and biology, transmission is the passing of a pathogen causing communicable disease from an infected host individual or group to a particular individual or group, regardless of whether the other individual was previo ...

in beauty salons. Regular

disinfection A disinfectant is a chemical substance or compound used to inactivate or destroy microorganisms on inert surfaces. Disinfection does not necessarily kill all microorganisms, especially resistant bacterial spores; it is less effective than ...

of tools, the use of disposable tools instead of reusable tools, the use personal protective equipment, and maintaining sanitary workstations are all outlined by Sanaat (2021) as essential practices for avoiding infectious disease spread. Additionally,

personal protective equipment Personal protective equipment (PPE) is protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury or infection. The hazards addressed by protective equipment include physical, elect ...

, such as surgical gloves and masks, can significantly reduce exposure to infectious agents in the workplace. Another risk factor that beauty salon workers and clients face is contamination of beauty products used in beauty salons, such as

moisturizers A moisturizer, or emollient, is a cosmetic preparation used for protecting, moisturizing, and lubricating the skin. These functions are normally performed by sebum produced by healthy skin. The word "emollient" is derived from the Latin verb ''mo ...

lotions Lotion is a low-viscosity topical preparation intended for application to the skin. By contrast, creams and gels have higher viscosity, typically due to lower water content. Lotions are applied to external skin with bare hands, a brush, a clea ...

, lipsticks, eyeliners, powders, and

mascara Mascara (, ) is a Cosmetics, cosmetic commonly used to enhance the upper and lower eyelashes. It is used to darken, thicken, lengthen, and/or define the eyelashes. Normally in one of three forms—liquid, powder, or cream—the modern mascara p ...

s. Cosmetic products provide the ideal environment for microbial growth and have been found to be contaminated with several pathogens such as bacteria, funguses, and yeasts in beauty salons using these products. To lessen the risk of acquiring infectious diseases in the workplace, Mancini et al. recommends implementing strong infection control measures, as well as ensuring those who work at beauty salons receive proper training on hygiene practices. By prioritizing sanitation and disease prevention, the health of beauty salon workers and their clients can be safeguarded, creating a safer work environment. Overall, the sheer amount of biological hazards in beauty salons creates a complex risk environment for workers and clients.

References

{{Authority control Cosmetics Fashion Personal care and service occupations