Half of all hair and beauty appointments on UK high streets trigger additional spending at neighbouring shops, cafés and restaurants, according to new research from the British Beauty Council.

The report, The Impact of Beauty: Revealing Its Social, Cultural, and Economic Value, compiled by Oxford Economics and supported by L'Oréal Groupe, also found that 86% of consumers who visited a high street or town centre for their most recent appointment said the treatment was the primary reason for their trip.

For salon owners, the data reframes their business as a footfall engine for surrounding retailers rather than a standalone service provider — a case the Council wants reflected in high-street investment decisions.

How much do salons contribute to high streets?

The research identified approximately 191,200 beauty and personal care establishments across the UK. More than half of consumers' most recent appointments (55%) took place on a high street or in a town centre.

The headline figures:

• 86% of high-street appointment visitors cited the treatment as the main reason for their trip.
• 50% of those visits led to additional spending at nearby businesses.
• More than 35% of leisure businesses on smaller local high streets are personal care establishments — matching the combined share of pubs, bars and cafés.
• 39% of beauty amenities sit outside large cities, in smaller towns, villages and rural communities.

The report builds on earlier Council research showing the UK beauty and personal care industry contributed £28.3 billion to GDP and supported more than 595,000 jobs in 2025. That same Value of Beauty 2026 report, however, recorded a 2.8% fall in total industry employment year on year.

What role do salons play in tackling loneliness?

The survey measured social contact generated by appointments. Among frequent users of personal care services, 44% reported a meaningful conversation with a service provider in the previous six months, and 42% had discussed personal matters or significant life events.

One in five frequent users said visiting a barber, nail technician or beauty therapist was one of the few occasions in the week when they interacted with other people. Among men aged 18–24, that figure rose to 42%.

The wellbeing findings run alongside appearance-confidence data. Three-quarters (75%) of frequent users said personal care products and services had a positive impact on how they felt about themselves; 52% said routines improved their mood and 48% said they felt more resilient facing everyday challenges.

Appearance confidence also tracked with participation: 64% of respondents enjoyed social occasions more when they felt good about their appearance, 56% believed grooming helped them make a positive first impression at work, and 51% said it increased their workplace confidence. Among 18–24s, 55% said routines reinforced their sense of self and 53% treated them as a creative outlet. The report notes these findings reflect consumers' reported perceptions rather than clinical measurements of wellbeing.

How do consumers prioritise beauty spending?

Just 7% of adults regarded personal care products and services purely as a treat. Respondents prioritised spending in this category above gym memberships, streaming subscriptions and dining out.

Average spend came in at £27 per month on personal care products and services, rising to £35 among frequent users. UK adults spend an average of 13 minutes per day on grooming and personal care routines, with more than half using skincare products daily or on most days.

What is the Council calling for?

Millie Kendall, chief executive of the British Beauty Council, said the research shows the industry's value extends well beyond its financial contribution.

"For too long, beauty has been thought of as frivolous and superficial," Kendall said. "Beauty is about how people feel, how they connect and how they participate in everyday life. From the confidence to walk into a room, to the conversation that takes place in a salon chair, to the high-street visit that supports another local business, beauty is enabling things that matter."

She argued the sector's role in wellbeing, loneliness, high-street regeneration and economic participation deserves formal recognition.

"At a time when we are thinking seriously about wellbeing, loneliness, high-street regeneration and economic participation, we need to recognise the role that beauty businesses and professionals already play in communities across Britain," Kendall said.

The Council wants beauty and personal care recognised as part of Britain's everyday social and local infrastructure, and safeguarded accordingly.

The findings strengthen the evidence base for weighing wider salon impact in decisions about high-street investment and support for local enterprises, and complement Professional Beauty Group's At The Heart Of The Community campaign. The research combined geospatial mapping of UK retail areas with a nationally representative YouGov survey of 2,116 UK adults conducted in July 2026 — data salon owners can expect policymakers to cite as regeneration debates continue.